Romero Suspended
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Romero Suspended
Todd Zolecki
Major League Baseball will announce tomorrow that it has suspended J.C. Romero for 50 games for violating its substance policy.
Romero was not accused or found guilty of knowingly using a banned, performance-enhancing substance. Baseball and Romero agree that he used only an over-the-counter supplement he bought in a retail store in Cherry Hill. Romero is being suspended for 50 games and losing about $1.25 million in salary because, an abritrator ruled, he was "negligent" in not knowing what was in the supplement.
"One thing I'm going to say, I'm a man and I'm accountable for my actions," the Phillies reliever said in a telephone interview with The Inquirer's Phil Sheridan. "If I'm guilty of something, you know what? I will face it. But I'm not guilty, and I'm not letting people that don't really know me judge me over something and accuse me of something that I didn't do."
There seems to be quite a bit of gray area and confusion about what happened and why. Romero is not afraid of speaking out. He's not about to sit and take his punishment quietly because he believes he did nothing wrong.
"If people are intimidated because Major League [Baseball] is a big organization, so be it," Romero said. "But they are not going to make an example of me thinking that I'm just a [dumb]ass Puerto Rican. It's not going to happen. It's not the way I'm built. For me to keep my mouth shut? That's not the right thing to do. If they want to bump me out of the game, so be it. What am I going to do, just sit back and take it? When I know in my heart I'm innocent? That doesn't fly well with me and it doesn't fly well in my house, either."
Regardless, the Phillies lose one of their top relief pitchers until June 1. The Phillies weren't commenting last night because MLB hasn't officially announced the suspension, but you're probably wondering what the Phillies are going to do while Romero is out. The answer: They likely will work with what they have. Lefthander Scott Eyre's role certainly has been elevated with Romero out of the picture. Lefthander Mike Zagurski is coming back from Tommy John surgery. He could be an option. Lefthander J.A. Happ also could be an option, if he doesn't win a spot in the rotation. The Phillies also could stick with Eyre as the only lefthander in the bullpen and go with the best arms available (a philosophy Ruben Amaro Jr. has talked about in the past). There are some top free agent lefthanders out there like Joe Beimel, but the Phillies are unlikely to pursue them because Romero will be back at some point and they probably feel they can hold the fort until he's back.
Update (10:09 a.m.): It's official. MLB announced it has suspended Romero for 50 games "for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program."
Update (11:02 a.m.): The players' union released a statement regarding the suspensions of Sergio Mitre and Romero:
“Sergio Mitre and J.C. Romero were suspended for fifty games each by the Commissioner because they tested positive during the 2008 regular season for a Performance Enhancing Substance. Those suspensions were upheld by a neutral third-party arbitrator after hearing. We strongly disagree with the Commissioner’s discipline and with the arbitrator’s decision.
“Mitre and Romero both legally purchased nutritional supplements from national chain stores in the United States. Nothing on the labels of those supplements indicated that they contained a trace amount of a substance prohibited under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Neither player intentionally ingested this prohibited substance, but the arbitrator nevertheless found, wrongly in our view, that the players’ conduct
violated the Program’s “no fault or negligence” standard.
“The Union respects the arbitration process and treats the decision as final. In our view, though, the resulting discipline imposed upon Mitre and Romero is unfair. These players should not be suspended. Their unknowing actions plainly are distinguishable from those of a person who intentionally used an illegal performance-enhancing substance.
“The Association and the Commissioner’s Office must now act to prevent future similar occurrences within baseball. The Association remains committed to a strong Joint Drug Program, but will continue to advocate forcefully for fair treatment of our members."
This is worse then the Seinfeld where Elaine eats the poppy seeds...absolute joke by MLB and terrible by the players association! Gotta be overuled someway somehow..strong arm them Zo!!— philsfan in the atx- Peter Gammons's story is excellent, and the facts clearly state that Romero should be cleared of any fine/suspension. Because it is so clear, so black & white, so open & shut in favor of Romero: MLB will have no choice but to continue their flawed judgment. Because that is how they choose to operate when it comes to their drug policies. Only some diligent reporting from baseball scribes like our friend 'Zo will force a proper resolution in this matter.— Brian F.
- i posted this on the comments of the article but i'll post here too. this is an absolute joke. i'm sure a few lawyers read this so i ask, is there a class action lawsuit that can filed on behalf of the fans against the ruling (mlb)? one that argues along the lines that the fans are being cheated because of the suspension and why it was given? don't know what it would do but if romero is out of options then maybe something else needs to be done.— timm2
- Maybe this is why they made the mysterious Chan Ho-Park decision.— david
Comment removed.- Unless they take away the world series banner I could care less if all 25 of them took dyphenhydrocorticodozne, or whatever.— KMG
- Nothing wrong with signing Chan Ho Park. It looks like he might end up replacing Seanez.. who i think they should bring back via a minor league contract— 93phils
- ESPN and MLB hates the Phillies. Gammon's won't even mention them on Sportscenter. Olney is only allowed to talk about them once a week. It's payback for a low rated series. They want to prevent the Phils at all costs from repeating 09.— Drew777
- bring back the "Wild Thing"— tyrone_loves_guns
- Comment removed.
- yo drew, what kind of moron are you? Do you really think the amount of face time they get on ESPN effects how they play?— fla
- Where is the Players Union in this railroading of one of their members? Is there no support for a man who did all that could be done to look into the product PRIOR to taking it? He was assured & re-assured that it was ok before he tried it. Support your player, Union members & Phils org.— Goo
- I can't believe the Phillies organization isn't going to fight this. First it was the utter embarassment of playing a World Series game in a steady, heavy rain. Now one of their relievers is suspended in spite of his innocence. How can the Phillies take this and not fight back?— steveku2
- I have a question. Does the amount of money Romero loses (about $1.5 million) stay with the Phillies, or do the Phillies still need to pay it (and it goes to MLB or somewhere). In other words, assuming the suspension holds up, did the Phillies just find another $1.5 million?— Lynx
- How can MLB suspend JC for being negligent? When you read the reports, it sure sounds like MLB and MLBPA are the ones that were negligent. Also, MLB’s offer to JC to reduce the suspension to 25 games if he admits he is guilty sounds like someone (MLB) has a guilty conscience because they didn’t do their job properly. Even when the Phillies trainer sent the sample to MLB, they said it could possibly not pass the drug test. Could possibly?? How is that any guidance to the players? Couldn’t they say that about every supplement out there? I hope JC fights this big time.— parkwood
