# MLB: August **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 1, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078 "2013-08-01T13:51:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/61 "2013-08-05T15:44:43Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > By all accounts he’ll be suspended by MLB but will be allowed to play while his appeal is ongoing. Which he will lose, and result in a lifetime ban instead of only through 2014. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/62 "2013-08-05T15:47:45Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Which he will lose, and result in a lifetime ban instead of only through 2014. I think they’re only pushing for a ban through 2014- meaning that’s the maximum. The official announcement is supposed to come soon, so I guess we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/63 "2013-08-05T16:21:34Z")
Teams like the Yankees who can and will outbid other teams for free agents by offering blockbuster deals find out that most guys can’t live up to these deals in any form recognizable by the fans, either because you’ve signed them after a career year (Carl Pavano), or you’re getting them in the latter part of their prime (Mark Teixeira), or well after their prime and they’re juicing (ARod). Of course, Yankees fans like to think it’s because these guys can’t handle the pressure of NYC. They never consider the fact that outbidding everyone doesn’t mean the player is actually worth what he’s being (over)paid. The fans want the more homegrown Yankees that kicked butt from 1996-2000. Instead, they’ve still got the aging remains of the team the front office went all-in on and bought to win in 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/64 "2013-08-05T16:24:12Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Of course, Yankees fans like to think it’s because these guys can’t handle the pressure of NYC. They never consider the fact that outbidding everyone doesn’t mean the player is actually worth what he’s being (over)paid. From what I’ve seen, they’re well aware of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/65 "2013-08-05T18:33:47Z")
And it’s a done deed for the doping dozen(A-Rod not included) 50 games. Interesting timing. Lets them all come back for the Playoffs, for those who’s teams make it, But hurts a few of the teams that need those guys for the stretch run. If it had been me I’d have pushed for full season. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/66 "2013-08-05T18:37:09Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > And it’s a done deed for the doping dozen(A-Rod not included) 50 games. > Interesting timing. Lets them all come back for the Playoffs, for those who’s teams make it, But hurts a few of the teams that need those guys for the stretch run. If it had been me I’d have pushed for full season. [The full list is here.](http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9540076/mlb-suspensions-agreed-12-players-reports-say) Part of the case against Rodriguez is that he supposedly recruited other players to the clinic, and if that’s true I assume that’s how some of these other Yankees/former Yankees (Cervelli and Montero) got on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/67 "2013-08-05T19:08:14Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > If it had been me I’d have pushed for full season. I don’t understand this. There’s a structure in place for PED use - 50 games for your first strike. The players agreed to it, MLB agreed to it. It’s far more serious of a penalty than the NFL has. What’s your reasoning for wanting to push for more? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/68 "2013-08-05T19:10:52Z")
Everybody’s been reporting this for days but now it’s somehow breaking news again: Rodriguez will be suspended through the end of 2014 . The suspension is for violations of baseball’s drug policy, which means he’ll keep playing during the appeals process. The appeal should be heard within three weeks, but there’s no timetable on a ruling. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/69 "2013-08-05T19:23:35Z")
[Official MLB announcement regarding everyone not named Alex Rodriguez.](http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130805&content_id=55953176&c_id) ETA: Sorry, that link was to the official list. The Commissioner’s Office official statement is [here](http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130805&content_id=55962046&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb). ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/70 "2013-08-05T19:28:34Z")
Are the Yankees really going to trot A-Roid out there tonight? What a distraction. If I were the manager, A-Roid would have a box score each night that said DNP. Nothing is his contract says the Yankees actually have to play him, even if he is on the roster. It doesn’t appear they are making the postseason anyway. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/71 "2013-08-05T19:31:03Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I don’t understand this. There’s a structure in place for PED use - 50 games for your first strike. The players agreed to it, MLB agreed to it. It’s far more serious of a penalty than the NFL has. What’s your reasoning for wanting to push for more? I meant push the timing. Start the 50 days where they will bite into serious playoff time/ next year. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/72 "2013-08-05T19:59:51Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I meant push the timing. Start the 50 days where they will bite into serious playoff time/ next year. Cynic that I am, I believe this may all have to do with Arod. He’s ready to play now so they can’t postpone the announcement. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/73 "2013-08-05T20:03:18Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Cynic that I am, I believe this may all have to do with Arod. He’s ready to play now so they can’t postpone the announcement. It’s not about him. Baseball wanted the other players to accept their suspensions and waive their right to contest their punishments. The appeal of MLB’s offer was that they could get the suspensions out of the way and start fresh next year- some of the suspended guys will be free agents who would stand to lose money if they couldn’t play at the beginning of next year. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/74 "2013-08-05T20:11:31Z")
Nice article about ARod from Jeff Passan. > **[Sad road to Alex Rodriguez's 211-game ban, placement on MLB's Mount Rushmore...](https://sports.yahoo.com/sad-road-to-alex-rodriguez-s-211-game-suspension--placement-on-mlb-s-mount-rushmore-of-steroids-191528806.html)** > > This is the baseball death penalty. A-Rod has spent more than half his life in this game, spiraling to this sorry nadir. Baseball no longer wants him. I hadn’t heard about this: > [@](#): > > If it wasn’t for bad decisions, he wouldn’t have no decisions at all. He got married when he was still on the prowl, showing up on cover after tabloid cover with muscled-up bottle blondes. He kissed his own image in the mirror for a magazine photo shoot. **One conquest alleged that a picture of a centaur hung above his bed – and it featured A-Rod’s torso and head.** A centaur?! I love that. I think I’d have gone with a hydra, with 9 versions of my head making different faces, with a 10th decapitated head falling with a look of agony. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/75 "2013-08-05T20:30:10Z")
… and, at the other end, A-Rod is a horse’s ass. Fitting. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/76 "2013-08-05T20:30:47Z")
Yeah, that charming detail was in the NY tabloids a couple of years ago. It’s… something. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/77 "2013-08-05T21:30:02Z")
[Nelson Cruz blames his use of PEDs on an intestinal infection](http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-suspended-rangers-slugger-nelson-cruz-cites-infection-weight-loss-for-ped-use-20130805,0,3766146.story). I wonder how many other folks will issue statements actually trying to provide a reason or an excuse? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/78 "2013-08-05T21:47:50Z")
Reports say Horowitz probably won’t make a decision on the appeal until October or November, so that means you can expect Rodriguez to play out the season. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/79 "2013-08-05T21:56:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Reports say Horowitz probably won’t make a decision on the appeal until October or November, so that means you can expect Rodriguez to play out the season. Does the arbitrator decide only on which side prevails? Or if he rules in favor of MLB, would he also have the ability to adjust (up or down) the length of the suspension initially put forward by MLB, as well? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078/80 "2013-08-05T21:59:34Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Does the arbitrator decide only on which side prevails? Or if he rules in favor of MLB, would he also have the ability to adjust (up or down) the length of the suspension initially put forward by MLB, as well? I assume he can shorten the suspension but I don’t see how he can extend it beyond the length MLB has asked for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august/665078.md?page=5)