BLUE 1,026 Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) Craig Calcaterra | Aug 15, 2012, 2:47 PM EDT Big, big news out of San Francisco that could have major playoff implications: Melky Cabrera has been suspended 50 games for a positive testosterone test. That knocks him out for the rest of the season — the Giants only have 45 games left — and presumably the postseason. Though I’ll check to see whether suspensions can be counted off with postseason games. If they can. He’d be available for a theoretical NLCS. Oh, and it appears that Melky lied to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com about it too, so that’s fun. Cabrera is hitting .346/.390/.516 on the year and, until Buster Posey‘s hot streak of late, was the Giants’ offensive MVP for most of the season. Now … he’s gone. And it hurts not just the Giants: Cabrera will be a free agent after the season is over, and now his free agent money drive is all gone. UPDATE: Cabrera just made a statement and he made no excuses: ”My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used. I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down.” Wow. Can’t remember many violators who actually owned up without caveat. Source: HardballTalk Edited August 15, 2012 by BLUE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted August 15, 2012 I guess that explains why he's been so good the past 2 years. This is a huge blow to the Giants. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted August 15, 2012 Best news I've heard all week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted August 15, 2012 This will really hurt the Giants..They are a playoff contender and they really couldn't afford this..They will now need Pence to hit very well to accompany Buster Posey as Pablo Sandoval on DL won't secure them a playoff spot.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tridentdawgpound 1,043 Posted August 19, 2012 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/19/melky-cabrera-bought-a-website-and-dreamed-up-a-fake-supplement-in-an-attempt-to-beat-his-ped-suspension/ This all reads like the plot for a low-budget tech thriller movie. A bad, low-budget tech thriller. According to Teri Thompson, Bill Madden, Christian Red, Michael O’Keefe and Nathaniel Vinton of the New York Daily News, outfielder Melky Cabrera “created a fictitious website and a nonexistent product designed to prove he inadvertently took the banned substance that caused a positive test under Major League Baseball’s drug program.” The website, purchased by an associate of Cabrera’s from the Dominican Republic named Juan Nunez, cost a total of $10,000. The product, advertised as a topical cream, was going to anchor Cabrera’s defense during his appeal. But “baseball figured out the ruse pretty quickly,” a source familiar with the case told the Daily News. Cabrera’s agents, Sam and Seth Levinson of ACES, have distanced themselves from Nunez and are claiming that the scheme was concocted without their knowledge. There’s no evidence that they’re lying, though Nunez has been hired directly by the agents in the past to obtain and deal with Dominican clients. Federal investigators are now looking into the case, and it seems possible if not likely that Cabrera will be facing punishment beyond his 50-game ban from professional baseball. “If you engage in this type of activity,” concludes a well-informed source in the Daily News exclusive, “you do it at great risk to your livelihood.” At least he didn't blame the FedEx guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mathias 394 Posted September 21, 2012 SAN FRANCISCO – In an unprecedented agreement between Major League Baseball and union officials, suspended Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera will be ruled ineligible to win the 2012 NL batting title, sources told CSNBayArea.com. Cabrera asked to be removed from consideration on Wednesday, when his representatives sent a letter to union officials. The Players’ Association worked out a one-time amendment to Rule 10.22(a) with MLB officials on Thursday, one day after Commissioner Bud Selig said publicly that he was not likely to take action on the matter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phins4life 271 Posted September 22, 2012 Props to Cabrera for asking to be removed from the batting race. Looks like he'd rather not have the title than have an asterisk by his name. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
