2:19pm: Maybin has issued the following statement through the Major League Baseball Players Association:
“I have been undergoing treatment for several years for a medical condition, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), for which I previously had a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Unfortunately, in my attempts to switch back to a medicine that had been previously ok’d, I neglected to follow all the rules and as a result I tested positive. I want to assure everyone that this was a genuine effort to treat my condition and I was not trying in any way to gain an advantage in my baseball career. I understand that I must accept responsibility for this mistake and I will take my punishment and will not challenge my suspension. I apologize to my family, friends, fans, teammates, and the entire Padres organization. I look forward to returning to the field and contributing to the success of my Club.”
2:09pm: Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin has been suspended 25 games, without pay, after testing positive for amphetamine usage, the league announced.
Maybin, 27, was hitting .247/.286/.368 with a homer and three steals in 62 games this season. He missed most of the season’s first month as he recovered from a torn tendon in his biceps. From a financial standpoint, the suspension will cost Maybin about $683K of his $5MM salary.
This is the second notable suspension of a Major Leaguer for amphetamine usage in 2014, as former Orioles reliever Troy Patton (who, coincidentally, is now a teammate of Maybin), began the year serving a 25-game suspension for Adderall usage. In 2013, Carlos Ruiz had to serve the same suspension to open the season.
Wow …. as a very long time Padre fan, I’m thinking about those threats of constriction by “The Bud” years ago. If it had happened, after the immediate hurt in my baseball fandom I would not have to endure the past 8-10 years of misery.
Contraction, maybe?
Yes contraction, thanks for the correction.
This has been my favorite Padres season ever. It gets better each day.
A lot of baseball players sure do seem to have “ADD” that they never talk about or do any advocacy for or really acknowledge in any way until they get caught using amphetamines….
Maybin has talked about this publicly many times prior to today.
I don’t remember which site it was, but there was an examination of ADD diagnosis of MLB players vs. the general population and it was comically lopsided.
Except baseball players aren’t general population
I hear paying your doctor 10 time the normal rate for an office visit is a clear symptom of ADD and requires the immediate treatment with amphetamines.
After he was traded from Detroit to the Marlins Maybin spoke about his problem with ADD. I think that is legit. What is a problem to me is that he thought it was ok to change his meds without consulting MLB.
Do you really think he owes that to people, though? I mean, if he does wind advocating and whatnot, then great, but baseball players are generally insanely busy… practically year-round. I’d never blame the guy if he wanted to keep some of his personal life to himself. You should never just assume that of someone.
What do you say recruiting a new Padre GM? We have a great group of pitchers … not good but Great and absolutely nothing else. Man!
But a bad group of online fans.
Every fan base of every sport has a bad group of online fans. Heck after the Greinke Quentin incident some dodger fans made a F Quentin facebook page and advocated Kershaw Ryu and the other pitchers to throw at his head. At least when you go to a padres game you aren’t getting sent to the hospital by padres fans either.
You recruit the gm saying we will do it your way. You choose what players you want and well get rid of the money to clear room. They traded street 7 mill, looking to deal Benoit 8 mill, traded Headley and his salary and potential cap hit extension, they may trade Quentin and his money to the AL, trade ian Kennedy and his salary via arb next year which will rise. They’re clearing cap room and adding depth to cheap cost controlled pieces. They say the GM can run the show how he wants it’s an enticing situation. You get the cap room, cost controlled pieces, and already have pitching. You don’t need that much offense with great pitching. Great pitching w 3 runs a game will get you 90 wins easily.
Baseball doesn’t have a salary cap.
But the padres can’t afford to pay 100mill for payroll. They’re a small market team. Dumping salary means they can still get in under or right around what they can afford and let the new GM grab who he wants. There’s openings at 1B, 3rd or 2nd, outfield, closer, bullpen, starter. So by cap I mean what ownership can reasonably pay.
So this is the corresponding move for Francouer
Whoopee! Best Padres year ever!
I feel for Maybin. I suffer from the same condition and need to take medication for it. If he’s telling the truth, its a medical condition that requires medicine. In my opinion he’s not a cheater, he’s just a guy trying to treat his ailment. I feel for the kid.
He made no excuses simply told the media what happened and tools his lumps. It seems like he really has ADD and that it really is possible switching back to and old medication that worked better for him caused the positive test.
Hugs not drugs.
Hugs on drugs
It is arbitrary and dumb that amphetamines like adderall are banned.
No, what is “arbitrary and dumb” is that cannabis, where legalized for medical and/or recreational purposes remains banned. With New York’s now, erhm restrictive, Medical Cannabis ordinance, a majority of baseball teams reside in these states.
No one needs Pablo Sandoval to get any bigger or for Tim Lincecum to return to In N Out Burger.
These don’t seem like exclusive things to me. They’re both silly.
MLB doesn’t test for marijuana. And even if you are caught with it, you’re not suspended.
MiLB is a different story.
I’d say it’s probably dumber that we’re still using amphetamines to treat children that have ADHD. I have ADHD, am treated for it, and there are much better options.
…that’s probably a whole other topic, though. :)
None that are as effective and with minimal side effects. If you truly have ADHD you would know that Ritalin and other CNS drugs do not act like methamphetamines used recreationally to get high. They stimulate an underactive area of the brain controlling executive function which helps children and adults focus on tasks and reduces impulsivity and reactivity. People without ADD/ADHD already have sufficient stimulation so this is not a performance enhancer if taken by a properly diagnosed person for the right reasons.
I take adderall for my adhd
Maybin should be cut, we could trade 7 of our position starters and that would be a good start on what needs to happen. Veneballs needs to go, Deno needs to go, E. Cab needs to go, Alonso I am conflicted about but maybe he should even go, offense needs a overhaul like no other. Gyroko hitting .162 is pretty sad also I thought he was going to be the guy they build the team around.
You are conflicted about a guy hitting at the Mendoza line with no power at a power position, but you want to cut the best defensive player on the team? OK.
They could cut the entire offense and start over and it would be better then anything we are throwing up there now. It’s great and all that one guy can play great defense but if he’s hitting .200 and so is everyone else….who really cares
Stand up comment by Maybin (assuming he is being truthful).
$5 million for this character? And people think the Yankees overpay for players?
They do
Just like every other team. Newsflash.
Just like every other team. Newsflash.
Maybin can flat out play some CF… hitting, well thats a different story. The Padres are stacking some talent. – GO PADRES!
Assuming his story is true (and it’s easy enough to verify for the league offices) then I don’t think he should even be suspended. Not a big fan of zero tolerance policies. I think there is room for making distinctions without opening gaping loopholes that makes the rule dysfunctional.
A person with ADHD and a TUE should have no trouble figuring out that there are rules in effect and that a TUE only covers one specific drug. I’m puzzled why this wasn’t handled via the team medical staff, Maybin and his physician. Athletes at that level must have a list of things they take.
Hooray, another nationally embarrassing scandal for my Padres.
Even if he is truthful, and I think he is, no one really remembers the truth (just the accusations).