Mariners’ Robinson Cano among latest in long line of Dominican players to violate MLB drug policy | The Seattle Times

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/jose-bautista-prospecs-beisbol-dominicano

The details in the article below (and the one above by Jose Bautista) are extremely disturbing and it goes to a topic that we've touched on here many times in the past: MLB's complicity in creating and maintaining this culture of dependency on the game itself and the siren song of PED dependency in order to make it here and leave the homeland.

They took a swing at fixing it in 2009 and the article gives an account from someone knowledgeable and on the ground that says it has only become worse. Not good MLB.

Players are coming from some of the most impoverished countries in this hemisphere, body types are changing literally overnight without a corresponding increase in economic development and we're to believe that these countries -- Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela -- are all of a sudden able to develop young players to play baseball at rates higher than produced within the United States and Puerto Rico?

This may play a large role in the declining numbers of African America, white and Puerto Rican players currently in MLB. The demographics have changed too dramatically and in too short of a time period without the sort of infrastructure and economic development to explain other than to add in an element of rule-bending.

Combine this with the advantage of not being tethered to a draft and you a have a toxic brew that allows for MLB to take advantage of poor families and young kids in these countries based on economic desperation and love of baseball.

And that is shameful! What a horrible combination to be associated with.

According to Baseball Reference:

Buscone

A buscone is a term used in the Dominican Republic to refer to people who peddle young baseball players to scouts for teams from Major League Baseball. The word comes from the verb "buscar" which means to look for, to search; it traces its roots to "thief" in old Spanish pirate tales. Buscones identify promising players, train them (primarily in areas like running and hitting for power that impress scouts, rather than in actual game mechanics), and then pocket a share of the signing bonus, often about a quarter. Buscones are often criticized by MLB sources, including some scouts, but are considered part of the business of baseball in the Dominican Republic.

A "thief", one who "peddles young baseball players to scouts for teams from Major League Baseball." Nice!!

It's time to seriously reform the practice. The ends of the lucky 3% no longer justifies the means of the other 97% who are not so lucky.

El Ciclo _ by Jose Bautista

But what those kids don’t get is an education. MLB has made major strides in the last 10 years in building facilities in my country, but every year, hundreds of prospects fizzle out of baseball and head back into the real world with nothing to show for the thousands of hours they’ve devoted to this game.

The statistics are eye-opening. Less than half of those signed to academy contracts in the Dominican make it to America to play rookie ball. Only 25 percent make it to Class A. Only about 3 percent will ever take an at-bat in the Major Leagues.

This is the proposition presented to many Dominican families: Have your child give up school at age 12 for a 3 percent chance to play in the Majors. And they do it happily and willingly. Because there is no other choice. Can you imagine walking into a sixth grade PTA meeting and presenting that choice to American parents?

I can already hear the people on Twitter shouting, “So what? I’d beg for the opportunity to do that for free.”

And those people are totally right. Those kids feel the same way. In my 30 years playing baseball, I have never heard a single guy say, “You know what? That was unfair. Somebody forced me into this life. This isn’t what I wanted to do.”

It’s their only way out.

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from seattletimes.com
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-robinson-cano-among-latest-in-long-line-of-dominican-players-to-violate-mlb-drug-policy/

Mariners' Robinson Cano among latest in long line of Dominican players to violate MLB drug policy

Geoff BakerOriginally published May 25, 2018 at 7:00 am

Robinson Cano and Dominican catcher Welington Castillo of the White Sox this month became the 56th and 57th MLB roster players suspended since PED testing was implemented. Of those, 40 percent were born in the Dominican Republic despite only about 10 percent of MLB players hailing from that country in a given season.

A darkened Santo Domingo parking lot isn't the safest place in the Dominican Republic to meet sources for stories.

But this source wanted the isolated location, because he was one of the biggest known suppliers of performance-enhancing drugs to Dominican baseball minor-leaguers playing in that country and the United States. He still hoped to play ball for a U.S. college, had a cousin in the major leagues and was taking a risk by talking, but he wanted people to know why Dominican major- and minor-leaguers were getting caught using PEDs at a disproportionately high rate.

