Dear Juan,
This has been a hard day. I never dreamed a Twin would test positive for drugs. Sure, there are players that we have had in recent years who I thought might have been on the stuff but they haven't been for a couple of years or they aren't with the team anymore. But more than that, you'd have to be a colossal moron to still use after Selig finally pulled his head out of his bum this year and decided to "get tough."
Juan, I don't think you're a colossal moron, or a cheater for that matter. I've had people tell me you’re about the nicest, most decent Twin of all and it's something I've really enjoyed believing. Because, well, that's just what you seem like—a decent guy with one hell of an arm and a perpetually frightened expression.
So, what do I do with your positive drug test? I've been so hard on Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi, because they are cheaters and baseball, well, it's a beautiful game and does not deserve to be sullied with cheating. Steroids need to be out of baseball, and all of the attention paid to the problem is long overdue. But here's the problem; any time the spotlight is shined on some kind of wrongdoing, we often forget the principles of justice in our haste, and when it's a legal matter due process can fly out the window. When Alex Sanchez proclaimed his innocence after his test, I couldn't help but wonder if he might be telling the truth, if we were going to sacrifice a few players in the name of baseball's brand new toughness. I'm all for Selig's proposal to ban players for 50 days on their first offense (And that's the first time I've ever agreed with Selig on anything), but some questions need to be answered first—are these tests foolproof? What safeguards are in place to prevent false positives or tampering? Why is there no appeal process?
I want to believe you're innocent, Juan. I want to believe there has been a mistake—because this just doesn't fit the Juan Rincon we know. There's been a lot of talk in the comments yesterday about some substances that are banned here but not in Venezuela, and about shakes and supplements that have some very secret ingredients. Now, look, a player should know the rules and should know what's in every pill and potion he puts in his mouth, and if you've ingested something without knowing it, you're guilty of stupidity; though in that case, does the punishment fit the crime?
If that's the case, perhaps people will now look more closely at the stuff they're taking and won't run health risks in the future. And with the new measures, perhaps steroids won't have the allure they do now for players from impoverished countries, guys who have a chance to escape terrible poverty if they are good enough for the bigs, guys whose entire fortunes will be made or lost on their bodies. It wasn't like baseball cared what these guys took—at least not until this year.
So, Juan, are you a victim of carelessness? Of stupidity? Or did you juice? Because if you did, I have to tell you, it will break my heart. I expect better from my players. Juan, if you did juice, I'll be really angry—you've marred your reputation and you've marred the team, too, and its fans. And I guess I'll be a little hurt, too—maybe that's not fair, but it's true. And if you didn't juice, well, I hope there's a way to prove yourself. Either way, I cannot stand it. May baseball be rid of this whole ghastly problem soon so we can get back to loving the game.
And, no matter what, as amr posted in the comments yesterday, some serious questions need to be asked of your orthodontist.
Sincerely,
Batgirl