Report: Alex Rodriguez suspended through 2014 but will be able to play during appeal

[erpowers]

Source: Washington Post

New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, the marquee name in baseball’s latest performance-enhancing drug scandal that originated at a South Florida anti-aging clinic, will be suspended through the 2014 season, though Rodriguez will be allowed to play as he pursues an appeal of the decision, according to a report Sunday night by the Associated Press.

The AP cited an anonymous source in saying the Yankees had been informed of the impending suspension. Officials from Major League Baseball and Rodriguez’s attorney, David Cornwell, did not respond to inquiries late Sunday night.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/report-alex-rodriguez-suspended-through-2014-but-will-be-able-to-play-during-appeal/2013/08/04/7afd9b12-fd7a-11e2-96a8-d3b921c0924a_story.html

---

It Seems many knew this was coming, but it is finally here. A few minutes ago MLB released a statement regarding Alex Rodriguez's suspension.

[Sanity Claws]

1. If he does not play until 2015, he will be too old to return

He is now 38 and has been injured this year. He won't be up to playing in 2015, at least not without drugs.

[Bully Taw]

3. true...

in essence, a lifetime ban. And the Yankees still have to pay him after the suspension is up.

[Sanity Claws]

6. I think that is why he is appealing the ban

At least the appeal will give him a chance to finish off the season.

[Bully Taw]

7. yes.

Everything he is doing now is to protect money that he is owed by the Yankees. He isn't concerned about not playing the game anymore. I think he would walk away if he could take the money with him.

[IggleDoer]

9. Wouldn't it be convenient ...

... if he got injured again shortly after he resumes playing?

[shenmue]

2. Good riddance

Lewis Black called Barry Bonds a cheating douchebag. It seems to be a virus that's catching.

[Hayabusa]

4. If he does play, and the decision is upheld

all of the games he played in would have to be made up. Ouch. Yeah, I wouldn't put him in the lineup next year.

[dbackjon]

5. That is incorrect

Many players have played appealing suspensions. Some suspensions have been upheld, but the outcome of the games were never altered.

[Hayabusa]

8. I thought I read that this would be case in this instance

I could easily be mistaken however.

[dbackjon]

13. No - to have that threat would be unfair

What if the suspended players appeal was reversed? And the team held him out due to fear of having to forfeit or replay?

[Bertha Venation]

10. Baseball has no cojones.

Pete Rose -- banned for betting.

Alex Rodriguez -- merely suspended for cheating.

I want to vomit.

[theHandpuppet]

17. +1

Plus A-Rod will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[Lugal Zaggesi]

25. If Pete Rose bet AGAINST his team

I would see the seriousness in this "baseball sin".

But he always bet they would win. What's wrong with that ?

This is in stark contrast to the infamous “Black Sox” scandal of 1919 when bookies paid off eight players of the Chicago White Sox to throw the World Series.
All of the evidence shows that Pete in fact always bet on his Cincinnati Reds to win.

[Initech]

11. If you ask me he got off light.

Joe Paterno's records were suspended, Lance Armstrong's records were suspended, MLB should start doing the same. Otherwise it's going to keep happening over and over.

[rhett o rick]

19. I agree. It should have been a lifetime ban to make a statement. nm

[Aristus]

12. I stopped caring about you years, ago, Pay-Rod.

Play. Don't play.

I don't care.

If you had to cheat in order to compete, you're worthless...

[jakefrep]

14. A-Rod should fight this to the death.

At this stage of his career, a 200-game suspension might as well be a lifetime ban. He's got nothing to lose.

I don't like the guy, but MLB needs to be compelled to present the evidence to justify such a lengthy ban.

I don't see how a bunch of "non-analytical positives" based on dubiously-obtained information is cause for celebration. MLB's handling of this reeks to high heaven.

"Performance-enhancing" drug use doesn't justify a lifetime ban, anyway, especially since the line between legitimate medical treatment and "performance-enhancing" treatment seems blurry and arbitrarily drawn.

[rhett o rick]

23. He is the epitome of what's wrong in pro sports. He should have been banned for life.

He is a cheater that's been rewarded with hundreds of millions of dollars. They were too kind to the bastard. If he was on any team but the NY Yankees (God's team) he would have been handed a stiffer sentence. The Yankees represent the evil of greed.

[jakefrep]

28. Where's the proof he cheated?

MLB hasn't produced enough evidence to justify a life ban. Not that taking so-called "performance-enhancing" drugs justifies a lifetime ban.

[rhett o rick]

30. MLB doesnt have to prove anything to you. Baseball has been destroyed by the greed

of players and owners at the expense of taxpayers. In Seattle the Mariners wanted a new stadium. The owners promised to pay for cost overruns. When there were cost overruns the owners refused to pay. Taxpayers get screwed each way. Georgie Bush made millions off taxpayers when he sold his Texas team. Do I sound bitter? Damn right. The NY Yankees should be put in a league of their own, by themselves. Let them play the WAshingto Generals.

[jakefrep]

31. Not sure what any of the crap you're ranting about has to do with ARod.

And no, MLB doesn't have to prove anything to ME. But you can't suspend anybody for life without solid evidence.

[marble falls]

15. Not much of a punishment. He won't make it into Cooperstown. BFD.

[AsahinaKimi]

16. I wonder if that *asterix ball

ever made it to Cooperstown?




oh, I guess it did..
http://www.today.com/id/20987026/ns/today-today_news/t/verdict-bonds-ball-headed-cooperstown/#.UgAiZKxELbo


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/sports/baseball/02ball.html

[Ken Burch]

18. This has to end with A-Rod and Silvio Berlosconi doing a reality show.

[UglyGreed]

20. Perfect timing to

get the Yankees out from under his contract......

[heather blossom]

21. disgusted

I am a lifelong baseball fan. I love the game. I am so disgusted to see that Alex Rodriguez playing.why did Bud Selig wimp out? He should have taken the gamble and banned him in the best interests of baseball. I am glad to see the others players take their suspensions. I hope the players that were suspended are subject to random drug tests when reinstated.I personally would prefer to see MLB adopt the same rules as the Olympics, first offense 2 years, second banned for life.

[theHandpuppet]

22. Scumbag should have been banned from the game

As it is, he'll be sunning himself by the pool and counting his money. Doesn't really provide much of an incentive for future transgressors.

[jakefrep]

29. MLB has abused its power. A-Rod SHOULD fight the ban.

[Socal31]

24. Can we all agree that this needs to stay in the MLB/Union?

I hated the dog and pony show that wasted LEO resources that Bu$h and his puppets undertook in the 00's.

[Lugal Zaggesi]

26. I'm glad MLB caught a few dozen cheaters

But does anybody really think that a small anti-aging clinic in a strip mall near the University of Miami Hurricanes baseball team is the ONLY source of PEDs for MLB players in the whole world ?

I'm betting there's got to be at least one other slimy doctor in the world that is even better at keeping secrets than Dr. Bosch. This scandal only broke because Dr. Bosch skipped paying his employees and investors for many months, angering Porter Fischer enough to snoop around and turn over boxes of documents to a newspaper.

Imagine a well-run clinic where everyone is paid and happy...

A-Rod and Ryan Braun used to live in the Miami area (Braun played for the University of Miami Hurricanes). Guess how many MLB players haven't lived in Miami and play extremely well ?

[malthaussen]

27. So, he's suspended...

... but not really suspended. If we want him to be suspended, we'll have to put him on double-secret suspension.

-- Mal