Arbitrator hands down 162 Games for A-Rod

[ABQCOWBOY]

A-Rod's ban reduced to 162 games.

By Wallace Matthews | ESPNNewYork.com
Updated: January 11, 2014, 2:10 PM ET

Alex Rodriguez has been suspended for the entire 2014 season by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who handed down a 162-game ban to the New York Yankees third baseman for his involvement in Major League Baseball's Biogenesis scandal.

Horowitz's ruling upholds a good portion of the original 211-game suspension levied by MLB, which banned Rodriguez in August after concluding its investigation. Rodriguez continued playing after appealing the decision.

Click on this link to read the entire article:
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10278277/alex-rodriguez-suspension-reduced-162-games

The suspension also includes all potential playoff games in 2014.

 

[Rogah]

Meanwhile he promises to be at spring training this March. I'm sure his employers are just thrilled at that prospect.

Has there ever been a team so happy to see one of their own suspended for a full year?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Such a head-shaking story.

 

[Kristen82]

Well, NYY didn't get all they wanted but at least they'll have the $24 mil they don't have to pay ARod to throw at Tanaka.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Well, NYY didn't get all they wanted but at least they'll have the $24 mil they don't have to pay ARod to throw at Tanaka.

I think they sign Reynolds to play 3rd base in a platoon situation with Kelly Johnson.

Together they'll hit about .225 with 25 HR's, 75 RBI's and a million K's, while hitting 7th.

Defense won't be great (obviously).

 

[Rogah]

Well, NYY didn't get all they wanted but at least they'll have the $24 mil they don't have to pay ARod to throw at Tanaka.

Does anyone know how they are looking against the luxury tax cap this year? I haven't been following it so I don't know if dropping A-Rod's $24 mil brings them under.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Does anyone know how they are looking against the luxury tax cap this year? I haven't been following it so I don't know if dropping A-Rod's $24 mil brings them under.

It would bring them under but if they sign Tanaka (and a couple other inexpensive FA's) they're going to be over.

Over the last couple months the "Under $189 mil or bust" slogan has lost a little of its oomph. Especially after some tidbits were released about how much income the Yankees lost by not fielding a competitive team this year.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Looks like Reynolds is out and Scott Sizemore is the guy the Yankees will platoon with at 3B.

 

[bounce]

I'll agree that ARod has been a grade A *** through all of this, and isn't coming across as very likable, but MLB is just using him as the scapegoat for the whole PED thing. The whole goose chase about PEDs has been embarrassing for MLB, and they've handled it all about as poorly as it could be handled.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'll agree that ARod has been a grade A *** through all of this, and isn't coming across as very likable, but MLB is just using him as the scapegoat for the whole PED thing. The whole goose chase about PEDs has been embarrassing for MLB, and they've handled it all about as poorly as it could be handled.

I think that you are correct in that MLB is making an example of A-Rod and that they also hold a certain amount of responsibility but I also think that A-Rod deserves everything he gets. I mean, MLB basically gave him a chance to come correct in like 2009-2010, after having admitted to using, and he basically went right back and did it again. According to testimony, he bribed, threatened, distributed and used again. He deserves to be made an example of IMO.

 

[bounce]

I think that you are correct in that MLB is making an example of A-Rod and that they also hold a certain amount of responsibility but I also think that A-Rod deserves everything he gets. I mean, MLB basically gave him a chance to come correct in like 2009-2010, after having admitted to using, and he basically went right back and did it again. According to testimony, he bribed, threatened, distributed and used again. He deserves to be made an example of IMO.

I don't disagree with any of that. I'm ok with the suspension, and I think ARod dug this hole himself. Honestly, if what is being said about him is true (bribery, threats, etc) then he should look consider himself lucky he's not facing jailtime instead of just a suspension. I just think MLB is trying to look like a victim in all of this - like they were being cheated by these players and are just as surprised as anyone when another name comes out. The bottom line is, they knew all along. And they encouraged it. They NEEDED the PEDs in 1998 with McGwire and Sosa. They watched Bonds hit 73 bombs, and they looked the other way - if not flat out encouraged it.

The numbers these guys put up put money in their pockets, and they were ok with it. Only when congress got involved did they want to stop it to save face.

They're going to play up the fact that ARod finally being suspended is them solving the problem. And then they'll be "surprised" and "cheated" when another big name comes up. Just like they were shocked when Mac and Sosa were dirty. And Braun was dirty. And Clemens was dirty. Repeat repeat repeat.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't disagree with any of that. I'm ok with the suspension, and I think ARod dug this hole himself. Honestly, if what is being said about him is true (bribery, threats, etc) then he should look consider himself lucky he's not facing jailtime instead of just a suspension. I just think MLB is trying to look like a victim in all of this - like they were being cheated by these players and are just as surprised as anyone when another name comes out. The bottom line is, they knew all along. And they encouraged it. They NEEDED the PEDs in 1998 with McGwire and Sosa. They watched Bonds hit 73 bombs, and they looked the other way - if not flat out encouraged it.

The numbers these guys put up put money in their pockets, and they were ok with it. Only when congress got involved did they want to stop it to save face.

They're going to play up the fact that ARod finally being suspended is them solving the problem. And then they'll be "surprised" and "cheated" when another big name comes up. Just like they were shocked when Mac and Sosa were dirty. And Braun was dirty. And Clemens was dirty. Repeat repeat repeat.

I don't disagree at all. MLB had to know what was going on and many, many spoke up at the time. Many said that they didn't want these records to eclipse the records of Ball Players who came before but MLB pretty much looked the other way. I completely agree with that.

