SI Reporting that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for Steroids in 2003

by kericr on Feb 7, 2009 10:52 AM EST

As reported here. From the article:

Rodriguez's name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's '03 survey testing, SI's sources say. As part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association, the testing was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004. When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."

Personally, I don't particularly think this is a big deal; I've suspected for a while that he might have been a user because like many other players in this era, he blew up. But considering he's pretty much the player on pace to break the all-time HR record, this isn't going to wear well on him unless he manages to do what pretty much every other player weighted with this accusation has failed to do; explain it away.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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What I'd like to know is who the other 103 players are

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions

Which is why the government investigation is a farce

This evidence was gathered as part of a search warrant in the Bonds/Balco case. It has no relevance to that case, and they do not have any sort of investigation/case pending against A-Rod. Basically, they used the warrant they got for a specific purpose to go fishing for other names, and then anonymously leaked A-Rods name to the press. This type of use of federal police power concerns me much more than who steroids.

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

*who used steroids

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

They were looking to see if Bonds was on the list

The double-edge here is that now all 104 names are on the public record.

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Baroid wasn’t on the list?

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

These docs are supposed to be sealed

People deserve to be fired over this.

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

It was entered as potential evidence, all of which was unsealed

And as potential evidence, it was going to come out at trial anyway. Nothing you can do about it.

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

You think Arod's name would have come up in the Bonds trial?

Why? What is the relevance to the proceedings against Bonds for perjury?

And if it is already ‘unsealed’ we’d know the identity of all 104. It is not public record, and the only ones who should know, at this time, the names on the list are MLB, the DOJ, and Bonds’ attorneys (assuming the Feds have given them proper discovery). Just because something may be used in a criminal trial doesn’t make it public record.

And even assuming for the sake of argument that the prosecution had planned on showing the names of people who tested positive as well as other evidence to prove the reliability of MLB’s testing program, there is no reason this evidence should be leaked NOW.

For attorneys, confidential information about your cases/clients does not work on a ‘no harm, no foul’ basis. These people need to be fired, and replaced with people who know how to keep their mouths shut.

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

The other names should have been redacted

Other than Bonds’

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

Change that

99.99999% chance they were redacted, unless the judge REALLY screwed up.

Gomes is right though. If this was part of public record, we’d know the whole list.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

The only reason I could see them coming up (and this is one hell of a stretch) is if Bonds attorneys attacked the reliability of the tests, and the names of the other players were needed by the prosecution were needed to show that yes, the tests got it right.

Of course this assumes we have independent info on whether the other 103 were using, which of course we do not.

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

I can't to see how A-Rod isn't treated differently, but Bonds become America's most wanted.

Then again, most people treat A-Rod like crap anyways.

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 7, 2009 11:00 AM EST reply actions

Bonds allegedly lied under oath

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

why was bonds under oath about steroids when noone else was?

by walkoffwalk on Feb 7, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

other than giambi

by walkoffwalk on Feb 7, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

Everyone who testified

(a) before Congress or
(b) in the Balco grand jury

were under oath. Marion Jones got into shit because she testified in the Balco grand jury, because she was a Balco client. Same with Bonds, Giambi and Sheffield. Congress is still investigating whether to file perjury charges against Roger Clemens.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone who wasn't specifically a Balco client wouldn't have participated in that witch hunt

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

We're talking about BALCO, not the Congressional hearings.

Lying to Congress and lying to a judge and jury are two totally different animals. Congress decided not to prosecute Palmeiro. It’s as simple as that.

And as WOW said, Giambi and others (including current jailbird Marion Jones) did testify under oath.

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

Congress couldn't prosecute Palmeiro

His positive test came AFTER he testified.

Lying to Congress and lying to a jury are exactly the same crime. They are not different animals.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

And like I said

They’re still investigating whether to charge Clemens and Tejada

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

i will boo him and chant A-Roid when he comes up to the plate now

he deserves to be treated just as bad as Bonds, i had alot of respect for A-Rod before this came out

TB Rays in 09!!!

by RaysOfHope on Feb 8, 2009 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

Please don't.

None of the players deserve any abuse over this truly stupid issue. Don’t be a sheep following the bleating crowd.

by bobr on Feb 9, 2009 8:21 AM EST up reply actions

well now that he confessed i forgive him

if he was going to just ignore the whole issue then i mightve booed him, but i understand the whole situation

TB Rays in 09!!!

by RaysOfHope on Feb 11, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

It’s hypocritical on multiple levels. First, there are ex-Rays (and probably even current ones) who have juiced. Second, nobody ever says a word to the crappy players who have tested positive.

