ESPN:
Hooker, a seventh-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft, was slated to be in Quad Cities rotation this season.
“We’re disappointed,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “How he deals with it will be a big test for him.”
That’s an awfully PC response, which is what you’d expect at this stage in the game. Keep an eye out for more comments by the front office.
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I doubt the FO will comment any more than this. If for no other reason, privacy laws keep them from talking about the individual case.
Too late to revise my Breakout Pitcher in 2009 prediction? It is, isn’t it?
“St. Louis Cardinals minor league pitcher Deryk Hooker was suspended for 50 games Thursday after testing positive for drug of abuse under the sport’s minor league program.”
A drug of abuse implies not a PED right? Will make a big difference if its weed or something more extreme like coke or heroin.
Also the link is broken. Here it is:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4056849
That sucks. I hope its limited to Hooker and not broader throughout the organization. The Cards have remained relatively unscathed through this whole thing (if you disregard McGwire – a big one).
It appears from the wording that it was not a performance enhancing drug. Not that unusual for someone his age to dabble in that area. Hopefully this is a wakeup call for him and he uses the time to find another outlet. I have been a big backer of his and I still believe in his talent.
Its not like the ganj was the source of his fastball velocity and break on his curveball. He’ll be fine. He just has to learn to stop dabbling in the devils shrubbery.
I’ve never done drugs, I actually am pretty harsh on drug use by others (which really isn’t one of my better qualities) but if this young man was busted for smoking pot, suspending him 50 games is ridiculous.
And I’d like a do-over on my Breakout Pitcher prediction.
I kinda doubt it was for pot. Not to get caught up in some unfettered rumor-mongering, but I’ve heard from a number of folks that weed use is pretty rampant in the MLB and higher-ups pretty much turn a blind eye. “Drug of abuse” and 50 games sounds pretty serious.
Probably hanging out with that Adam “Reifer” character. I keed. I keed.
I really would like to know what he was busted for. Anything short of taking HGH or Steroids does not warrant a 50 game suspension, imo. I would rather players smoke weed than take pain pills. Pain Pills inhibit muscle growth.
because where there’s hookers there’s reifer, erik?
fyi, per the ML drug abuse yadda yadda only four substances count as “drugs of abuse.”
cocaine
marijuana
opiates (heroin, opium, vicodin, percocets, other pill-form opiates)
PCP
so there’s a limited list of suspects here.
Ok I did some digging and found out what a “Drug of Abuse” is
1. Cocaine
2. LSD
3. Marijuana
4. Opiates (e.g., Heroin, Codeine, Morphine)
5. MDMA (“Ecstasy”)
6. GHB; and
7. Phencyclidine (“PCP”)
per
http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/pdf/jda.pdf
Now this is the MLB contract not the MILB contract since I could not find it. So I don’t know the differences between the drug testing but in the MLB. They only test for Performance Enhancing drugs (ie. Steroids) and Stimulants (Ephedrine) not Drugs of Abuse per
“B. Drugs of Abuse
Except as set forth in Section 3.A or Section 5.B (as to Stimulants) or Section 3.C or Section 4.E, Players shall not be subject to testing for the use of any Drug of Abuse.”
Now lets say somehow a MLB player gets busted with a bag of pot by someone in the league. It is against the rules they just don’t test for it. Here is their suspension
“at least a 15-game but not more than a 30-game suspension, if the Prohibited Substance is a Drug of Abuse (including a Stimulant)”
So only 15 games in the MLB vs 50 games in the MILB. It is obvious here who has the better union. But it gets even better apparently Marijuana doesn’t even count
“A Player on the Administrative Track for the use or possession of marijuana shall not be subject to suspension. The Player will be subject to fines, which shall be progressive and which shall not exceed $25,000 for any particular violation.”
Now if Hooker would of been on the 40 man roster he would of fallen under the Major League rules and not the minor league rules and would of suspended for 15 games instead of 50 games. And possibly not even suspended if it was Marijuana.
Man Drug Laws are confusing as hell.
OF course Joe Strauss erroneously reported at stltoday.com that it was a PED. Can’t even take the time to read the MLB press release properly.
The 50 game suspension is indicative of the fact this is not his first offense.
@Red “The 50 game suspension is indicative of the fact this is not his first offense.”
You sure of that? Wouldn’t we heard something about that already in the past?
Stupid question, but could we send him to play in the mexican league while suspended? Pretty sure drugs aren’t even illegal there…
Also, it’s 50 games for a first offense, 100 for a second offense, permanent for a third. This is the same for MLB or MiLB.
link
Right, but I believe non-performance enhancing drugs the first positive test results in treatment and increased testing. The second becomes public and 50 games.
“Probably hanging out with that Adam “Reifer” character. I keed. I keed.” There surely is a Who’s on First.
So have you heard about the suspension?
No.
Hooker.
A player was suspended for hookers?
No, refer.
Refer?
No, another pitcher.
What other pitcher?
Hooker?
Come on Abbott. You said hookers weren’t involved!
No Reifer wasn’t involved, Hooker was.
Well make up your mind. How can they suspect for hookers?
No, refer.
Abbott!!!!!
Joe, that was funny.
HL- I actually think I’m wrong- the article said “steroids and other illegal drugs”, which I took to mean “other illegal drugs” as defined above, but later it says amphetamines are a lesser offense. I guess the penalties are the same between MLB and MiLB for steroid use, but that says nothing about MJ or whatever the kids call it these days.
It’s going-home-time now, so I guess this great mystery will remain unsolved, at least by me…
One last bit, Hooker is just 19, so this really isn’t the big deal it might otherwise be. Hopefully he can find a league to play in to keep sharp.
For non-performance enhancing drugs the first positive test results in educational classes and the results are kept confidential. The second positive test results in a 50 game suspension.
I noticed that Hooker has been placed on the system’s “Restricted List” as a result (presumably) of this suspension. However, I also noticed that there are three other names on that list, including Luke Gorsett — of whom I have heard no comparable news suggesting why he’s on it. Anybody know why there are so many Cardinals farm hands on that list? It’s not nearly as long as Washington’s list (10 names!), but still longer than major-league average, as far as I can tell. Are they all drug suspensions, or is something else in play?