The MLB and MLBPA finally agreed on 'tougher measures' against steroid abuse.
A first positive test would result in a penalty of 10 days, a second positive test in a 30-day ban, a third positive in a 60-day penalty, and a fourth positive test in a one-year ban — all without pay. A player who tests positive a fifth time would be subject to discipline determined by the commissioner.
"It's more for our protection than anything else," Boston pitcher Tim Wakefield said.
Under the previous agreement, a first positive test resulted only in treatment, and a second positive test was subject to a 15-day suspension. Only with a fifth positive test would a player subject to a one-year ban.No player was suspended for steroid use in 2004, the first season of testing with penalties. "We're acting today to help restore the confidence of our fans," Selig said.
I know it's not much and hardly the sort of tough measures you'd expect. Heck, Shane Warne copped it tougher for his diuretic faux pas.
However it's a start. Give people credit where it's due.
Bud Selig is not a popular man, but I understand he has been pretty serious about such measures since long before the 1994 strike. I give him full credit for that alone. I think he is much maligned and I think that in spite of the massive issues of conflicting interest, he should be remembered for the first step in stopping steroid abuse in the Major Leagues.
LA Moneyball Confidential
At the beginning of 2004, Paul DePodesta (who featured heavily in 'Moneyball') was hired by Frank McCourt to GM that fabled franchise. A year later, the LA Dodgers are retooling for their 2005 campaign; much in the manner one would expect from Paul DePodesta, which seems to rub sports journalists the wrong way.
The last Dodger lineup that won a game — on Oct. 9 — hit 161 home runs in the regular season. Forty-eight of them came from Beltre (they screwed up). The next Dodger lineup — coming April 5 — hit 147 home runs last season, assuming Choi at first base and David Ross at catcher. Or, in strict "Moneyball" terms, the new lineup drew 432 walks to the old one's 403. Stricter still, the average player's on-base plus slugging percentage in October's lineup was .774, against April player's .791. We have no idea what that means for April 5 against the San Francisco Giants, other than that none of it will replace Beltre, standing on one good ankle, carrying everybody on the barrel of his bat.
So, it cost the Dodgers Beltre. In some ninth inning in the near future, it will cost Jim Tracy his defensive replacement and, perhaps, Eric Gagne a save. It cost Shawn Green, a wonderful, caring guy not worth $16 million, but whose contract brought Lowe.
In the moments before he'd leave for the owners' meetings in Phoenix on Wednesday, McCourt stood for photos with Lowe, then slowly walked a high-ceilinged corridor to the left-field corner. In their first full off-season together, his general manager had overhauled the 25-man roster, primped the farm system and bargained to the final nickel with the manager and his coaching staff. And McCourt had raised ticket prices for the best seats, started construction on better seats, and stood against the squall as first Beltre and then Green departed.
I remember the 1977-1979 Dodgers who were built on their deep farm system; something that as a young Yankee fan, I secretly envied. I wanted to be able to say, "yeah, our guys came up through the farm system too." It took until the 1995-2000 Yankee to be able to say that stuff.
"You think Derek Jeter is something? Well, he's homegrown too!"
It's way cool to be able to say that stuff. Couldn't say that about Catfish Hunter or Reggie Jackson.
Some of DePodesta's moves have obviously not been popular with their long-time fans in LA. The Dodgers have a deep farm system, with a very intelligent, astute man running trades and roster management. I do think that the Dodgers are likely to emerge as the NL West powerhouse in years to come.
- Art Neuro
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