The year was 2005, when Major League Baseball's fledgling PED testing program in the majors and minors was showing signs of a serious Dominican problem. A weeklong quest for answers through Dominican baseball's underbelly – including the shadowy world of unregulated, independent trainers known as "buscones" that develop the country's teenage baseball talent amid a scarcity of high-school leagues – led us to the dealer and his explanation for why PED usage was practically mandatory for the nation's youth.

"All the (U.S.) scouts want players who are 16 or 17 to throw over 90 miles per hour," he said. "In the U.S., even when you're 20, the scouts only ask for 86 or 87. That's why so many young players make the decision to use the stuff."

With hitters, he added, scouts wanted muscular sluggers with grown-man strength. And in the Dominican, where your career often is effectively over if you haven't signed a professional contract by age 18, players can't always wait for natural growth.

So, some buscones – who pull players as young as 12 from school and work them around the clock to sell to MLB scouts starting at age 16 – beef up their prospects on steroids, testosterone and even farm-animal drugs meant for horses and cows.

This was the free-for-all Dominican system that Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, suspended 80 games last week after testing positive for a PED masking agent, competed within as a teenager. The same goes for Mariners teammate Nelson Cruz, who is two years older than Cano and was suspended 50 games with Texas in 2013 after being linked to the PED-supplying Biogenesis clinic in Miami.

When they see they're competing for these contracts against players all taking drugs, they feel the need to take drugs themselves," - Arturo Marcano

MLB has attempted reforms, introducing suspensions for PED usage in 2008 for pros in the rookie-level Dominican Summer League and some top amateurs. But Arturo Marcano, a lawyer, ESPN commentator and author of books on baseball's globalization and the exploitation of players in the Dominican Republic and his native Venezuela, says little has changed.

"If anything, it's gotten much worse,'' Marcano said last week, adding that a proliferation of private Dominican academies run by offshore U.S. investors, official player agents and buscones has created intense competition for younger players. Marcano said teams are "pre-signing" players to unofficial deals by 14 and 15 until they're eligible for official contracts at 16 years, six months of age.

"When they see they're competing for these contracts against players all taking drugs, they feel the need to take drugs themselves," Marcano said. "Sometimes the buscones and the player agents are forcing them to take drugs. And when they start taking PEDs at 12 and 13, it's hard to get them to ever stop.''

Cano and Dominican catcher Welington Castillo of the Chicago White Sox this month became the 56th and 57^th MLB roster players suspended since PED testing was implemented. Of those, 23  – 40 percent – were born in the Dominican Republic despite only about 10 percent of MLB players hailing from that country in any given season.

And that's not counting former Mariners star Alex Rodriguez and Royals infielder Adalberto Mondesi (currently in the minor leagues), who both were suspended and are dual U.S.-Dominican citizens with close ties to the Caribbean country.

Players from Venezuela grow up under a similar system and are funneled through MLB academies in the Dominican, as are prospects from Central America and other Caribbean countries. Five Venezuelans, three Cubans, one Panamanian and one Nicaraguan have been nabbed for PEDs since 2005, which, combined with the Dominicans, accounts for 58 percent of all suspensions despite comprising less than a quarter of the MLB population.
Of 14 players suspended in the 2013 Biogenesis scandal, 11 once played in the Dominican Summer League.  The past five MLB players suspended since the start of 2017 hail from the Dominican as well.
Marcano said the late 1990s, when Cano and Cruz were amateur players, was still a "Wild West" for Dominican baseball, with MLB a decade away from suspending for PED usage there.
Cano didn't need the buscones, because his father Jose had pitched for the Houston Astros in 1989 and was independently training him. As a Dominican high-school player, Cano had been slow, with a skinny upper body and was passed over by several teams before the New York Yankees signed him for a much smaller bonus than his dad was seeking.

These days Cano's dad, who is not registered player agent, runs a private academy in the Dominican that has partnered with U.S. investors on developing Dominican teens.

As for Cruz, a basketball player and late baseball bloomer, he didn't need a buscon either after being discovered somewhat accidentally by a New York Mets scout watching a pickup game.

