Would you draft a prospect who took steroids?

[Canada 02]

Big controversial story here in St Louis with the Cardinals drafting a player who tested positive for steroids

The controversial aspect centered on 17-year-old Puerto Rican shortstop Delvin Perez, who was rated a top five selection until it was reported earlier this week that he had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Surely, because of the drug test, Perez, a product of the International Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico, dropped to No. 23 and the Cardinals certainly felt the risk could lead to big reward.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...d84638df8.html

if a similar situation arose in hockey, would you want the Flames to "take advantage" and draft the player? Is it even an advantage, would he have been a top 5 player without steroids?

should the player be banned from the draft for 1 year, or some other form a punishment?

[codynw]

It would probably depend on what he tested positive for.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

You might have your answer with the Russian U-18 team that was dropped due to Meldonium. Not sure if they made public the names of the players, but I assume some may be drafted.

[Alberta_Beef]

Players make mistakes, why is steroid use worse than any other crime? Would you draft a player that was charged for possession or marijuana? Would you draft someone who had a DUI conviction? How about an assault charge stemming from a bar fight? People make mistakes, they deserve second chances. The Cardinals are taking a risk in this situation, if they feel it is worth the risk, then good for them and let the kid have a chance to make up for his mistake.

[icecube]

Absolutely. In fact, I wish that all of our players/prospects would take PED's and that no other teams players/prospects would. As long as our guys never got caught of course.

[DJones]

I assume they already do.

If one got caught I may worry that he was stupid but otherwise if you could get him at a bargain then go for it.

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Players make mistakes, why is steroid use worse than any other crime? Would you draft a player that was charged for possession or marijuana? Would you draft someone who had a DUI conviction? How about an assault charge stemming from a bar fight? People make mistakes, they deserve second chances. The Cardinals are taking a risk in this situation, if they feel it is worth the risk, then good for them and let the kid have a chance to make up for his mistake.

It's completely different as you're taking a risk on whether the player will still be good when he isn't on PEDs. It's not just a kid who got into a fight and had an assault charge.

[GoJetsGo]

Headline should read they're drafting a prospect who 'got caught' using Steroids.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by mdubz

It's completely different as you're taking a risk on whether the player will still be good when he isn't on PEDs. It's not just a kid who got into a fight and had an assault charge.

To a degree, but an assault charge with a fight could still result in jailtime. Which would have an impact on the players development.

[blankall]

Do you mean:

Would you draft a prospect who got caught taking steroids?

If you think there isn't a large proportion of pro-athlete prospects who aren't using chemicals to give themselves an edge you are kidding yourself. The edge from steroids is most pronounced in young people. Many 17-19 year olds aren't filled out and can't grow beards.

I have a friend who played A league baseball. He said his entire team was on something.

You could also make the case that since this guy has already been busted once, he's going to be a lot more careful going forward than a guy who hasn't been busted.

[Hackey]

Whatever steroids Jake Arrieta is on I'd like the entire Blue Jays roster to take. So that being said I think I care more about the players getting caught than the actual use. Care more about the person and their play than the steroids. If you wanna take the risk be ready to take the consequences but I don't see it as some terrible thing.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by blankall

You could also make the case that since this guy has already been busted once, he's going to be a lot more careful going forward than a guy who hasn't been busted.

You might think so, but in MLB this year already, one player has received a one-year suspension for a second positive test and another a lifetime ban for a third positive test.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by icecube

Absolutely. In fact, I wish that all of our players/prospects would take PED's and that no other teams players/prospects would. As long as our guys never got caught of course.

I second this

[blankall]

Originally Posted by icecube

Absolutely. In fact, I wish that all of our players/prospects would take PED's and that no other teams players/prospects would. As long as our guys never got caught of course.

Regardless of how strictly they enforce the rules, it's still cheating. I don't see how it's any different than using corked bats. Because the league looks the other way that doesn't make it right.

[sureLoss]

There are some NHL teams facing this dilemma this draft. Rubtsov is a projected 1st rounder who was part of the Russia u18 meldonium scandal.

I think in the end a lot of teams will overlook it in this case because there is some feeling that the players did not know they were taking the drug and there is a question of how long the drug remains in the system after usage.

[icecube]

Originally Posted by blankall

Regardless of how strictly they enforce the rules, it's still cheating. I don't see how it's any different than using corked bats. Because the league looks the other way that doesn't make it right.

On that note, I hope our guys are using illegal stick curves too.

[Geeoff]

as long as they help the team win, why not?

[AcGold]

Probably not. A very common thing for steroid users is to have a system crash where all their strength and energy disappears. It'll get worse with age depending on the intensity be of use. Not what you need in an endurance based contact sport.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by blankall

Do you mean:

Would you draft a prospect who got caught taking steroids?

If you think there isn't a large proportion of pro-athlete prospects who aren't using chemicals to give themselves an edge you are kidding yourself. The edge from steroids is most pronounced in young people. Many 17-19 year olds aren't filled out and can't grow beards.

I have a friend who played A league baseball. He said his entire team was on something.

You could also make the case that since this guy has already been busted once, he's going to be a lot more careful going forward than a guy who hasn't been busted.

you're right, the getting caught part is an important distinction, especially if you believe a large proportion of pro prospects are using PEDs. Do you think it is just prospects, or pros as well?

I would guess it would be easier for amateurs to get away with it as the testing would be limited or non-existent

A big concern then would be what happens to the prospect when he has to go off the drugs due to more rigorous testing; can he be as big, fast, strong etc as he was when he was drafted

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by icecube

On that note, I hope our guys are using illegal stick curves too.

That rule was thrown out, you can have all the curve you want now.