MLB nails first HGH suspect
CHICAGO – For years now, minor league players have been suspended, one after another, for violating baseball’s drug policies. These suspensions affect careers but rarely produce headlines and seldom cause high-fives at 435 Park Ave.
But the suspension of Atlanta Braves center-field prospect Jordan Schafer last week was a big deal at Major League Baseball’s offices. It wasn’t because he’s a highly regarded prospect but because of what he was being suspended for – allegedly using human growth hormone.
With no reliable urine or blood test for HGH, it has replaced steroids as the major concern for the MLB officials trying to reduce the prevalence of players using performance-enhancing substances.
Schafer’s 50-game suspension shows that players have more to worry about than federal investigations.
That used to be the only way that MLB assembled information on its HGH cheats – tracking the client lists of guys like Kirk Radomski, Brian McNamee and others who have supplied substances to players.
But MLB has established its own office of investigations. Schafer is the first guy the MLB cops have popped.
According to ESPN.com’s T.J. Quinn, the investigation was triggered by the testimony of another player who previously had violated MLB’s anti-doping policy.
In other words, one cheater ratted on another.
MLB can discipline players without the presence of a positive test if it has a “non-analytical” means of establishing guilt. That allowed Schafer to be suspended.
David Schafer, Jordan’s father, told the Atlanta Journal- Constitution that Schafer was willing to “take a blood test, give them hair samples … anything he could” to prove his innocence. But Schafer’s agents did not announce appeal plans and the Braves reacted with only a written statement supporting MLB’s drug policy.
“I want so bad to clear things up, and I want so bad for Jordan to clear things up,” said David Schafer, a Florida businessman. “But unfortunately the powers that be say not to say anything. … He’s in a bad spot. It’s not the way it seems. I never thought it would come to this.”
Bad move for Brews
With Eric Gagne looking like a bad investment, Francisco Cordero had to enjoy his trip to Milwaukee. He landed in Cincinnati one season after saving 44 games because Brewers general manager Doug Melvin apparently made two miscalculations.
The first came when Melvin didn’t force the issue to do an extension last spring, which would have kept Cordero from becoming a free agent. The second came last November. The Brewers had offered four years, $42 million but didn’t move off that when agent Bean Stringfellow told Melvin he had a better offer from a team in the same division.
Shortly thereafter, Cordero signed a four-year, $46 million deal with Cincinnati.
“I think they thought we were bluffing,” Cordero told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Gagne gave up two homers in his first three innings this season, only two fewer than Cordero allowed in 63 1/3 innings last season. He had a terrible spring and is off to a poor start, making you think Melvin will regret giving him $10 million a year.
“His stuff is still closer stuff,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said. “Yeah, he used to throw 97, 98 (mph). His fastball is 94 now. He has a nice breaking ball and a nice changeup. It has nothing to do with his stuff.”
Matsuzaka shines
There has been good news and bad news for the jet-lagged Boston Red Sox. Entering the weekend, the World Series champs were 1-5 in games not started by Daisuke Matsuzaka but 3-0 in his starts.
Given Matsuzaka’s mediocre second half a year ago, that might not be exactly how manager Terry Francona would have drawn up a 4-5 start. He expects Josh Beckett to be fine but wasn’t sure who would step up to be the No. 2 starter with Curt Schilling on the sideline.
The Sox believe Matsuzaka is carrying himself more confidently with his rookie season behind him.
“He just looks more relaxed,” pitching coach John Farrell said. “Instead of (saying), ‘OK, I’m in a jam,’ (it’s) ‘I’m going to fight my way through it.’ “