Cruz at 17 was thrust into the Mets' academy and struggled for three years in a Dominican Summer League rife with PEDs as a byproduct of the buscones system. Only 2 percent of Dominicans signed to pro contracts make it to MLB, and the academy players are in cutthroat competition just to make the U.S. minor leagues.
Cano skipped the MLB academy system and at 18 went straight to rookie ball in the U.S. But he'd return home each offseason and later played winter ball in the Dominican, competing alongside players purchasing myriad PEDs at local pharmacies without prescription.
Both Cano and Cruz say they've never taken PEDs to boost performance. Cano says the masking agent was prescribed for an undisclosed health condition, and Cruz said he made a "mistake" seeking treatment from Biogenesis for an ailment that caused him to lose 40 pounds.
Cano was 15 and Cruz 17 in 1998, when Dominican star Sammy Sosa chased Mark McGwire for the season home-run record.
Dominican teens wanting to emulate Sosa – who hailed from Cano's hometown of San Pedro de Macoris – were given catch-all advice by buscones, scouts and coaches: "You can't walk your way off the island."
They know that I used, and they want to know what I took." - Pedro Soto, former amateur pitcher

In other words, only free-swinging power-hitters need apply.
Once inside MLB teams' Dominican academies, even players that previously avoided PEDs felt pressure to keep up. Not getting promoted meant returning into impoverished Dominican life with relatively no education.

During our 2005 visit, a few years after Cano and Cruz had left for the U.S., a former amateur pitcher named Pedro Soto – identified by buscones as a PED supplier — estimated in an interview that 90 percent of Dominican players used such drugs by their late teens.
Soto, then 22, acknowledged that he had counseled amateur players about PEDs and supplied pro prospects in MLB-run academies.
"They know that I used, and they want to know what I took," Soto said.

It wasn't until 2009, after embarrassing disclosures about MLB team officials colluding with buscones, that commissioner Bud Selig dispatched executive Sandy Alderson to the Dominican as an emissary. Alderson reported in September 2009 that "corrupt buscones" were primarily responsible for the PED pipeline and added that MLB teams had avoided confronting them – fearing they'd be denied access to top prospects.
Marcano said subsequent MLB drug testing of Dominican amateurs, introduced in 2010, screens only a fraction of prospects signed annually into pro academies.

"The biggest problem is still at the amateur level," he said.
MLB has tried educating Dominican players about PEDs and testing. But they see players earning millions – Cano signed a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Mariners in 2013, and Cruz signed a $57 million, four-year deal with Seattle in 2014 – and figure it's worth using all the way to the majors and even after making it.

Manny Ramirez appeared Hall of Fame bound before he was suspended in 2009 and 2011. Before being suspended, Ramirez had won a World Series and had nothing more to prove.

Studies by the World Health Organization, Yale University and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, among others, have found long-term PED usage can create either physical or psychological dependence on them. Dominican players weaned on PEDs at 14 and now in their 30s in MLB will have been playing baseball on them the majority of their lifetimes.

Marcano said some Dominican players in MLB feel pressured to keep earning more money to support large families back home.

Or, they feel pressured, just like American players, to perform for big contracts. Rodriguez said he took PEDs to help him live up to his $250 million contract signed in Texas after leaving Seattle.

Some might continue using PEDs because they're chasing a record. Others, just to stay in a game they love.

But the myriad reasons some Dominican players will use PEDs for 20 years or more all have one underlying commonality. It's best explained by that PED pusher we talked to during that 2005 parking lot meeting: "They're afraid that if they stop, they won't be good anymore.''

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Manchado el legado de Robinson Canó | El Nuevo Día

from elnuevodia.com
https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/beisbol/nota/manchadoellegadoderobinsoncano-2422469/

Manchado el legado de Robinson Canó

Sus posibilidades de entrar al Salón de la Fama son mínimas

Robinson Canó, de los Marineros de Seattle, fue suspendido por 80 partidos tras violar la política antidopaje del béisbol de las Grandes Ligas. Canó no será elegible para jugar en la postemporada en el caso de que su equipo avance a las series. (AP)

El extraordinario legado de Robinson Canó quedó manchado, y difícilmente pueda limpiar su imagen, tras lo que el segunda base dominicano justificó como "un error".

