Grip on Sports: If anger isn’t one of the emotions you are feeling about Robinson Cano’s suspension, it should be
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Don’t pretend you aren’t at least a little ticked off at Robinson Cano. You should be. Read on.
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• We’re not going to get into the particulars here of Cano’s suspension yesterday, 80 games (and any possible postseason) for using a banned substance. We have enough stories in the Mariners’ section below, including John Blanchette’s column, to cover the news aspect.
But we are going to scoff a little at Cano’s excuse. You know, the idea he was prescribed furosemide, a diuretic, to battle high blood pressure. Oh, and he didn’t know it was on the banned list of drugs.
Huh?
So I use a diuretic every day. To battle high blood pressure. So this morning I decided to see if hydrochlorothiazide, the drug I take, was on Major League Baseball’s banned list. It took me about three minutes to find out the answer.
Sure, I had to do two Google searches and check the World Anti-Doping Agency web page, which was exhausting, but there it is: hydrochlorothiazide, under the “Diuretics and masking agents” section.
A few words away: furosemide – or as you might know it, Lasix.
Any baseball player knows their agreement with baseball includes drugs banned by the WADA, so all Cano had to do, if he was really not using furosemide as a masking agent, was spend a few minutes googling his doctor’s prescribed drug. Boom. He saves almost $12 million dollars. And his legacy. And possibly the Mariners’ season.
What a bunch of malarkey.
“I didn’t know” just isn’t a viable excuse any more. There is too much information available. It’s too easy to access that information. And the stakes are too great. You can’t give anyone, including Cano, the benefit of the doubt.
So it seems as if Cano was willing to use a diuretic on his reputation. After all, his explanation doesn’t hold water.
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WSU: Back and forth went the Cougars’ home baseball game with Gonzaga. Finally, the Zags scored on a balk in the 13th. And won, 3-2. Theo Lawson was there for all of it and has this story. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 yesterday, Washington is losing a reserve linebacker. … The rotation for the next few years of conference games is available. … This might be the Oregon State depth chart. … USC’s Clay Helton was one of the lower-paid conference football coaches. … The jury in the Todd McNair case is having trouble reaching a verdict. … In hoops, there is a report Utah and Kentucky will be playing.
Gonzaga: Around the WCC, Yoeli Childs is returning to BYU.
EWU: The Eagles have picked up another basketball recruit. Jim Allen has the story on Mike Meadows signing a letter of intent.
Preps: We are in the middle-to-late stages of the spring playoff season, with Jim Allen taking a look at Lewis and Clark’s most recent attempt to earn a state soccer title. … The Idaho state golf championships were decided yesterday. Jim Meehan has the story. … We also have roundups from soccer, softball and baseball.
Mariners: We start with John’s thoughts on Cano and then go from there to New York and other major markets, who seem to focus on the post-career hit. And by major, we include Seattle, where the news has the most impact and causes the most consternation. Also, Larry Weir’s Press Box pod covers the territory with Dave Nichols. … Pitching? Who needs pitching? And Cano? Who needs Cano? The Mariners ended a tough day with a walk-off, 9-8 win over the Rangers in the 11th late last night. … Nelson Cruz was hit by pitches twice and had to leave the game.
Seahawks: The Hawks have signed two more draft picks. … They hope Tre Flowers can move from safety to cornerback.
Sounders: The World Cup is coming, which will affect the Sounders and other MLS teams.
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• It was such a bad day yesterday. Not only was Cano suspended 80 games and Cruz possibly injured, I received a notice in the mail I have a dentist’s appointment coming up. Will the bad news never end? Until later …