 

[jrumann59]

PEDS of the 90's and early 2000's I will not believe that they were only used in that era. I think that era was too obvious but I believe PEDs or whatever you want to call them have been around longer. Any fan that refuses to believe are being naive. The records are what they are and if you believe PEDs were used in a 30 year window only well I have some ocean front property on the moon for sale.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

PEDS of the 90's and early 2000's I will not believe that they were only used in that era. I think that era was too obvious but I believe PEDs or whatever you want to call them have been around longer. Any fan that refuses to believe are being naive. The records are what they are and if you believe PEDs were used in a 30 year window only well I have some ocean front property on the moon for sale.

I don't believe it could have been much before the 80/70s. The technology was just not there to really take advantage of it. I think that it really started in the 80s. I would guess that there were a few players in the late 70s and perhaps a select few in the early 70s but honestly, you had steroids then and the results of those are very different from the modern HGH or PEDs. Yeah, they would grow muscle mass but that doesn't really help you in Baseball. Be as strong as you want but unless you are a pitcher, it probably doesn't help because you still have to be agile to field and you still have to be able to be quick with the Bat. I'm guessing that this is why it wasn't typically used as widely as it is today.

 

[joseephuss]

I agree that some sort of PED usage had been going around since the late 70s at least. Perhaps it wasn't as wide spread, but the stuff was available at that time.

Pete Rose probably used. Look how big his head is. That noggin looked much larger while he was with the Phillies in the early 80s than it did earlier in his career. In all honesty, every player of that era should be questioned. Even players that people think should not be questioned.

 

[Kristen82]

It would bring them under but if they sign Tanaka (and a couple other inexpensive FA's) they're going to be over.

Over the last couple months the "Under $189 mil or bust" slogan has lost a little of its oomph. Especially after some tidbits were released about how much income the Yankees lost by not fielding a competitive team this year.

Gardner, Nova, and Robertson are arbitration-eligible so that should push their payroll up too.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Arbitrator used Bosch, notes, texts
Updated: January 13, 2014, 6:32 PM ET By Wallace Matthews | ESPNNewYork.com


NEW YORK -- In the final analysis, the arbitrator found the word of a "drug dealer'' to be more credible than that of Alex Rodriguez.

A combination of the testimony of Anthony Bosch, the notebooks documenting A-Rod's drug protocols, and hundreds of text messages exchanged between the two men were enough to convince Fredric Horowitz that Rodriguez "clearly and convincingly'' committed "multiple violations'' of baseball's Joint Drug Agreement.

"While the length of the suspension may be unprecedented for a MLB player,'' Horowitz wrote, "so is the misconduct he committed.''

Click on link below to read entire article:
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/sto...estimony-biogenesis-records-texts-were-enough

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Gardner, Nova, and Robertson are arbitration-eligible so that should push their payroll up too.

There is a very good chance that Gardner will be traded for pitching. Nova might go that route but if the Yankees do sign Tanaka and Jimenez or Bailey, they might just let him go. To me, if the Yankees get Tanaka, then they are probably all in any how and staying under the 189 number won't matter so it's a go for broke attitude they will probably have. Robertson is interesting because he is probably the piece the Yankees will not give up but the problem is, he might not get that much of a bump this year because this is his first year as closer for the Yankees.

Still, you are right, it will cost them something if they keep them all but if they sign some pitchers, it won't matter. They are going to be spending a lot more.

 

[jrumann59]

I don't believe it could have been much before the 80/70s. The technology was just not there to really take advantage of it. I think that it really started in the 80s. I would guess that there were a few players in the late 70s and perhaps a select few in the early 70s but honestly, you had steroids then and the results of those are very different from the modern HGH or PEDs. Yeah, they would grow muscle mass but that doesn't really help you in Baseball. Be as strong as you want but unless you are a pitcher, it probably doesn't help because you still have to be agile to field and you still have to be able to be quick with the Bat. I'm guessing that this is why it wasn't typically used as widely as it is today.

THe only thing I agree with the PED users is it does not help you hit the ball you have to have that ability, what it does do is makes a line drive out a single, a single possibly a double and a double possibly a triple or HR.

 

[bounce]

I don't believe it could have been much before the 80/70s. The technology was just not there to really take advantage of it. I think that it really started in the 80s. I would guess that there were a few players in the late 70s and perhaps a select few in the early 70s but honestly, you had steroids then and the results of those are very different from the modern HGH or PEDs. Yeah, they would grow muscle mass but that doesn't really help you in Baseball. Be as strong as you want but unless you are a pitcher, it probably doesn't help because you still have to be agile to field and you still have to be able to be quick with the Bat. I'm guessing that this is why it wasn't typically used as widely as it is today.

HGH is much more rampant than it was (probably), but PEDs in some form or fashion have been used forever. People like Willie Mays and Willie Stargell were accused of providing "greenies" - an amphetamine like Adderall or Ritalin - which are both banned in baseball. Guys in pro sports look for any edge with drugs. I'm sure there are plenty of clean players out there, but PEDs have been around a long long time.

Tom House pitched in the 60s, and said that they "took steroids you wouldn't give to horses." Babe Ruth injected himself with sheep testosterone. Pud Galvin used Brown-Sequard Elixir, a testosterone pulled from dogs in 1889.

The purity of baseball past is a nice romantic idea, but it's patently false. Honestly, this is probably the cleanest era of baseball that's ever been played. That's what I hate about people trying to discount records from the HGH era, when the records they broke were set in "dirty" eras, as well.