Canó, uno de los mejores intermedistas en la historia de las Mayores, fue suspendido ayer por 80 partidos por violar la política antidopaje del béisbol de las Grandes Ligas. Canó dio positivo a furosemida, un diurético. En un comunicado divulgado por medio del sindicato de peloteros, Canó señaló que recibió la sustancia en su país natal y que no sabía que estaba prohibida.

El 'pecado' de Canó tendrá grandes repercusiones en la carrera del jugador y en sus aspiraciones de ingresar al Salón de la Fama, luego de su retiro.

Uno de los que piensa de esa forma es el reputado periodista dominicano Leo López, quien suma cuarenta años de experiencia, incluyendo cobertura de Grandes Ligas.

"Canó iba a ser un Salón de la Fama cinco años después de su retiro. Ahora, tú sabes que hay muchos miembros adscritos a la Asociación de Escritores que toman en consideración ese tipo de uso de sustancias sobre todo en esta época. Porque antes del 2003 te lo podían aceptar porque no estaba prohibido y no había ningún tipo de regulación. Pero ya desde 2003 no hay ningún tipo de justificación", dijo López a El Nuevo Día desde la República Dominicana.

"Su carrera, sin dudas, va a quedar afectada y su posible exaltación al Salón de la Fama también. Son muchos casos de jugadores que no dieron positivo. solo sospechas, y se les ha apuesto difícil entrar al Salón de la Fama de Cooperstown."

Canó, un bateador de .304 de por vida, está a 583 imparables para arribar a la mítica cifra de los 3,000. Tiene contrato vigente hasta el 2023.

Desistió de una apelación

Una vez el intermedista arrojó positivo y por ser una sustancia diurética, MLB y la Asociación de Peloteros contrataron a Thomas Martin, administrador del programa antidopaje, para determinar si el uso de furosemida fue un intento de "reemplazar, diluir, esconder o adulterar una muestra o de alguna manera alterar un control", según reza el reglamento.

En el deporte, comúnmente, los atletas utilizan este diurético para enmascarar el uso de algún estimulante o esteroides.

Luego de que Martin llegara a una conclusión, el sindicato presentó un recurso el mes pasado. El caso debió ventilarse ayer en Seattle ante el juez de arbitraje Mark Irvings, pero el sindicato informó a MLB el viernes pasado que Canó quería desistir de su recurso.

"Esta fue la decisión más difícil que he tomado en mi vida, pero finalmente fue la decisión correcta dado a que no discuto haber recibido la sustancia", dijo Canó en un comunicado. "Me disculpo con mi familia, mis amigos, fanáticos, mis compañeros de equipo y la organización de los Marineros", agregó.

"Dicho medicamento me lo dio un doctor con licencia en la República Dominicana para curar una dolencia médica. No me di cuenta enese momento que me dieron un medicamento que estaba prohibido, obviamente ahora deseo haber sido más cuidadoso". indicó.

Cero justificación

Sin embargo, López indicó que ningún pelotero puede alegar desconocimiento en estos tiempos en que los jugadores están bien informados sobre la política antidopaje.

"Realmente no lo entiendo y estoy sorprendido. En esta época no hay excusas. Las reglas del uso de sustancias prohibidas están muy claras. No te vas a tomar un calmante si tienes dolor de cabeza sin consultar un médico sobre lo que vas a tomar. Nadie, absolutamente nadie, puede venir a decir en esta época: 'nada fue un error que cometí'. La reglas están bien escritas y tienes que estar apegadas a ellas", agregó el veterano periodista con firmeza sobre el jugador, que fue inactivado hace unos días tras sufrir una fractura en la mano derecha.

"Creo que es un error lamentable que acaba de cometer. No solo se hace daño él como persona, a su figura y a su legado dentro del juego, le hace daño también a su organización que en estos momentos está en disputa en la tabla de posiciones y que en caso de poder llegar a la postemporada, aunque haya cumplido su sanción no va a poder jugar".

