In the wake of the 80-game PED suspension handed to Blue Jays first baseman/designated hitter Chris Colabello on Friday, teammate Kevin Pillar had some choice words for Major League Baseball (Twitter link via Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet Magazine). “This is a guy that got caught up in a flawed system,” the outfielder said of Colabello. “He fell victim to a technicality in the system. And I think that the drug testing policy and Major League Baseball are going to have some soul searching to do and they’re going to have to figure it out.” Pillar didn’t elaborate on the “technicality” that he believes victimized Colabello. The 32-year-old tested positive in March for the banned substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid that’s designed to increase the user’s speed and strength. Colabello did pass four drug tests last year, though, tweets John Lott of VICE Sports.
More from Toronto and a couple other American League cities:
- The Blue Jays aren’t yet considering going outside the organization to replace Colabello, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link). Justin Smoak is first in line to pick up the slack, per Rosenthal, who points out that the team also has Matt Dominguez in Triple-A Buffalo. Rosenthal didn’t mention Jesus Montero, who’s with Dominguez in Buffalo. The former elite prospect has recorded a respectable .292/.341/.429 line in in 315 career plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said Friday that Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo and Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez (then the Rays’ bench coach) were the main runners-up to A.J. Hinch in Houston’s 2014 managerial search, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald writes. “I think he’s going to be a major league manager in the future, and a good one,” Luhnow said of Lovullo. “He has a great balance of instincts and wisdom from all of his coaching experience, and understanding and appreciation for all of the other elements that are involved.” Lovullo garnered some major league managerial experience last season when he filled in for John Farrell, who was undergoing treatment for lymphoma, and led the Red Sox to a 28-21 record. Hinch, meanwhile, helped the Astros to a playoff berth and finished second in the AL manager of the year voting. This year isn’t going nearly as well so far, however, as the Astros have gone a surprisingly poor 5-12.
- Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks will undergo an MRI after leaving the team’s win Friday with a jammed non-throwing (left) shoulder, reports Ryan Hatch of NJ Advance Media. “We told him: see how you feel when you wake up,” said manager Joe Girardi. “If you’re really sore, we’re going to send you for an MRI. And that’s what happened.” Hicks, whom the Yankees acquired from the Twins during the offseason, has appeared in 14 of 15 games this year and totaled just two singles and two walks in 24 plate appearances.
Either Pillar is roiding too or he’s a total crybaby because Colabello absolutely did that on purpose.
I thought pillar meant that it was a false positive or something like that, but after I googled what colabello took, I’m pretty sure that they couldnt have made a mistake. No doubt that colabello knowingly took peds
How do you know he absolutely did it on purpose? He was told he failed a test on In March and was only suspended now. That tells me that he must’ve had a fairly good case in the appeal.
Almost all suspensions are known by the player weeks in advance, that’s why so many players who are getting them play poorly in the weeks before its announced.
The only thing he “fell victim to” was his own poor decision making.
I mean it’s obvious Pillar is just trying to show he’s a good teammate, but his wording is so dreadful and implies he might be using PEDs too.
I’m not sure I read that as him possibly taking steroids, but it is some odd wording for sure. Now I’m just more curious to know wtf Pillar is talking about haha
Lovullo should be replacing Farrell right now IMO. The Red Sox had a different kind of approach/fire with Torey running the show last year. Aside from Farrell’s constant managerial gaffes, they often resemble zombies on the field under his “leadership”. If Boston isn’t noticeably above .500 (which they won’t be) by Memorial Day, look for Farrell to get the axe.
Yeah, firing the manager will make Porcello and Buccholz pitch better. They totally aren’t playing well due to diminished stuff, flaws in mechanics or other personal issues. Farrell should yelling at them to pitch better, then they will!
No, but it would eliminate Farrell’s egregious in-game managing and offer a break from Farrell’s jumbled bafflegab and doublespeak.
Lovullo has a good chance to be the Red Sox manager before the season ends if things go badly enough. The other day when Price had his meltdown, the Sox still had a chance to win but Farrell poorly managed the bullpen. Kept a few guys in too long, didn’t have anyone prepared to take over for situational hitters, etc. Basically he gave up.
Farrell was a terrible manager in Toronto, some of the dumbest managerial moves I’ve ever seen, however, he was a rookie, and Toronto didn’t have a strong roster at the time. Then he pulled the dream job exit crap. There isn’t any one personality that I dislike any more in baseball. I can’t wait for him to get fired he deserves it. You can almost tell by body language his players don’t care for him, and they did play very well under Luvullo last year.
The players actually like him very much. I get it you’re upset about the way he left Toronto, but there’s nothing to suggest the players dislike him.
Sorry, Mr. Pillar, but the only technicality that Mr. Colabello fell victim to is the technicality that he was tested for using PEDs. When you disagree with the premise of drug testing, you come across as a user yourself, or at least as someone sympathetic to the users. There is no “soul searching” necessary, unless it is you searching for your own soul.