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 9, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

Oops

Meant to reply to bob

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 9, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

Speaking as an M's fan

Agreed. Completely.

Griffey come home

by .Taylor on Feb 14, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

It's a shame

that all these great talents have to resort to cheating. A-Rod would be a great player with or without steroids, but for whatever reason he felt compelled to take them.

Hello.

by killa3312 on Feb 7, 2009 12:07 PM EST reply actions

Jose Canseco was right.

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Feb 7, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions

He heard his rumors correctly I assume

Since he never played with A-Rod

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions

He's still a douchebag

Although he was right, he only did it to get paid, and pretended he was doing it to get revenge on the game. Either way, he’s a douche.

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

but a likeable douche.

unlike Bonds/Arod.

by daveh33 on Feb 7, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

he's likeable?

by walkoffwalk on Feb 7, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

He's not likeable, but unfortunately, we have to listen now whenever he opens his trap because he's being proven right repeatedly.

by kericr on Feb 7, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

i like him

by daveh33 on Feb 8, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

Coverage of the 2009 MLB season will look something like

This

(Stolen from the BBTF thread)

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 7, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions 8 recs

Heh

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

Rec'd

And awesome.

by kericr on Feb 7, 2009 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

I like how the ads still don't relate to steroids.

Griffey come home

by .Taylor on Feb 14, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

I still think he should be in the HOF

Along with everyone else from Steroid era, and I don’t even like A-Rod. Denying McGwire, Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Palmeiro, A-Rod etc. is like pretending the last 20 years of baseball history didn’t even exist. Are we just going to stick our heads in the sand? These guys cheated, sure but they are still some of the best players ever to play the game. Removing their names from the record books is about all I’d do. Of course I also think Rose deserves to get in but that’s never gonna happen.

by atlantaray on Feb 7, 2009 11:21 PM EST reply actions

MLB should be forced to remember that they allowed this to happen

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Feb 7, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

They're going to have to let some of them in

An absurd amount of top-tier talent from the mid-90s to the middle of this decade is too closely linked to steroids for them to not allow some of them in. The induction of hall-of-fame members isn’t well respected to begin with; if they had an entire 10 year window where they were letting the Dave Roberts’ and Randy Winns into the hall of fame simply because they were players that were good and weren’t linked to steroids, then any credibility that the Hall of Fame had would go out the window.

The smart thing for the hall of fame to do is not to shun this era, but to embrace it. Bring these players in and use them as a reference to the steroid era. Talk about what it did for baseball, both the positives from the immediate repurcussions; and the negatives, including the downfall of many of these players. Honestly, I think it should start with Canseco. The Hall of Fame is not the Hall of Heroes; and it doesn’t have to be.

Of course, that’s far too smart of an idea for the BRWAA to possibly wrap their minds around.

by kericr on Feb 8, 2009 3:57 AM EST up reply actions

Who will be the first Ray to be outted?

Besides Conseco?

by Sylar on Feb 8, 2009 1:53 AM EST reply actions

Alex Sanchez!

www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Feb 8, 2009 2:27 AM EST up reply actions

Wade Boggs did it on hotdogs and Miller Lites

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 8, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

There have already been a few implicated

Our hitting coach, for one…

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 8, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

I rec'd this.

http://www.pinstripealley.com/2009/2/8/752945/terminate-a-rod-s-contract

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 8, 2009 6:57 PM EST reply actions

If they could terminate his contract, they should. But they can't. If they were against steroids and were able to terminate contracts, they would have terminated Giambi and Pettitte. He gets paid $30 million a year, right? i'd rather have 4 Pat Burrells.

by walkoffwalk on Feb 9, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

A-Rod is better than every player on this team.

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 9, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

4 Pat Bat's would be a lot of buttsecks

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 9, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

I did not dispute that. I'd rather have four Patt Burrell's for $32 million than one A-Rod for $30 million.

by walkoffwalk on Feb 9, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

I'm talking about terminating his contract.

Plus, for the most part he’s been worth the money.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1274&position=3B/SS#value

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 9, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

All I can say is this:

this is evidence from 2003? You mean 6 years ago? So first of all who cares about 6 years ago, if he was found to be positive during 2005 or after then there is an issue, because that is when it steroid use banning was actually a crime and punished. Anything before that, who can say who was using and who was not, so who cares? Also, anybody think it was just happenstance that this info was released on Hank Aaron’s bday? I don’t doubt that Arod and many others used steroids at some time, but MLB and the government need to move on, put all that money to good use…..I heard our public schools could use some money.

by free hotdogs on Feb 8, 2009 9:40 PM EST reply actions