Los Marineros no tardaron en emitir un comentario y respaldaron a su intermedista estrella luego de aceptar sus disculpas.

"Robinson cometió un error. Nos explicó lo ocurrido, aceptó el castigo y se ha disculpado con los fanáticos, la organización y sus compañeros. Apoyaremos a Robinson para superar esta desafío", dijo el equipo.

Empero, la credibilidad del jugador queda en entredicho y despertará serias dudas por el resto de su carrera. "Nadie puede decir lo contrario. Una vez hablaste mentiras ya prácticamente la mitad de tu vida te has pasado en esas... hablando mentiras. Cuando te atrapan no hay forma de justificar o decir que no lo habías hecho antes. Es muy difícil que puedas alegar que antes no lo habías usado. Es cuestión de credibilidad", apuntó.

Consternación en Dominicana

Por último, López indicó que la noticia ha consternado al pueblo dominicano. "Realmente es una noticia devastadora, ya que Robinson no solo es uno de los peloteros más populares que hay en el país, sino que también es un pelotero que hace ayuda comunitaria, como por ejemplo en formación de escuelas en San Pedro de Macorís. Uno de los tipos más carismáticos del béisbol de República Dominicana. Estamos consternados. Es una noticia que nos ha sorprendido de mala manera".

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Stained the legacy of Robinson Canó

Your chances of entering the Hall of Fame are minimal

Robinson Cano, of the Seattle Mariners, was suspended for 80 games after violating Major League Baseball's anti-doping policy. Cano will not be eligible to play in the postseason in the event that his team advances to the series. (AP) (vertical-x1)

Robinson Cano, of the Seattle Mariners, was suspended for 80 games after violating Major League Baseball's anti-doping policy. Cano will not be eligible to play in the postseason in the event that his team advances to the series. (AP)

The extraordinary legacy of Robinson Canó was stained, and can hardly cleanse his image, after what the second baseman justified Dominican as "a mistake."

Canó, one of the best middlemen in the history of the majors, was suspended yesterday for 80 games for violating the anti-doping policy of Major League Baseball. Cano tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic. In a statement released through the players' union, Canó said he received the substance in his native country and did not know it was prohibited.

The "sin" of Cano will have great repercussions in the player's career and in his aspirations to enter the Hall of Fame, after his retirement.

One of those who thinks that way is the renowned Dominican journalist Leo Lopez, who adds forty years of experience, including Major League coverage.

"Canó was going to be a Hall of Fame five years after his retirement, and now you know that there are many members of the Association of Writers who take this kind of substance use into consideration especially in this era. 2003 they could accept it because it was not forbidden and there was no regulation, but since 2003 there is no justification whatsoever, "López told El Nuevo Día from the Dominican Republic.

"His career is undoubtedly going to be affected and his possible exaltation to the Hall of Fame as well." There are many cases of players who did not test positive, only suspicions, and they have been hard-pressed to enter the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. "

Cano, a .304 batter for life, is 583 hits to reach the mythical figure of 3,000. Has a current contract until 2023.

He gave up an appeal

Once the middleman tested positive and as a diuretic substance, MLB and the Players Association hired Thomas Martin, the anti-doping program administrator, to determine whether the use of furosemide was an attempt to "replace, dilute, hide or adulterate a sample." or in some way alter a control ", according to the regulations.

In sports, commonly, athletes use this diuretic to mask the use of some stimulant or steroids.

After Martin reached a conclusion, the union filed an appeal last month. The case had to be heard yesterday in Seattle before the arbitration judge Mark Irvings, but the union informed MLB last Friday that Canó wanted to desist from his appeal.

"This was the most difficult decision I have made in my life, but it was finally the right decision given that I do not dispute having received the substance," Cano said in a statement. "I apologize to my family, my friends, fans, my teammates and the Mariners' organization," he added.

"This medication was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to cure a medical condition." I did not realize at the time that they gave me a drug that was prohibited, obviously now I wish I had been more careful. Indian.

Zero justification

However, Lopez said that no player can claim ignorance in these times when players are well informed about the anti-doping policy.

