Diamonds For Women

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Wed 5/4/16 7:54 pm Post subject:

Well, back to the "good guy" who was caught, here's what Dylan Hernandez wrote in the Times over the weekend:

"How a Good Guy like Dee Gordon Turned into a Villain"

When Miami Marlins Manager Don Mattingly spoke to reporters about Dee Gordon’s 80-game drug suspension for the first time, he didn’t sound irritated, as he often does when questioned about something unpleasant.

Mattingly was heartbroken. You could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.

“I feel like he’s one of my kids, to be honest with you,” said Mattingly, who also managed Gordon with the Dodgers.

Mattingly almost certainly wasn’t alone. Gordon would be likable in any segment of society, but his personality especially stood out in baseball, where a number of players are self-absorbed and emotionally underdeveloped. The mistake was in thinking someone like this would be above cheating.

Gordon’s positive test was a reminder of an uncomfortable truth about human nature, which is that everyone has a price. With millions of dollars at stake, it would be incredibly naïve to think only the complete scoundrels would cheat. Offer a reward that’s extreme enough and it will compromise even the most admirable of constitutions.

Even Gordon’s, evidently.

Gordon is one of the warmest and most polite players in his sport, which in and of itself says a lot about who he is. He lost his mother when he was 6 —she was murdered by a boyfriend — and could have become bitter or downcast. He had the fortitude instead to develop a consistently upbeat persona.

Some players with positive images are friendly in front of television cameras but nowhere else. Others are selective with whom they interact, engaging primarily with those who can enhance their public profiles.

Gordon never displayed that kind of cynicism. He traded jokes and talking about sneakers with Japanese reporters who never wrote about him. He never attempted to magnify his status by pretending not to know someone’s name.

So when Gordon emerged as a star last year in the wake of his trade to the Marlins, almost everyone in the game was delighted for him. He topped the National League in both hitting and steals, becoming the first player to do so since Jackie Robinson in 1949.

One of the good guys had won.

But now this happened.

Gordon inflicted further damage to his reputation Friday when he released a statement saying he didn’t know how anabolic steroids entered his system, which is baseball’s equivalent of the-dog-ate-my-homework excuse.

If Gordon could cross that invisible line separating the players who don’t cheat from the ones who do, what would stop anyone else?

Fair or not, everyone is now a suspect.

If the past decade dispelled myths about what a steroid user’s body should look like, Gordon’s suspicion did the same for what a steroid user’s personality profile should be.

And, really, as disappointing as it is, it shouldn’t be a surprise.

It was only two years ago that Gordon went to spring training as a player without a place on the Dodgers roster. Displaced by Hanley Ramirez as the starting shortstop, he had spent the majority of the previous season in the minor leagues. His existence as a professional athlete was in danger.

Gordon is now in the first year of a five-year, $50-million contract. His suspension will cost him only $1.6 million.

Provided he didn’t start using drugs this year, his decision to run afoul the rules was a no-brainer of business decision.

The last time I saw Andrew Friedman, I jokingly introduced him to someone as “the guy who traded Dee Gordon.”

I suppose I should take this opportunity to apologize to Friedman, as well as Dodgers General Manager Farhan Zaidi, who had to listen to me make wisecracks about Gordon over the last however many months.

::
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"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 5/12/16 2:40 pm Post subject:

Raul Mondesi, Jr. is the latest to be suspended for violation of PED policy.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 6/2/16 8:39 am Post subject:

And now, Marlon Byrd...for a full season.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 6146 Location: San Diego

I see it was not posted about, but there was news last week about Ryan Howard being cleared.
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"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 4/18/17 1:11 pm Post subject:

And the first bump for the 2017 season!--Pirates CF Starling Marte has been suspended for 80 games. Big blow for the Bucs.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 6146 Location: San Diego

_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 4/20/17 1:29 pm Post subject:

From Sports on Earth: fact vs. fiction.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 3/20/18 10:56 pm Post subject:

Two more big suspensions, Bonifacio and Polanco.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 5/15/18 11:36 pm Post subject:

And now, Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano has been suspended for 80 games.

Seriously...???
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 6146 Location: San Diego

I wonder what it is that makes these guys think they do not have to check to be absolutely sure, with their agent like they are advised. Rolling Eyes

_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 5/24/18 5:53 pm Post subject:

And now it's Welington Castillo! The White Sox catcher has been suspended for 80 games for use of a banned substance.

The beat goes on...
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Wed 3/27/19 11:29 pm Post subject:

I noticed that this thread had had no updates since last May.

Perhaps it's not as timely, but it should be noted that RHP Steven Wright of the world champion Red Sox was suspended for PED use, for 80 games.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 6146 Location: San Diego

I have not followed the Red Sox much this season other to know they struggled in the first couple of months. So I am not sure what happened with Wright, as that was 4 months ago.

Oakland RHP Frankie Montas was just suspended 80 games for testing positive for a banned substance that was something he got over the counter - link from mlb.com
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

sunnyblue · Posted: Tue 6/25/19 5:03 pm Post subject:

That's going to hurt them, too because he was pitching really well.

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 2/18/20 9:08 pm Post subject:

You know, I really need to update the suspensions of the last couple of months...

As if things aren't bad enough for the Astros, minor league RHP Francis Martes has now received a second suspension, this time for the 2020 season.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 3/6/20 11:10 pm Post subject:

Free agent RHP Victor Alcantara has been suspended for 80 games...although I guess it doesn't really affect him if he isn't signed.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 7/23/20 11:46 am Post subject:

Oops! This is last month's news, but I'm doing my best housecleaning as I get ready for the season opener tonight.

Pirates RHP/reliever Edgar Santana has been suspended for 80 games, and this follows a season in which he sat out recovering from TJ surgery.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 11/20/20 9:40 pm Post subject:

Well, short season or not this year, Mets second baseman Robinson Cano has now been suspended for the full season of 2021 (assuming that much takes place) for testing positive for Stanozolol.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame