It’s (maybe) Biogenesis Day! So, I’ll be doing a running live-blog of thoughts, news, and pitiful attempts to be funny. Well, mostly. I might miss an hour or two due to an appointment. So, go below the jump for it, I’ll be adding more and more as the day goes on.
12:09 PM: Apparently the suspensions were supposed to be announced any minute now, but other than Nelson Cruz firing his agent and apparently accepting his 50-game suspension, there has been nothing yet, and so it’ll be later in the day, with some saying it’ll be around 3:00 PM. I’m wondering if it’s 3 PM today though, given how often the “imminent” announcements have been delayed something like 275 times so far.
12:12 PM: Oh, and up to 12 players (including some we hadn’t been hearing about, although the fact that we HAVEN’T heard about them suggests they aren’t big names) will be suspended or given a suspension today. Not just Alex Rodriguez. Baseball fan, actor, and son-of-actor Colin Hanks would like to remind some people of this:
If I’m not mistaken @espn, there are a bunch of other baseball players who will get suspensions. Not just A-Rod.
— Colin Hanks (@ColinHanks) August 5, 2013
12:19 PM: A little something to make you smile on this rather ugly day:
Here’s a great picture of Derby with A-Rod by @BevSchaefer of @TimesofTrenton from Saturday’s game. pic.twitter.com/JfTFs6oNKt
— Eric Lipsman (@E_Lipsman) August 5, 2013
12:30 PM: ESPN reports about Nelson Cruz. It’d been on Twitter for awhile, but this was the first time ESPN confirmed it on-air. Which is something.
12:33 PM: Ken Rosenthal tells us some of the guys who have accepted suspensions.
Among players accepting 50-game suspensions: #Rangers’ Cruz, #Tigers’ Peralta, #Phlllies’ Bastardo, #Mets’ Valdespin, #Padres’ Cabrera.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2013
12:38 PM: And these guys are in the clear…
Colon, Grandal, Melky get no additional discipline. No violations found for #Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez. #Orioles’ Valencia. They are clear.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2013
12:40 PM: Wait, there’s more! Slow down, Ken Rosenthal!
Also suspended: #Yankees’ Cervelli, #Mariners’ Montero, #Mets’ Puello, #Astros’ Escalona, #Padres’ De Los Santos, #Yankees’ F. Martinez.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2013
2:45 PM: I’m back. Miss me? In the two hours I’ve been away, former Phillies pitcher Dan Meyer has basically accused Antonio Bastardo of stealing his job through the use of steroids, and Alex Rodriguez will be suspended at 3 PM.
2:50 PM: Some see hypocrisy in the whole PED hunt, as well as pointing out that the game has never, ever been perfect:
Remember: Babe Ruth did it on hot dogs and beer (and no people of color).
— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) August 5, 2013
As always, feel free to laugh heartily at the next ad you see for an erectile dysfunction pill during a sporting event.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) August 5, 2013
2:59 PM: Now being reported what was long being rumored- Alex Rodriguez will be out the rest of the season and all of next season, barring an appeal (and there will probably be an appeal).
3:01 PM: From the Daily News:
You heard it here first, folks: A-Rod will be suspended for 211 games. Suspension begins on Thursday.
— NYDN Sports I-Team (@NYDNSportsITeam) August 5,2013
3:04 PM: Here we go-
Alex Rodriguez of New York Yankees suspended 211 Regular Season Games through 2014 season. Press release: (cont) http://t.co/heT2ZDd8WU
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) August 5, 2013
3:05 PM: More specifically…
#MLB cites “use and possession of numerous (PEDs), including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years.”
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 5, 2013
3:10 PM: With the biggest things now revealed, I’ll be cutting back for awhile unless something big happens, such as if Alex Rodriguez makes a public statement.
3:37 PM: As expected, A-Rod is appealing, and the union is supporting him (at least that’s what they are saying- based on what has been heard about how some players view the Biogenesis players, this well could just be because, well, they have to.)
4:01 PM: A-Rod speaks (err… statements):
A-Rod: “I am disappointed with the penalty and intend to appeal and fight this through the process. I am eager to get back on the field (co)
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 5, 2013
and be with my teammates in Chicago tonight. I want to thank my family, friends and fans who have stood by my side through all of this.”
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 5, 2013
4:35 PM: This could take awhile.
4:56 PM: Alex Rodriguez will speak at 6:15, per MLB Network. Wouldn’t it be funny if he spoke entirely in tongues, just to mess with us?
5:02 PM: Tonight-
A-Rod batting 4th and playing 3B in lineup just posted
— Joe Lemire (@SI_JoeLemire) August 5, 2013
5:05 PM: I’m not the only idiot doing this.
6:15 PM: And I have to go. D’oh!
9:14 PM: You all probably saw what happened with A-Rod’s first AB. So, yeah, I’m done for the night. Sorry.