"I really do not understand it and I'm surprised, there are no excuses at this time, the rules of the use of forbidden substances are very clear, you will not take a sedative if you have a headache without consulting a doctor about what you are going to take. Nobody, absolutely nobody, can come to say at this time: 'Nothing was a mistake that I made.' The rules are well written and you have to be attached to them, "added the veteran journalist firmly about the player, who was inactivated a few days after suffering a fracture in the right hand.

"I think it's a regrettable mistake that he just made, not only does he hurt himself as a person, his figure and his legacy in the game, it also hurts his organization that is currently in dispute in the standings and that in case of being able to reach the post-season, even if he has fulfilled his sanction, he will not be able to play. "

The Mariners did not hesitate to issue a comment and endorsed their star second-in-command after accepting their apologies.

"Robinson made a mistake, he explained what happened, he accepted the punishment and he apologized to the fans, the organization and his teammates, and we will support Robinson to overcome this challenge," the team said.

However, the credibility of the player is compromised and will arouse serious doubts for the rest of his career. "Nobody can say the opposite, once you've told lies and practically half of your life you've been in those ... talking lies, when you get caught there's no way to justify it or say you have not done it before. You can claim that before you had not used it, it's a matter of credibility, "he said.

Consternation in Dominican

Finally, Lopez indicated that the news has dismayed the Dominican people. "It really is a devastating news, since Robinson is not only one of the most popular players in the country, but also a player who makes community assistance, such as training schools in San Pedro de Macorís. of the most charismatic types of baseball in the Dominican Republic, we are dismayed, it is a news that has surprised us badly ".

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Robinson Canó es suspendido por 80 juegos por fallar prueba de dopaje | El Nuevo Día

In any language, this is bad news for Cano, bad news for Seattle, bad news for the Dominican Republic and bad news for baseball fans.

All those who thought that drug testing solved the PED problem were somewhat naive, in my opinion. It doesn't address incentives or punishment nearly enough. Maybe 1-2-3 strikes your out is good for the game, but not good for crime and punishment. 

The comments from Mark Texeira add another layer but not so much simply because he said, in essence, "Well, we all knew back in his Yankee days what was going on." the real interesting part is the same dynamic is at work among fans. The cognitive dissonance bug bites us on the ass again. "It's OK if it's my guys doing it, but the other guy is a dirty cheater."

OK, let's continue to see how that works.

from elneuvodia.com

https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/beisbol/nota/robinsoncanoessuspendidopor80juegosporfallarpriebadedopaje-2422362/

Robinson Canó es suspendido por 80 juegos por fallar prueba de dopaje

El segunda base dominicano estaba fuera de acción tras ser golpeado en su mano derecha

El bolazo le fracturó el dedo meñique de la mano derecha y se desconoce cuánto tiempo de juego perderá en lo que se recupera. (Archivo)

El astro dominicano Robinson Canó fue suspendido 80 juegos por quebrantar el reglamento antidopaje del béisbol de las Grandes Ligas.

Las mayores anunciaron la suspensión del segunda base de los Marineros de Seattle el martes, una impactante noticia que deja fuera al baluarte de la ofensiva de un equipo con ambiciones de clasificarse a la postemporada en la Liga Americana.

Canó dio positivo por furosemide, un diurético. En un comunicado divulgado por medio del sindicato de peloteros, Canó señaló que recibió la sustancia en su país natal y que no sabía que estaba prohibida.

"Me la dio un doctor con licencia en la República Dominicana para curar una dolencia médica", dijo Canó. "No me di cuenta en ese momento que me dieron un medicamento que estaba prohibido, obviamente ahora deseo haber sido más cuidadoso".

Se trata de la primera sanción que recibe Canó en una carrera que tenía todo el potencial para llegar el Salón de la Fama.

El dominicano se perfilaba como uno de los pocos jugadores en actividad con posibilidades de alcanzar los 3,000 hits en su carrera, además de ser un brillante jugador defensivo.

