Major League Baseball

Reaction to MLB suspensions

Published Aug. 6, 2013 8:27 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Reaction to MLB's suspension of 13 players on Monday, after a sweeping drug investigation:

---

''What we've always fought for was for the process, and I think we have that and at some point we'll sit in front of an arbiter and give our case. And that's as much as I feel comfortable telling you right now.'' - Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

---

''As a social institution with enormous social responsibilities, Baseball must do everything it can to maintain integrity, fairness and a level playing field. We are committed to working together with players to reiterate that performance-enhancing drugs will not be tolerated in our game.'' - Commissioner Bud Selig, from a statement released by MLB.

---

''Definitely going in the right direction. I think we can all agree that the penalties aren't harsh enough. If we want to get this game cleaned up the way it's supposed to be, if you get caught one time it's just you're done. I think that's the only way it'll ever get completely clean. But I think we're moving in the right direction. Those guys that got suspended, it's going to be tough for them.'' - Braves second baseman Dan Uggla.

---

''What they were doing that is inappropriate is imposing a penalty that is way too harsh. I mean, we've never had a 200-plus (game) penalty for a player who may have used drugs. And among other things, I just think that's way out of line.'' - MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner.

---

''We believe that effective enforcement efforts through testing and investigations increases the deterrent effect of our program.'' - Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for economics and league affairs.

---

''Today is a sad day for MLB, the fans of this great game, and all players who may have been negatively affected by others' selfishness. Ultimately, although today will be a day of infamy for MLB, it is a tremendous step in the right direction for the game we love.'' - Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, on his Twitter account.

---

''I think as a whole we're disappointed that we haven't as an industry moved past this. Because there's a been an awful lot of effort put into this and a lot of education and MLB has made it a priority, so yeah, it's disappointing that we haven't gotten further down the road.'' - Hall of Fame pitcher and Texas Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan.

---

''You'll never get around it. I mean, there will always be people trying to beat the system, no matter what. The only thing MLB and the players' union can do is get together and try to figure out to the best of their ability how guys are beating the system.'' - Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton.

---

''Obviously it was a pretty widespread scheme coming out of South Florida. Issuing these suspensions is a good day for clean athletes. It shows no players are above the game and this commissioner is going to take a leadership position and hold those accountable who violate the rules of the sport. It really validates the decision of millions of athletes around the world who make the decision when confronted with it not to use dangerous performance-enhancing drugs.'' - U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart.

---

''This has been an ongoing thing for so long. It's not like somebody just died suddenly. It's kind of what I expected. I was a very close person in his life at one time and probably a mentor, and those were great times and I really liked them and appreciated them. That's what I remember. These things here, I'd like to forget. He's an intelligent person. He had the ability to make all the choices. He made the choices and now he's got to live with them.'' - Rich Hofman, Rodriguez's high school coach at Westminster Christian in Miami.

---

''I've been pretty clear. I'd like to see testing get really, really good, where guys can't get away with anything, guys know they can't get away with anything. It protects the players from each other, trying to compete. It protects the fans, it protects the organization. Hopefully this keeps getting better, and the penalties will get stiffer to the point where it just deters the players from trying.'' - Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

---

''The accepted suspensions announced today are consistent with the punishments set forth in the Joint Drug Agreement, and were arrived at only after hours of intense negotiations between the bargaining parties, the players and their representatives. For the player appealing, Alex Rodriguez, we agree with his decision to fight his suspension. We believe that the Commissioner has not acted appropriately under the Basic Agreement. Mr. Rodriguez knows that the Union, consistent with its history, will defend his rights vigorously.'' - MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner.

---

''From November 2011 to January 2012, I was seriously ill with a gastrointestinal infection, helicobacter pylori, which went undiagnosed for over a month. By the time I was properly diagnosed and treated, I had lost 40 pounds. Just weeks before I was to report to spring training in 2012, I was unsure whether I would be physically able to play. Faced with this situation, I made an error in judgment that I deeply regret, and I accept full responsibility for that error.'' - Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, suspended 50 games.

---

''In spring of 2012, I made a terrible mistake that I deeply regret. I apologize to everyone that I have hurt as a result of my mistake, including my teammates, the Tigers' organization, the great fans in Detroit, Major League Baseball, and my family. I take full responsibility for my actions, have no excuses for my lapse in judgment and I accept my suspension. I love the fans, my teammates and this organization and my greatest punishment is knowing that I have let so many good people down. I promise to do everything possible to try and earn back the respect that I have lost.'' - Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, suspended 50 games.

---

''I made certain mistakes during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those mistakes. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mariners' organization, Mariners' fans and my family. I look forward to making significant contributions to the Mariners in 2014.'' - Mariners minor league catcher Jesus Montero, suspended 50 games.

---

''The penalties are a joke. If these players were in the Olympics or USA Track and Field, for example - the gold standards of testing - each player's first major finding like this would cause a two year ban-a real penalty. Fifty games is less than a third of a season. These guys will be back for the playoffs! Baseball is not serious.'' - former Clinton administration drug policy spokesman Bob Weiner.

---

''Working together, we've delivered messages to thousands of kids and have impacted their lives in a positive way. But today's announcement leaves us no option but to discontinue our relationship with Alex Rodriguez.'' - Don Hooton, president of the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which aims to educate youth about the hazards of steroid use.

---

''I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Phillies' organization, Phillies' fans and my family, and look forward to helping the Phillies win a championship in 2014.'' - Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo, suspended 50 games.

---

''We are compelled to address certain reckless and false allegations concerning the Yankees' role in this matter. The New York Yankees in no way instituted and/or assisted MLB in the direction of this investigation; or used the investigation as an attempt to avoid its responsibilities under a player contract; or did its medical staff fail to provide the appropriate standard of care to Alex Rodriguez.'' - statement issued by the New York Yankees.

---

''I am very pleased that Major League Baseball has cleared my name. With this process now complete, I have no lingering sense of animosity, as I quickly realized that the objective of this investigation was to clean up our game. This is an ideal that I share with both Major League Baseball and the MLBPA.'' - Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez, who was linked to the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, but exonerated by MLB's investigation.

---

''Of course there's disappointment, but if you start getting angry, then you're starting to judge, and I'm not judging. The commissioner has made it clear, baseball has made it clear and the players' association has made it clear that they don't want this in the game, and I think they're doing a tremendous job to try to clear it up, and there's a consequence to things that you do. We'll live with it, it's done, and we move forward.'' - Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball