Palmeiro suspended for steroid use

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:55 pm

The AP wrote:

NEW YORK - Rafael Palmeiro was suspended 10 days for violating Major League Baseball's steroids policy Monday, nearly five months after the Baltimore Orioles first baseman told Congress that "I have never used steroids. Period."

In remarks prepared for a conference call Monday, Palmeiro â€” the highest-profile player to fail a test â€” said he never intentionally took steroids and could not explain how the drugs got into his body. He also apologized and said would accept his punishment.

"I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period," he said. "Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body, the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program."

Will this kill his Hall of Fame candidacy, which is borderline in the eyes of many (as discussed in a recent but now-locked thread)?

wordygurdy · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:07 pm

Wow. This is the first I'm reading about this. I'm flabbergasted!

Boy, I don't know now about his getting into the Hall. He doesn't have the mantle of greatness about him, but he does have the numbers.

And now he's got a steroid suspension. Yeesh.

This might make him wait beyond his first Hall ballot at the very least.

jjmoney62 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:40 pm

I can't see this keeping him out.

And note, if this thread runs its course and meanders into Craig Biggio's HBP stats, it, too, probably will get locked.

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:54 pm

jjmoney62 wrote:

I can't see this keeping him out.

Personally, I think it's fatal. I could be proven wrong in time, but in Palmeiro's case, all he has are his numbers, because he is devoid of any mystique. If those numbers are impeached, he's got no chance.

As for locking, you're the moderator, but I don't see the point in this forum unless a discussion gets nasty. It's the nature of baseball conversations to wander from one topic to another. Hard to have one that doesn't.

jjmoney62 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:03 pm

How 'bout those Yankees?

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:05 pm

I sure didn't see this coming, and I'm here in Baltimore watching games and seeing him interviewed on TV.

If he can prove allergy medicine or something like that (hey, maybe it's the Viagra) is what showed up in the test, then he might come out of this OK regarding the Hall of Fame. But as others have said, he lacks the mystique that factors into voting. Also, his value and leadership are questionable because of his teams' lack of playoff success.

During the Orioles' continuing monthlong slump he's been the standup guy with Tejada in trying to get things straightened out.
I'd give him credit for becoming a good team player, but if it turns out that he's been cheating.

Innocent until proven guilty. His face and body don't show the effects of steroid use, so maybe this will work out.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:06 pm

jjmoney62 wrote:

How 'bout those Yankees?

Maybe they can get Biggio to back up Womack.

Wabberjocky · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:47 pm

As Phillip is wont to say, I bet there's more to this story. It's entirely possible there was a false positive on Palmeiro's test ... though, given how refined the testing process has become and the fact that just a few players have been nailed, it's not very likely.

If the result sticks, I think he's out of the Hall until the Veterans Committee gets hold of him. Then, the scandal may slip into sepia tones, and future generations may look more kindly on Palmeiro.

Then again, maybe he'll get the Shoeless Joe treatment. Which, given the endless replays all day so far of his stark denials before the Congress subcommittee this spring, is entirely likely.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:26 pm

If he's proven guilty, they should kick him out of baseball. That would end baseball's steroid problem.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:26 am

jjmoney62 wrote:

And note, if this thread runs its course and meanders into Craig Biggio's HBP stats, it, too, probably will get locked.

Bad call, ump.

JeffW · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:32 am

Wayne Countryman wrote:

Innocent until proven guilty. His face and body don't show the effects of steroid use, so maybe this will work out.

He failed a drug test -- you won't get any more definitive proof. These tests are quite accurate, and false positives are rare (I believe they automatically re-test after a positive).

I agree with Matthew that this knocks him out of HOF consideration -- all Palmeiro has are his numbers, and this will cast big shadow over them.

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:23 am

JeffW wrote:

He failed a drug test -- you won't get any more definitive proof.

I agree. "Innocent until proven guilty" in a situation like this means only that we should presume that he did not commit perjury when he testified in front of Congress or commit some other crime. We presume him innocent in that respect -- as fellow citizens.

As baseball fans, the drug test is all the evidence we need that he broke the rules. It is up to Palmeiro to convince us that we should consider his actions a mistake or limited to a certain period of time.