"Durante más de 15 años, haber tenido la oportunidad de jugar al béisbol profesional ha sido el mayor honor y privilegio de mi vida", dijo Canó en el comunicado. "Nunca haría nada para engañar las reglas del deporte que amo, y después de someterme a numerosas exámenes de drogas durante más de una década, nunca he dado positivo por una sustancia para mejorar el rendimiento por la simple razón de que nunca he tomado una".

El positivo de Canó se dio en un control realizado durante el receso de invierno, informó a The Associated Press una persona al tanto del proceso. La persona pidió no ser identificado debido a que el reglamento especifica que esos detalles deben ser confidenciales.

Dado que la sustancia es un diurético, el siguiente paso correspondió a Thomas Martin, el administrador del programa antidopaje que fue contratado por MLB y el sindicato, para determinar si el uso de furosemide fue un intento de "reemplazar, diluir, esconder o adulterar una muestra o de alguna manera alterar un control", según el reglamento.

Luego que Martin llegó a una conclusión, el sindicato presentó un recurso el mes pasado. El caso debió ventilarse el martes en Seattle ante el juez de arbitraje Mark Irvings, pero el sindicato informó a MLB el viernes pasado que Canó quería desistir 

de su recurso, indicó la persona. El vicepresidente de MLB, Patrick Houlian, y el representante legal del sindicato, Matt Nussbaum, pasaron a negociar un acuerdo sobre la sanción a aplicar.

"Esta fue la decisión más difícil que he tomado en mi vida, pero finalmente la decisión correcta dado que no discuto haber recibido la sustancia", dijo Canó. "Me disculpo con mi familia, mis amigos, fanáticos, mis compañeros de equipo y la organización de los Marineros. Estoy muy agradecido por el apoyo que he recibido durante este proceso".

Canó ha sido elegido ocho veces el Juego de Estrellas, llevándose el premio al Jugador Más Valioso de esa exhibición el año pasado. También fue líder de la 

selección de República Dominicana que conquistó el título del Clásico Mundial de Béisbol en 2003. Pero ahora deberá lidiar con el estigma de una suspensión.

"Robinson cometió un error. Nos explicó lo ocurrido, aceptó el castigo y se ha disculpado con los fanáticos, la organización y sus compañeros. Apoyaremos a Robinson para superar esta desafío", dijeron los Marineros en un comunicado.

La suspensión llega justo cuando Canó acaba de sufrir la primera lesión de gravedad en su ciclo en Seattle. Fue colocado en la lista de incapacitados el lunes tras sufrir la fractura de un hueso en la mano derecha al ser impactado por un bolazo en un juego en Detroit el domingo. Tenía una cita el martes con un especialista de manos en Filadelfia.

Canó puede purgar la suspensión estando en la lista de lesionados, pero no podrá actuar en los playoffs en caso que los Marineros lleguen a esas instancias y pongan fin a la sequía de postemporada más larga en las cuatro principales ligas profesionales en Estados Unidos y Canadá. También perderá una importante tajada de su salario durante la suspensión, alrededor de 11 millones de dólares.

Esta temporada, Canó bateaba para .287 con cuatro jonrones y 23 impulsadas en 39 juegos. Lució mucho más sano y ágil que en temporadas previas en las que padeció dolencias en las piernas que mermaron su alcance en defensa.

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Robinson Cano is suspended for 80 games for failing doping test
The second Dominican base was out of action after being hit in his right hand

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The bolazo fractured the little finger of his right hand and it is unknown how much playing time he will lose in what he recovers. (Archive)
Dominican star Robinson Cano was suspended 80 games for breaking baseball's anti-doping rule.

The majors announced the suspension of Seattle Mariners second base on Tuesday, a shocking news that leaves out the bulwark of the offense of a team with ambitions to qualify for the postseason in the American League.

Cano tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic. In a statement released through the players' union, Canó said he received the substance in his native country and did not know it was prohibited.

"It was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to cure a medical condition," Canó said. "I did not realize at the time that they gave me a drug that was forbidden, obviously now I wish I had been more careful."

This is the first sanction received by Canó in a race that had all the potential to reach the Hall of Fame.

