Article: Jorge Polanco Receives 80-Game Suspension For PED

[jkcarew]

 

Nobody may have meant it to be racist, but it is racist, just again much like any law dealing with drugs that a bunch of old white men come up with.

The rules are part of the collective bargaining agreement.  The union agree to them.  So, if we're going to throw around derogatory comments regarding any race or age, you need to sling some mud in the direction of the players that represented the union and signed off on this....or settle for holding the players accountable for following the rules.

[SweetOne69]

Yeah, that’s sort of my point, it’s racist or prejeduice against Dominicans (where FWIW is where the most ‘latin’ players in MLB are from, and minor leaguers. Major league for example has more Dominican players then the rest of the Latin countries combined)

 

Nobody may have meant it to be racist, but it is racist, just again much like any law dealing with drugs that a bunch of old white men come up with.

Maybe it has something to do with the "B12 cocktail" that the trainer's supply in the Dominican, and not the race of the player.

 

As I recall, it is not just Dominicans being busted. Non-Dominican who have played in the DR winter league have also been busted.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Yeah, that’s sort of my point, it’s racist or prejeduice against Dominicans (where FWIW is where the most ‘latin’ players in MLB are from, and minor leaguers. Major league for example has more Dominican players then the rest of the Latin countries combined)

Nobody may have meant it to be racist, but it is racist, just again much like any law dealing with drugs that a bunch of old white men come up with.

I'm not sure that logic follows. 

 

Men are overwhelmingly represented when it comes to sentences for violent crime. I would hardly call those laws sexist. The fact that a specific group is overrepresented doesn't automatically mean a law is unfairly targeting that group, or that the law is racist, sexist, ect. There's no doubt those players are returning to a country where   regulations are lax and drugs like stanozolol aren't difficult to procure. That's unfortunate, but it's reality. I don't think it's a stretch to say that the ease with which Dominican players can obtain these drugs is a major contributor to the disproportionate number of them that are suspended.

 

If you want to argue that these players should be better educated about what they can and cannot consume then I'm with you. If you want to argue that the severity of these suspensions is ridiculous and they're knee jerk reactions for the heat MLB took for the steroid era then I'm on board. 

 

 Ultimately though, the responsibility falls on the player to make better decisions about what they're ingesting, regardless of whether the person handing them pills is a friend. These players have an enormous resource at their disposal, i.e. the Twins organization, and they're choosing not to use it.

Edited March 19, 2018 by KirbyDome89

[OldManWinter]

What is the liklihood of being caught? It must be pretty high.

 

If so, I lean toward believing him.

 

Personally, I do not take vitamins or generic meds, or drink energy beverages. But, for people who do, are you fully aware what you are taking? I will guess not many do.

 

So, disappointing as it is, I will not crucify him for it. He will find it a very expensive lesson.

 

Guys his age, looking to enhance performance, probably influenced by many around him who do not know and without him even knowing what substances are banned either?

 

 

But, if players have agents, the agents need to make it clear not to take anything without checking with the agent.

[gunnarthor]

 

What is the liklihood of being caught? It must be pretty high.

If so, I lean toward believing him.

Personally, I do not take vitamins or generic meds, or drink energy beverages. But, for people who do, are you fully aware what you are taking? I will guess not many do.

So, disappointing as it is, I will not crucify him for it. He will find it a very expensive lesson.

Guys his age, looking to enhance performance, probably influenced by many around him who do not know and without him even knowing what substances are banned either?


But, if players have agents, the agents need to make it clear not to take anything without checking with the agent.

You don't think agents and teams know which players are juicing? You don't think teams and agents are helping/condoning such behavior? You think players are roiding up all by themselves?

[DaveW]

The rules are part of the collective bargaining agreement. The union agree to them. So, if we're going to throw around derogatory comments regarding any race or age, you need to sling some mud in the direction of the players that represented the union and signed off on this....or settle for holding the players accountable for following the rules.

Yeah the union needs to improve in that area, and to stop collusion as well amongst the owners.

