MLB, Union Seem On Same Page With PED Issues; Weiner Talks Expanding Penalties

MLB players and owners are “sounding more like partners these days, especially on the issue of performance enhancing drugs,” according to Ken Fidlin of the TORONTO SUN. MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner said, “Players at this point have very little patience for players who are trying to cheat the system.” While visiting Blue Jays players yesterday as part of the MLBPA’s training camps tour, Weiner said, “We’ve had a good discussion whether or not 50 games for a first time (penalty) is sufficient, and we’ll discuss that over the course of 2013" (TORONTO SUN, 2/26). He added of potentially increasing penalties for players in violation of the MLB drug testing program, "There are certainly some players who have expressed that. ... If it turns out that we have a different penalty structure because that’s what players are interested in, that’s what the owners are interested in, it will be for 2014.” He added, “More and more players are vocal about the desire to have a clean game. More and more players are vocal about being willing to accept sacrifices in terms of testing in order to make sure we have a clean game” (AP, 2/25). Weiner said that he “plans to talk to all of the 25 players" whose names appear on documents from the now-shuttered Biogenesis clinic (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/26).

A BUNCH OF YES MEN? In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes YES Network on Sunday during its first Yankees game telecast of Spring Training “took a more conservative approach" when reporting Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez’ recent link to PEDs, as the TV coverage “took on a buttoned-up approach.” Jack Curry joined Michael Kay and Ken Singleton in the booth “to discuss story lines surrounding the Yankees," including the allegations in the Miami New Times around PED use by several players. Curry said, “Alex Rodriguez’s name was on that list.” He added that both Yankees Managing General Partner & co-Chair Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman when asked about the allegations “had said the investigation was in MLB’s hands.” Curry: “So this all hovers over them (the Yankees) now. Since the first couple of days everyone has moved forward.” Raissman notes the YES crew “then moved on to other Yankees issues,” but they “should’ve stuck on the A-Rod thing longer to voice opinions” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/26).