The Dominican was emerging as one of the few active players with chances of reaching 3,000 hits in his career, in addition to being a brilliant defensive player.

"For more than 15 years, having had the opportunity to play professional baseball has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life," Cano said in the statement. "I would never do anything to cheat the rules of the sport I love, and after undergoing numerous drug tests for more than a decade, I have never tested positive for a substance to improve performance for the simple reason that I have never taken one" .

Cano's positive was in a check during the winter break, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press. The person asked not to be identified because the regulation specifies that those details must be confidential.

Since the substance is a diuretic, the next step was for Thomas Martin, the anti-doping program administrator who was hired by MLB and the union, to determine whether the use of furosemide was an attempt to "replace, dilute, hide or adulterate a shows or in some way alter a control ", according to the regulations.

After Martin reached a conclusion, the union filed an appeal last month. The case was due to be heard on Tuesday in Seattle before arbitration judge Mark Irvings, but the union informed MLB last Friday that Cano wanted to withdraw his appeal, the person said. MLB vice president Patrick Houlian and the union's legal representative, Matt Nussbaum, went on to negotiate an agreement on the sanction to apply.

"This was the most difficult decision I have made in my life, but finally the right decision since I do not dispute having received the substance," Canó said. "I apologize to my family, my friends, fans, my teammates and the Mariners' organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received during this process. "

Canó has been chosen eight times the All-Star Game, taking the Most Valuable Player award of that exhibition last year. He was also the leader of the Dominican Republic team that won the World Baseball Classic title in 2003. But now he must deal with the stigma of a suspension.

"Robinson made a mistake, he explained what happened, he accepted the punishment and he apologized to the fans, the organization and his teammates, and we will support Robinson to overcome this challenge," the Mariners said in a statement.

The suspension comes just as Canó has just suffered the first serious injury in his cycle in Seattle. He was placed on the disabled list Monday after suffering a bone fracture in his right hand when he was hit by a ball in a game in Detroit on Sunday. I had an appointment on Tuesday with a hand specialist in Philadelphia.

Cano can purge the suspension by being on the disabled list, but will not be able to act in the playoffs should the Mariners reach those instances and end the longest postseason drought in the four major professional leagues in the United States and Canada. You will also lose a significant slice of your salary during the suspension, around 11 million dollars.

This season, Canó batted .287 with four homers and 23 RBIs in 39 games. He looked much healthier and more agile than in previous seasons in which he suffered from leg injuries that impaired his range in defense.

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David Ortiz says New York Yankees lost 'face of ballclub' in Robinson Cano - ESPN Boston

How can Cano be the "face of the team" when according to this survey to determine the face of baseball:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos/gallery/_/id/9663156/image/1/1-alex-rodriguez-yankees-22-percent-face-baseball Cano doesn't even make an appearance, and finishes behind fellow Yankees Derek Jeter and Alex Rdoriguez?

He would probably be in the mix somewhere with Curtis Granderson and Mark Texeira however. And we're not even considering recently retired Mariano Rivera for today's "face of the team" purposes.

from ESPN Boston:
David Ortiz says New York Yankees lost 'face of ballclub' in Robinson Cano - ESPN Boston:

David Ortiz says he thinks his Boston Red Sox will benefit from Robinson Cano joining the Seattle Mariners, calling it "great news for us" but a blow to the rival New York Yankees.

Ortiz, speaking in an interview with WEEI Radio in Boston, said the Yankees lost "the face" of the team when they failed to re-sign the free agent second baseman, who has reportedly agreed to a 10-year, $240 million contract with Seattle.

'via Blog this'

Great player? Yes.
Key asset lost? Yes.
Face of the team? No.

Unless Jeter retires and Rodriguez is somehow dismissed from the ball club, Cano would not be considered for the face of the Yankees. Even then, there would probably have to be some sort of DWTS type competition among the talk-show pundits for about a week or so to determine the "new" face of the Yankees.

Maybe now we know why Cano left the Yankees. He will now become the face of the Mariners and be paid quite handsomely for the burden / privilege. They Yankees certainly lost "a face" of the team, but hardly "the face" of the team.