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From: HTP on 21 Apr 2010 14:58
On Apr 21, 10:50 am, tom dunne <dunn...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 21, 12:59 pm, HTP <tmbowma...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > For Volquez to admit such a thing, he either is lying and has no
> > shame, or he has decided that his integrity as a ballplayer trumps his
> > personal shame about his medical problem.
>
> This is where I come out on the topic, and I lean toward the latter
> because if it's a lie, it's unusually embarrassing.  

I tend to agree on this point. Also, if his statement was a carefully
crafted and shameless effort at garnering sympathy after being caught
redhanded, then i would be puzzled by his unwillingness to appeal.
That seems inconsistent with the type of person who imagines himself
crafty enough to continually get away with stuff. I've know people
like that. I have a brother like that. He would get caught doing
something and then would tell lie after lie to convince you that he
did nothing wrong, and he would attempt to play on your sympathy if
that would do the trick. At no point would he ever admit he'd done
anything wrong. He's probably in prison to this very day proclaiming
his innocence on a variety of charges.

Right now i just dont know enough to make any firm judgements. But no
harm has been done and he's trying to put it behind him.

>
> *****
> “Prior to the conclusion of last season, my wife and I sought medical
> advice in Cincinnati with the hope of starting a family.  As part of
> my consultation with the physician, I received certain prescribed
> medications to treat my condition.  As a follow up to our original
> consultation, my wife and I visited another physician in our home city
> in the Dominican Republic this past off-season. This physician also
> gave me certain prescribed medications as part of my treatment.
> Unfortunately, I now know that the medication the physician in the
> Dominican gave me is one that is often used to treat my condition, but
> is also a banned substance under Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
> As a result, I tested positive when I reported to spring training.
>
> “Although I understand that I must accept responsibility for this
> mistake and have chosen not to challenge my suspension, I want to
> assure everyone that this was an isolated incident involving my
> genuine effort to treat a common medical issue and start a family.  I
> was not trying in any way to gain an advantage in my baseball career.
> I am embarrassed by this whole situation and apologize to my family,
> friends, fans, teammates, and the entire Reds Organization for being a
> distraction and for causing them any difficulty.  I simply want to
> accept the consequences, learn from the mistake, and continue to
> strive to be the best person and baseball player I can be.”
> *****

From: John Kasupski on 21 Apr 2010 15:55
On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:49:29 -0700 (PDT), HTP <tmbowman25(a)yahoo.com> wrote:

> On a related topic, anyone know if marijuana is on the banned
>substance list? If so, I hardly see how it qualifies as a PED. I
>realize that its almost entirley illegal in this country.

Since nobody else has addressed this yet...

I don't even know for sure that MLB tests for it. Back in 2004, I knew for a
fact that they did not, but that may have changed since the Mitchell Report and
all that. I do know that historically, MLB doesn't seem to have been suspending
players for it. For example, Cubs' catcher Soto tested positive for pot at the
WBC in 2009, but didn't get suspended by MLB for it. Ditto for Freddie Garcia,
then with the White Sox, at the WBC in 2006. I don't know if that's because the
tests weren't officially administered by MLB or if that's because MLB doesn't
suspend players for testing positive for marijuana.

For that matter, Rangers' manager Ron Washington, tested positive for cocaine
during the 2009 season and he didn't get suspended either. I strongly suspect
that they're not suspending people for so-called recreational drugs, at least
the first time around, focusing instead on counseling and treatment (which is
exactly how they're handling Washington's case), but that subsequent positives,
or positives for drugs that might give a player an unfair advantage (or masking
agents) are considered another matter entirely.

At any rate, I'll add my voice to Henry's here - I, too, would appreciate it if
anyone having concrete knowledge or a link they can post could help answer this.

JK

From: tom dunne on 21 Apr 2010 17:51
On Apr 21, 3:55 pm, John Kasupski <w2...(a)spamfilter.verizon.net>
wrote:
> On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:49:29 -0700 (PDT), HTP <tmbowma...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> > On a related topic, anyone know if marijuana is on the banned
> >substance list? If so, I hardly see how it qualifies as a PED. I
> >realize that its almost entirley illegal in this country.
>
> Since nobody else has addressed this yet...
>
> I don't even know for sure that MLB tests for it. Back in 2004, I knew for a
> fact that they did not, but that may have changed since the Mitchell Report and
> all that. I do know that historically, MLB doesn't seem to have been suspending
> players for it. For example, Cubs' catcher Soto tested positive for pot at the
> WBC in 2009, but didn't get suspended by MLB for it. Ditto for Freddie Garcia,
> then with the White Sox, at the WBC in 2006. I don't know if that's because the
> tests weren't officially administered by MLB or if that's because MLB doesn't
> suspend players for testing positive for marijuana.
>
> For that matter, Rangers' manager Ron Washington, tested positive for cocaine
> during the 2009 season and he didn't get suspended either. I strongly suspect
> that they're not suspending people for so-called recreational drugs, at least
> the first time around, focusing instead on counseling and treatment (which is
> exactly how they're handling Washington's case), but that subsequent positives,
> or positives for drugs that might give a player an unfair advantage (or masking
> agents) are considered another matter entirely.
>
> At any rate, I'll add my voice to Henry's here - I, too, would appreciate it if
> anyone having concrete knowledge or a link they can post could help answer this.

I think that the drug policy that we all talk about only applies to
the MLBPA. As a manager, Washington isn't subject to that. I think
his drug test was just akin to what many large businesses do, with a
random test of employees. Not sure about this, though.
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