As someone at ESPN.com pointed out, his plea that he cannot explain things because of the "confidentiality agreement" in baseball's drug testing policy is pathetic. That agreement exists at the insistence of the players' union so that players can use it as a smokescreen under exactly these circumstances. It's there to protect them, not managment.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:15 pm

Looks like he'll get a presidential pardon:

"He's a friend," the president said in a White House roundtable interview with several Texas reporters. "He's testified in public, and I believe him."

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:16 pm

Having seen Palmeiro's non-explanation last night, I agree that it looks bad. He came across as weaselly. It's not the same as Mark McGwire turning weasel at a congressional hearing because McGwire never got caught and, for all I know, never broke the rules.

By "innocent until proven guilty," I meant that I hoped it was an over-the-counter substance or properly used prescription. Legal substances can trigger steroid tests, medical folks were saying last night. However, if that were the case, then Palmeiro should have said so. He'd be crazy not to, if that were the truth.

I hope that baseball is maintaining proper standards in its testing before publicizing a violation and suspending. I have no reason to doubt that it is, but note that some professions are overly eager to accuse and punish--even fire--for PR reasons.

I'm also wondering when Palmeiro's test was taken. If he took something illegal before testifying, then that makes a terrible situation even worse.

Wabberjocky · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:22 pm

And now, Ryan Franklin of the Mariners gets busted. So much for his Hall of Fame chances.

Considering the thoroughly wretched mediocrity of his career, I think reports of his suspension should make reference to a "performance-neutral drug."

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:44 pm

The AP wrote:

Rafael Palmeiro has agreed to give Congress documents with information about his positive test for steroids, including the results, dates of the screening and other relevant details.

The Baltimore Orioles slugger tested positive for the powerful steroid stanozolol, a person with knowledge of the sport's drug-testing program told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday. The person did not want to be identified because the sport prohibits disclosure about test results without authorization.

Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, and ranking Democrat Henry Waxman of California issued a statement Wednesday saying Palmeiro has "pledged his full cooperation" with their inquiry.

"The Committee is seeking the results of the drug tests, the date of the tests, and other relevant information," the statement said. "He has agreed to authorize the release of all relevant documents to the Committee, which will help us fully understand the facts of the situation. Once we review the documents, we will determine our next step."

In confirming that he would cooperate with the committee, Palmeiro said that if it has any additional questions, "I am ready and willing to answer each and every one of them."

Baseball spokesman Rich Levin said the documents would be released as requested "in a timely manner," but did not give specifics and did not know if they would be made public once received.

Well, this is interesting. I'm inclined to doubt that the committee would refer Palmeiro for prosecution over this, but there may not be anything too picayune for the 109th Congress to pursue.

Matthew Grieco · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 7:52 pm

Indeed.

The AP wrote:

WASHINGTON -- Congress will investigate whether baseball slugger Rafael Palmeiro perjured himself when he told a House committee that he hadn't taken steroids.

With the player's consent, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, and the committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Henry Waxman of California, asked Major League Baseball on Wednesday to turn over information about the failed drug test that resulted in a 10-day suspension for Palmeiro this week.

On March 17, Palmeiro appeared before their panel and said under oath: "I have never used steroids. Period."

"As a practical matter, perjury referrals are uncommon," Davis told The Associated Press. "Prosecutions are rare. But this is a high-profile case, so I think it will get an honest look-see. I don't think anyone can avoid it.

"If we did nothing," he added, "I think we'd look like idiots, don't you?"

I think you look like an idiot (or at the very least, a politician) for saying that you're looking at a perjury referral simply because this is a "high-profile case."

wordygurdy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:21 pm

How classy was it for Palmeiro to throw Miguel Tejada under the bus, by the way? What a creep Palmeiro turned out to be.

Be a man about it, why don't you? Own up to it yourself. Don't impugn the integrity of teammates who have had nothing to do with steroid use.

Not too surprising that the Orioles announced today that Palmeiro will not be suiting up for the rest of the year because, according to Jim Beattie, "'We felt it wouldn't be appropriate for the organization.''

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:16 pm

He won't be back next season. I'd be surprised if he doesn't retire. And he certainly won't want to be seen around town.

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