[DaveW]

You don't think agents and teams know which players are juicing? You don't think teams and agents are helping/condoning such behavior? You think players are roiding up all by themselves?

Of course they know/ don’t care.

 

Also pretty sure that for every one player caught 5-6 get away scot Free.

But the ban list is far too long, and the first time offense is stupid as well.

 

First should be a warning and placement into drug testing platform (8-10 times a year for next 5 years)

 

2nd should be a suspension.

 

This would eliminate the ‘accidental’ ones met likely.

Edited March 19, 2018 by DaveW

[OldManWinter]

It seems banning drugs (performance enhancers), that cause long-term health problems in athletes, is in the best interest of all young ball players.

 

That is not racist! It is based upon the results being found (after the fact) by the medical community.

 

It is in the best interest of these ballplayers that these restrictions exist!

 

That they happen more often in the DR is not racist either if it is a fact. There could be many reasons for that, including pressure that players feel to insure they have successful careers, because friends and family are depending in them!

[Squirrel]

 

Yeah, that’s sort of my point, it’s racist or prejeduice against Dominicans (where FWIW is where the most ‘latin’ players in MLB are from, and minor leaguers. Major league for example has more Dominican players then the rest of the Latin countries combined)

Nobody may have meant it to be racist, but it is racist, just again much like any law dealing with drugs that a bunch of old white men come up with.

It's actually more of an issue with poverty and taking advantage of it, imo.

[Squirrel]

Moderator warning: Back to topic. This is about Polanco. If any wants to discuss any larger or related issues at play, start a thread. But don't side track and derail this one with intentional statements to inflame.

[OldManWinter]

Maybe the first offense is too harsh? But, if that is the price to play MLB, it is cheap.

[Twodogs]

I suspect a lot of front offices know/suspect that their players are doing this and are ok with it so long as they don't get caught. It's hard to imagine why front offices let players continue to train with Angel Presenal back in the day if they didn't think PEDs were in use.

 

This,

 

I know there are kids in high school taking stuff and most everyone else knows too, but no one says anything. It is still going on.

[Vanimal46]

 

Yes. Polanco is HUGE. Total juicer!

 

What supplement was he taking that was tainted?

 

Polanco added 20 pounds over the off-season working with this trainer... If that doesn't scream 'test me now' I don't know what does. 

 

 

Polanco, whose wife gave birth to the couple’s first child (Jorge Luis Polanco Jr.) in October, skipped the Dominican Winter League for the first time and worked with his original trainer — “the person who helped me sign at the beginning of my career,” he told the Pioneer Press on Friday through a team-provided translator.

Those sessions, he said, helped him increase his weight to 205 pounds after finishing last season around 20 pounds lighter. Polanco also worked in San Pedro de Macoris on his hitting with Seattle Mariners star Robinson Cano and former major leaguers Fernando Tatis and Luis Mercedes.

 

Regardless, his size shouldn't matter. He cheated and got caught. 

[Dr. Evil]

Start Escobar at ss. IMHO he should be a starter somewhere anyway.

 

The excuse Polanco uses for positive test results is a canned excuse used by a lot of guilty players. Everyone knows it's total bull. Even if it were a so called "mistake" the player is no less guilty.

[gocgo]

This also has implications for Dozier's future.  If Polanco was seen as an option for 2nd base, I think that is in doubt now.  I'm guessing the Dozier extension talks get fired up soon.  I don't believe the vitamin story.  Sorry, but I'm a skeptic when it comes to PED use.  I think there is more of it going on than what we would all like to believe. 

[jimbo92107]

Damn it Jorge, that was supposed to be for Phil Hughes!

[Vanimal46]

 

This, I know there are kids in high school taking stuff and most everyone else knows too, but no one says anything. It is still going on.

 

High school kids destroying their bodies for the slim chance of playing college sports... Sad. really. 

[wabene]

Is Ryan Braun Dominican?

