Santana

[ThejacKmp]

Does anyone know if Santana can even be in the park during the playoffs?  Or will he just go home at the end of the season like he is a Detroit Tiger?

 

Can't believe that rule.  It's like if I went to jail for indecent exposure and then they let me out but made me come back for Christmas and Thanksgiving because those might be fun.  MLB is trying to cover up for the announcers talking about Nelson Cruz endlessly the other year.  Total BS.  Where is the union on this one?  That punishment is in the CBA and that's what a union is for - to fight management even when it isn't popular.

[DaveW]

Meh, I'm over it, it is what it is. If the Twins have a shot in the playoffs its going to come down to what it has come down to all year: Timely hitting, great defense, and a little bit (or lot of bit) of luck.

[nicksaviking]

I don't see how the MLB is covering up anything the announcers are saying.  The punishment for getting caught using PEDs is spelled out pretty clearly. 

 

I'm not sure what you think the Union should do, not only did they agree to the punishment, but there was huge support from clean ballplayers to crack down on the cheaters.

 

It sucks for the Twins, but there is nothing to argue here.

[DaveW]

Yeah, the players union is pretty strong. The only major sport with no salary cap (guaranteed money to boot) plus you don't have Roger Goodell types who make up the rules as they go.

[SweetOne69]

I don't see why he can't be in the park or even in the dugout.  Even though he is ineligible to play and not on the roster, I don't think there is any rule preventing him from being in the dugout.  I know DL players are often in the dugout.

[Loosey]

I think the determination has to be made on if he is suspended or if he is just ineligible to play.  If he is considered suspended I doubt he would be allowed in the dugout, if he is ineligible to play I would assume he could sit in the dugout/bullpen.

[ashbury]

Or will he just go home at the end of the season like he is a common Detroit Tiger?

Good phrasing but seemed like it needed an amplifier.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Can't believe that rule.  It's like if I went to jail for indecent exposure and then they let me out but made me come back for Christmas and Thanksgiving because those might be fun.  MLB is trying to cover up for the announcers talking about Nelson Cruz endlessly the other year.  Total BS.  Where is the union on this one?  That punishment is in the CBA and that's what a union is for - to fight management even when it isn't popular.

The problem wasn't announcers talking about Nelson Cruz.

 

The problem was that like suspensions were effectively treated differently.  Why should a player that tests positive in July be effectively banned from the postseason too, but a player testing positive in late June still make it in?  Or maybe even more importantly, why should a player testing positive in late May have plenty of time to appeal and still return for the playoffs, but a player testing positive in late June would have no time margin for appeal?  (Think of the players that bargained with MLB over Biogenesis in 2013 -- how many of them were pressured into accepting suspensions just so they wouldn't jeopardize their postseason availability?)

 

The new system removes all of that ambiguity, which in the big picture is good both for the teams AND the players.  Sucks for Ervin Santana and the Twins, but next winter maybe he will think twice before he gets an untraceable Dominican supplement shot.

 

All 80 game suspensions are essentially equal now, 80 games plus any postseason games during that season.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, MLB didn't unilaterally impose the new postseason ban.  The MLBPA had to agree to it.