Raffy nailed on the juice

[King]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...spension_x.htm

Palmeiro suspended for drug policy violation
By Hal Bodley, USA TODAY
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who testified before Congress on March 17 that he'd never used steroids, was suspended by Commissioner Bud Selig on Monday for 10 games for violating baseball's drug policy. (Related video: Palmeiro testifies before Congress)
Rafael Palmeiro is one of four players to amass 3,000 career hits and 500 career home runs.
By Elaine Thompson, AP

The announcement was made prior to the Orioles 12:35 p.m. ET game at Camden Yards against the Chicago White Sox.

Palmeiro, whose 567 career home runs and 3,018 hits make him a leading candidate for the Hall of Fame five years after he retires, immediately appealed the disciplinary action.

Palmeiro, who passed 3,000 hits this season, is the seventh major leaguer suspended under baseball's new drug program that became effective in March. He by far has the highest profile of any of the previous players disciplined.

Palmeiro during the highly publicized March 17 hearing on steroids conducted by the House of Representatives Government Reform Committee said, under oath, he'd never used steroids even though former Texas Rangers teammate Jose Canseco said otherwise in his book, Juiced.

Palmeiro's statement: "Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Rafael Palmeiro and I am a professional baseball player. I'll be brief in my remarks today. Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. The reference to me in Mr. Canseco's book is absolutely false. I am against the use of steroids. I don't think athletes should use steroids and I don't think our kids should use them. That point of view is one, unfortunately, that is not shared by our former colleague, Jose Canseco. Mr. Canseco is an unashamed advocate for increased steroid use by all athletes."

Palmeiro, 40, signed a one-year contract with the Orioles for 2004 that paid him $4.15 million. The Orioles exercised an option for 2005 at $3 million.

Unless reversed, the suspension will cost Palmeiro $165,746.

In 103 games this season Palmeiro is batting .280, with 18 homers and 59 runs batted in. Palmeiro had one hit in the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the White Sox in Sunday night's nationally televised game.

When he collected his 3,000th hit on July 15 off Seattle's Joel Pineiro, Palmeiro joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players in baseball history with at least 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

Saturday, during a press conference in Cooperstown, N.Y., new members Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg both said Palmiero should — and will — be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

[Jimcs50]

Source says Palmeiro will be suspendedESPN.com news services
Related Video:
Lopez gives up eight runs in first two innings

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro will be suspended by Major League Baseball for violating the league's steroids policy, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney has confirmed with a league source.


Rafael Palmeiro
First Base
Baltimore Orioles
Profile


2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM HR RBI R OBP AVG
103 18 59 46 .354 .280




Palmeiro, who recently got his 3,000th career hit, was noted for his emotional denial of steroid use before a Congressional panel in March, would be the latest player suspended under the league's new drug policy.

The image of Palmeiro taking a sweet swing from the left side of the plate has been replaced in some minds by the sight of him testifying before a House committee investigating steroids in baseball.

The hearing included testimony from Jose Canseco, who in his book cited Palmeiro and several other players as steroid users. Palmeiro emphatically denies using the performance-enhancing drug, but the Baltimore Orioles' first baseman can't deny how perceptions have changed.

"In my opinion, everyone that plays baseball in this era has been tainted," Palmeiro said during spring training. "Not just the people that he has named in the book, I think this whole era over the last 10, 15 or 20 years has been tainted. Regardless of whether you did or you didn't do anything, this whole era will have that label."


Information from The Associated Press was used in this report

[Jimcs50]

I guess Jose was right.

Maybe people will stop calling Canseco a liar now.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Okay, I think we can probably end all that HOF talk right about now.

[whottt]

Boom...he just destroyed his entire career...he's a liar and a cheat.

I can't believe I was a fan of this guy.

[atlfan25]

this is great
dude got busted cold

[samikeyp]

Oops.

Damn, Raffy. I was pulling for you too.

[TheAdmiral#50]

Oh No! I have to believe it was some sort of supplement that had an illegal substance in it.

He can not possibly be that stupid because at the hearings, Palmeiro really came out looking the best. He did play with Canseco in Texas though, so Never underestimate how stupid some people can be I guess.

Too bad, one of my fav players.

[HotAssComic]

Okay, I think we can probably end all that HOF talk right about now.

I never started HOF talks... this guy was really good but no Hall of Famer. You never feared Raffy coming to your stadium as a hitter. The guy put up good numbers... but never will be remembered as a LETHAL THREAT at the plate... I'll remember him more for those stupid Viagra commercials than anything else...

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

How the do you get busted with all the hype going on right now?

Plus, you were in front of Congress! How stupid can you be?

[Taco]

Oops.

Damn, Raffy. I was pulling for you too.

Was this after the "Little Blue Pill?!?!?!

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I never started HOF talks...

I'm glad to know you can answer a statement that wasn't addressed to anybody in particular.

[samikeyp]

Was this after the "Little Blue Pill?!?!?!

sick bas .

[Taco]

sick bas .

[ObiwanGinobili]

damn it!
And I love him too....

but now I feel as tho he has taken that love, tied it to the back of a truck and dragged it down the road. .
bas .

[FromWayDowntown]

Hmmm, we talked about this before.

[TheAdmiral#50]

How the do you get busted with all the hype going on right now?

Plus, you were in front of Congress! How stupid can you be?

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn't be surprised if it's anything more than a supplement, that he didn't know had a banned substance in it.

[atlfan25]

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn't be surprised if it's anything more than a supplement, that he didn't know had a banned substance in it.

If so then he is easily a moron, with all eyes on the steroid issue in baseball he doesn't take the time to see what substances are banned and cross check them with he is taking?

But they are saying it is steroids and not just a banned substance on espn.

[whottt]

HotAssComic...WTF are you talking about?

His numbers are ing HOF worthy...it's assinine to say they aren't.

But if he did steroids that's another thing entirely.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

HotAssComic...WTF are you talking about?

His numbers are ing HOF worthy...it's assinine to say they aren't.

But if he did steroids that's another thing entirely.

I agree with Whottt on that point.

HAC says he didn't "scare" anybody when he came to their ballpark.

If my 4-foot-10 mom came into the ballpark with the numbers Raffy put up, you better be scared that she's going to drive in runs.

[Kori Ellis]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's anything more than a supplement, that he didn't know had a banned substance in it.

If that's the case, he's still a frickin' idiot. You can't go in front of the world and say you didn't take steroids and then be stupid enough to not know what's inside the supplements that you are taking.

Moron.

Sorry Whottt, one of your heroes has fallen.

[samikeyp]

His numbers are ing HOF worthy...it's assinine to say they aren't.

But if he did steroids that's another thing entirely.

agreed.

[Kori Ellis]

He's on ESPN (via telephone) right now reading his prepared statement

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

If that's the case, he's still a frickin' idiot. You can't go in front of the world and say you didn't take steroids and then be stupid enough to not know what's inside the supplements that you are taking.

But, but Barry says he didn't know what was in those creams he took.

I hope Barry Bonds has to have a continuous drain of his knee for the rest of his life.

Asshole.

[TheAdmiral#50]

Maybe Pudge Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa are next. I'm a Pudge fan, but it's obvious that he was juicing IMO, after the total body transformation he underwent in the offseason.