Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello had some strong words about Major League Baseball’s current drug-testing policy.
Porcello feels that the current system is flawed, and that when it comes down to certain scenarios, it’s not a good feeling knowing you have lost to somebody that has tested positive. He also expressed the possibility of a lifetime ban for first time offenders.
From the New York Daily News:
“In 2009, it came down to Game 163 for us, and with the two wild cards and all the teams that are competitive this year, one game could mean the difference,” Porcello told the Daily News during Boston’s weekend series at Yankee Stadium. “We play 162 games and you have a lot of time to separate yourself. But if you’re that evenly matched, and it comes down to one game, and somebody who tested positive hits a three-run home run against you, or throws seven shut-out innings or closes the game, that’s impacting your season.”
[…]
“I’m all in favor for (stiffer penalties). Obviously what’s going on right now is not preventing guys from doing it,” said Porcello. “This year, there’s a guy that literally tested positive three times. That’s obviously not effective. I’m all in favor for a much, much more severe punishment or a lifetime ban. At the end of the day, it’s looking like that’s the only thing that’s going to keep guys from doing it. If that ever happens, we’ll find out if that’s even enough. There’s no right or wrong answer right now, but I think there at least needs to be some adjustments for sure.”
Porcello knows that won’t be a surefire way to prevent doping, but making stiffer penalties does seem like it would be quite an effective measure. It’s fair for Porcello to be upset and feel cheated knowing there are guys out there that are, or have, been using performance-enhancing drugs.
But while he doesn’t have a definitive answer, he doesn’t like what is in place and how the commissioner has backed it up.
Porcello told the New York Daily News, “There’s nothing to stand by with what (Manfred) is talking about. It’s failed.”
[NYDN]
