April 3, 200521 yr On the front page of ESPN.com... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2029037 Devil Rays outfielder suspended 10 days ESPN.com news services TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez was suspended 10 days for violating major league baseball's new drug policy, the first player publicly identified under baseball's tougher rules. Major League Baseball announced the suspension Sunday. It begins on Monday. Sanchez said he was surprised by the suspension, adding that he uses milkshakes and multivitamins to build his energy -- and blaming the positive test on something he bought over the counter. "I'm going to fight it, because I've never taken steroids or anything like that," Sanchez said. Sanchez said he was drug tested while he was with the Tigers. It has been an emotional month for Sanchez. The center fielder was reunited with his mother for the first time in 11 years in mid-March. Five days later, he was released by the Tigers. Sanchez had frustrated Detroit with his sloppy play in the field in the past, and did again during spring training. Sanchez left Cuba on a raft 11 years ago, leaving his family behind. On March 10, Sanchez reunited with his mother and brother in Miami, where he has a house with his wife and twin boys. Sanchez's mother and brother escaped from Cuba by boat and spent time in Mexico and Texas before traveling by bus to Miami. Besides Sanchez's defensive shortcomings, he also struggled to get on base when a bunt or single didn't get him on first base -- a big problem for a leadoff hitter. In 365 games, he has drawn 68 walks. His career batting average is .292 over four seasons in the majors with a .327 on-base percentage. Sanchez batted .322 in last season, but his on-base percentage was just .335 because he walked just seven times and he played just 79 games because of leg injuries. In 2003, he stole 52 bases in 101 games with the Tigers and 43 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Sanchez had a $1.35 million, one-year contract that was not guaranteed. By releasing him before March 18, the Tigers owe 30 days' termination pay, $221,311, instead of 45 days' termination pay, $331.967. Edited April 3, 200521 yr by greasywheels121
April 3, 200521 yr Yeah I saw the headline on ESPNews. It'll be interesting to see how he's portrayed after this.
April 3, 200521 yr Remember steroids could help to boost your speed, so the fact that he only had 2 hr last year shouldn't be all that shocking. He's taking them for agility.
April 4, 200521 yr Thats probly why the Tiggies dumped him, they knew he was on juice and let his cheating ass go...
April 4, 200521 yr QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ Apr 3, 2005 -> 06:00 PM) Thats probly why the Tiggies dumped him, they knew he was on juice and let his cheating ass go... Exactly.
April 4, 200521 yr QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 3, 2005 -> 08:50 PM) Remember steroids could help to boost your speed, so the fact that he only had 2 hr last year shouldn't be all that shocking. He's taking them for agility. Also, I believe they can help your muscles heal faster (though obviously they don't help other parts of your body over the long term) -- and Sanchez had some muscle injuries last year. He was out from early August to the end of the season with a quadricep injury. Just a theory.
April 4, 200521 yr Sanchez said he was surprised by the suspension, adding that he uses milkshakes and multivitamins to build his energy -- and blaming the positive test on something he bought over the counter. "I'm going to fight it, because I've never taken steroids or anything like that," Sanchez said. I believe him.
April 4, 200521 yr QUOTE(Nokona @ Apr 3, 2005 -> 08:40 PM) I guess this proves that it really can be just about anyone. Yep, it's not just the league leaders. I bet some guys who juice might not even be in the bigs if they were clean.
April 4, 200521 yr He took steroids so that he would bunt with power. That way, the ball would get to 3rd base faster and hence he would get out more often than not. :headshake Edited April 4, 200521 yr by sox-r-us
April 4, 200521 yr a 10 day suspension is nothing..... its pretty pathetic on how small it is... If i had my way if you were caught once you would be out for the season if caught twice your days playing baseball are over... and if caught once while your still in the minors leagues your done no tolerance.
April 4, 200521 yr How sad is it that suspending someone for steroids is considered a victory for the sport?
April 4, 200521 yr Says he didnt take anything "incorrect", I'm one to believe innocent until proven guilty but come one here. A test is a test. You failed your guilty. I really dont believe any ball player when they say, they've never taken steriods.
April 4, 200521 yr I'm not saying he's innocent. Just talking about the testing process. I would like to know what the testing procedures are. If there is a second test conducted at a different lab and how accurate the tests are. Nothing is 100% accurate. 99.9 means one in a thousand will be wrong. Either a false negative or a false positive. Isn't it poppy seeds that can trigger a false positive on some drug tests? This also highlights how these guys have to be careful with over the counter typoes of stuff. I imagine some of these drugs are trying to mimick the real deal stuff, perhaps they come close enough to trigger a false reading.
April 4, 200521 yr QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Apr 4, 2005 -> 04:36 AM) a 10 day suspension is nothing..... its pretty pathetic on how small it is... If i had my way if you were caught once you would be out for the season if caught twice your days playing baseball are over... and if caught once while your still in the minors leagues your done no tolerance. The problem with that is that there's still a flaw in the testing (I thought I heard on BBTN), and that there are still the possibilities of false positives.
April 5, 200521 yr QUOTE(Texsox @ Apr 4, 2005 -> 08:23 AM) I'm not saying he's innocent. Just talking about the testing process. I would like to know what the testing procedures are. If there is a second test conducted at a different lab and how accurate the tests are. Nothing is 100% accurate. 99.9 means one in a thousand will be wrong. Either a false negative or a false positive. Isn't it poppy seeds that can trigger a false positive on some drug tests? You have to eat a whole crapload of poppy seeds (I've heard the equivilant of 18 poppy seed muffics) to test positive. So, yes it but in that case odds are you're on herion not going crazy at the muffin store.... And to be honest 99.9% accuracy is good enough for me--do they give them a second test (or do a second test on the sample) before kicking them out? That would clear out the problem of false positives....
April 5, 200521 yr You're lying. Seinfeld speaks the truth on this one. Just ask elaine. One poppy seed bagel and she's on her way to rehab.
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