You stole my comment! . Hilarious a conspiracy against Dominicans and American Jews! They'll have to send in McGuire to crack some heads if word of this leaks out

[glunn]

 

Of course they know/ don’t care.

Also pretty sure that for every one player caught 5-6 get away scot Free.
But the ban list is far too long, and the first time offense is stupid as well.

First should be a warning and placement into drug testing platform (8-10 times a year for next 5 years)

2nd should be a suspension.

This would eliminate the ‘accidental’ ones met likely.

This seems sensible to me. Has anyone proposed it?

[glunn]

Moderator note -- the discussions regarding drug legalization and racism are being deleted from this thread. I would encourage a separate thread in the "Other Baseball" forum or the Sports Bar.

[TKGuy]

Gordon needs to be playing SS every day in AAA, none of this 2b bologna now

[ScottyB]

My gut says Aybar makes the team for April and Gordon is brought up in May after he gets by the period so that he still has 6 more seasons after this one before free agency.

Edited March 19, 2018 by ScottyB

[Oxtung]

If the Twins know Sano is suspended before opening day then I would guess Adrianna at SS, Escobar at 3B and Aybar at utility. Though personally I’d rather Gordon get a run at SS until Sano returns.

 

If the Twins don’t know I think they still keep Aybar as insurance and start Escobar at SS with Adrianza getting time there too. I sure hope they don’t start Adrianza much though. He isn’t a starting caliber player even due to injury, imo.

 

Does anyone know how this affects Polancos pay this year or his service time?

[beckmt]

I think what happens now depends on how Sano is dealt with.  If he is suspended (and I think he will be, no proof, just gut), then I would roll with Gordon for the short while.  If Gordon makes it you have a pleasant problem, if he does not, he is optioned when Sano returns and all is good.  Then the only issue is who is the extra outfielder you carry.

[beckmt]

At this stage in his career, I view Aybar as a below replacement level player.  Do not keep him, he will find another club, who wants a stopgap because they are rebuilding.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Yeah, that’s sort of my point, it’s racist or prejeduice against Dominicans (where FWIW is where the most ‘latin’ players in MLB are from, and minor leaguers. Major league for example has more Dominican players then the rest of the Latin countries combined)

Nobody may have meant it to be racist, but it is racist, just again much like any law dealing with drugs that a bunch of old white men come up with.

 

I think it's a tad bit unfair to say the rule is racist only by only the results. Racism implies something more, namely an intent to repress. As Carole noted, it's Dominicans getting suspended by this more often than others, and yeah, these drugs are legal there. That's not really racism. MLB provides Polanco a way to get untainted supplements do they not? 

 

I'm not quite sure how this is racist when he could have gotten these items through MLB. At some point, you just need to accept responsibility. I don't know if he was intentionally using PEDs or not, but he's still responsible. 

[bighat]

 

If you want to take B-12 and an iron supplement, then go to the damn drug store and buy it yourself. Don't trust anyone else.

 

Agreed! Anyone in America can get a bottle of B-12 vitamins right down the street at Walgreen's or CVS. Heck, I live in Guatemala and I can go to a health food store here and pick up a bottle with no problem. As an MLB player, you just gotta be smart about that...would have thought after Santana made that 'mistake' 2 years ago this whole team would be on red alert about this stuff. So frustrating.

[Blackjack]

 

I think he's talented.  I think he's a legit major league starting player.  But one has to wonder how much he was helped by what he was taking?

My exact thoughts!!!!

[beckmt]

There is the other side of this discussion, that Polanco felt his career slipping away last year and chose to use the stuff.  As I understand it, this drug will make you bigger and stronger.  Twins will have to evaluate this going forward, it seems like too easy to just be a mistake.

[DaveW]

 

This seems sensible to me. Has anyone proposed it?

Why have a sensible policy when you can just have one that screams 'see! We are punishing people!' without actually fixing the problem whatsoever.
A zero tolerance drug policy is so stupid, and punishes unfairly any player that comes from or plays in the D.R.