36 players suspended for drug violations

[Resolute 14]

http://espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/2005/0404/2029779.html

Damian Moss (Seattle) and Francisco Cordova (LA Angels) were joined by 34 minor leaguers and have been suspended between 10 days and 60 games.

Looking at the list, two things strike me:

1. The overwhelming majority of the names on that list are Latin American. I'm not sure if you can read anything into that.

2. None of these names are "big". I doubt more than a handful were even going to see a major league ballpark without buying a ticket.

So, the question has to be asked: How long until a big name player gets caught? Or are they cleaning out a bunch of bit parts as part of a PR scam in the hopes of getting Congress off their backs?

[rockstar]

I think it's a PR thing, like you said. I was listening to the Fan today, they were talking about it, and I agree with their view that this is just the MLB saying, "See? We can crack down on steroids!" I don't think they have the balls to suspend any big-name players.

I guess we'll see. Maybe it's more of a warning to the bona-fide big-leaguers to watch out, 'cause they're climbing up the ladder.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally posted by rockstar@Apr 4 2005, 06:06 PM
I think it's a PR thing, like you said. I was listening to the Fan today, they were talking about it, and I agree with their view that this is just the MLB saying, "See? We can crack down on steroids!" I don't think they have the balls to suspend any big-name players.

I guess we'll see. Maybe it's more of a warning to the bona-fide big-leaguers to watch out, 'cause they're climbing up the ladder.

Fransisco Cordero had 49 saves last year with a 2.13 era for Texas, I'd say he's a bona-fide big leaguer.

edit: Hey Snakeeye, where did you get the info that F. Cordero was suspended? I don't see it anywhere.

double edit: Nevermind, you must have meant Fransisco Cordova. Rockstar, you are right, all minor leaguers.

[Pagal4321]

Jiggy's going all over the place.
It's strictly a PR move, they don't have the balls to suspend a big name player, that would hurt their game even more. And that will then prompt more thorough testing, and so on and so forth. Selig is just making examples out of all these little players....like that's gonna send the message to ANYONE.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally posted by Pagal4321@Apr 4 2005, 06:39 PM
Jiggy's going all over the place.

Well I got a little worried, I have Cordero in one of my pools!

[moon]

I think they have the balls and will suspend a bi name guy if need be. After all the negative stuff they have recieved from steroids in the last little bit the only thing that I could see hurting them more is if they were shown to have hidden a bg name positive test and only busted the little guy. Also, it would be fairly difficult to keep these types of things secret it alway scomes out as we have seen and never works out well for the secret keeper.

[Resolute 14]

My bad jiggy. I corrected the name.

moon - I dunno. the NHL has done an excellent job of keeping the name of substance abuse policy violators hidden. How many times has a player been caught a second time and we gone "wow"?

Also, if MLB wanted to nail a big name player, they could do so very easily. With some of these guys it is just too obvious: ie Bonds.

[moon]

they can keep them secret for sure but they always seem to come out and that would give them even worse pub then they already. It would make more sense for them to out one and "show" that they are serious.