Jan
31
2013

Matt Holliday Suggests Major Penalties For PED Users

An article by Dan Valis

Matt Holliday feels very strongly about players disrespecting the game

On Wednesday I was driving home and was listening to Matt Holliday who was a guest on SiriusXM MLB Network Radio, with Casey Stern and Jim Boweden. Holliday was discussing the issue of PED use in baseball, and gave his thoughts about increasing the penalties for players who are caught using.

Here were Holliday’s suggestion.

First positive test:162 game suspension (one full season), without pay.
Second positive test: Suspended indefinitely, lifetime goes into effect.
Give players the ability to apply for reinstatement after two years of second positive test result.

After hearing this it got me to wondering if this idea of his is too harsh or is it just right?

Is there really a penalty that is too harsh, especially for getting busted a second time?

Afterward, hosts Casey Stern and Jim Bowden had a lively and substantive discussion about MLB dishing out lifetime bans. Both agreed that a lifetime ban after a first time offense was not logical, arguing that sometimes you can have a false positive and you could end up banning someone who was innocent.

It’s certainly a great topic for discussion and debate.

I personally love the idea that Matt Holliday brought to the table, and I think that it would go a long way to really putting fear into the players who are still using.

I also agree with Stern and Bowden regarding their take on lifetime bans after first time users are caught. Major League Baseball has to be careful how they handle this, but an increase in penalties seems more likely as more players continue to test positive and disregard MLB’s policy on banned substances. It’s time for some penalties with some teeth.

What are your thoughts, was Matt Holliday’s idea too harsh or just right?

You can listen to the segment here.

About the Author: Dan Valis

I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.

22 Comments + Add Comment

Metstheory22 January 31, 2013 at 1:46 pm

You might be able to figure out pitchers using stuff by the amount of times Matt Holiday gets hit this season.
Joe January 31, 2013 at 1:52 pm

The punishment has to be something that directly affects the main reason why they take the PEDs……..their contracts……..

On a 1st offense suspend them 50 games but also, immediately VOID their current contract w/o ANY pay, if they are in the last year of their contract, as Melky was, you also suspend them an additional 81 games to start the next season and only allow them to sign increments of 1 year deals for the next 5 years with whichever team(s) they re-sign with.

Lets see who cheats then………nobody will take that chance.
- Dan Valis January 31, 2013 at 2:18 pm
  
  I like to idea of voiding contracts because the players are deceiving the teams into thinking that they are better players then they actually are.
- Dim January 31, 2013 at 2:42 pm
  
  Here is my take on this issue as one may never know who is really at fault the first time around.
  
  1) Suspended 80 games where the first 20 games you are paid and the last 20 games of your suspension.
  
  2) Suspended for the whole 162 games and only paid for 30 games as you recover and you are to show that you are doing everything to resolve your PED Issues
  
  3) Banned for Life by the Player Associations and MLB. All remaining contracts are revoked by their teams.
  - Dan Valis January 31, 2013 at 4:10 pm
    
    you can’t pay them on a suspension because that is the only thing that will hurt them. They don’t care about missing games they care about missing paychecks
ifthevansrockin January 31, 2013 at 2:02 pm

I imagine the players union has already reached out to smack him around over this.
- Dan Valis January 31, 2013 at 2:20 pm
  
  you might be right about that lol.
  
  But I am sure he is not in the minority on this one, and as a star player making a comment like that he has some standing in the game.
  
  If more player spoke out like Holliday did then the players association might have to back them on it.
Link Roundup: Now with 20% More Deer Antler Spray January 31, 2013 at 2:18 pm

[...] news is, they are under investigation. The bad news is, PED use is still happening. Perhaps stiffer penalties are the answer, as Matt Holiday [...]
SheawasBetter86 January 31, 2013 at 3:30 pm

It’s perfect…
pjd January 31, 2013 at 4:03 pm

There are some PEDs that Do deserve a lifetime ban like steroids, which it has been proven, provide an which can last a lifetime.
djmurphy January 31, 2013 at 4:18 pm

Remember when the Mets said they prefered Bay to Holliday cause his swing was better for Citifield. Yes Bay had this perfect pull swing. HaHaHa the Mets were making these silly outfield jokes way before Sandy Alderson.
- Joe January 31, 2013 at 5:02 pm
  
  Well, in reality they were right, before Bay signed w/Mets, he was a “jerk” hitter, much more so than Holliday. Matt is much more of a “all fields” hitter tan Bay.
  Unfortunately for us, Bay couldnt hit at all for the Mets.
  - Joe January 31, 2013 at 5:03 pm
    
    “jerk” meaning “pull”, not jerk as in personality
    - Trs86 January 31, 2013 at 6:46 pm
      
      Not sure about jerk but I considered his hitting visually offensive.
      - Dan Valis January 31, 2013 at 7:10 pm
        
        your right it was offenisve, I cringed when he came to the plate
      - Joe February 1, 2013 at 12:36 am
        
        LMAO
XtreemIcon January 31, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Off topic: Mets add LaTroy Hawkins on a minor league deal.
- Hitman January 31, 2013 at 5:38 pm
  
  You’re about 14 hours late.
  - XtreemIcon January 31, 2013 at 5:40 pm
    
    Oops didn’t see the article.
    - Mr North Jersey January 31, 2013 at 5:41 pm
      
      LoL
Hank January 31, 2013 at 8:11 pm

I like Holliday. He had me at, “I just want to thank God for having the greatest teammates…” after the Rockies won the NLCS. These penalties sound perfect to me. There is absolutely no fear in any of these guys who think thy can outsmart anything MLB tries to do. Come down harsh, and maybe we will see guys thinking twice.
Joe February 1, 2013 at 12:38 am

There is one OTHER solution.

Even the playing field, let ALL the players use PED’s.
It will weed out the ones that dont use them and 80 HRS per season will be an average year..lol….or 35 wins for pitchers

Need Tickets To The Mets Game?

Check Out These Great MLB Links!

For wholesale prices on New York Mets gifts and equipment, check these stores out!
Mets Autograph Signings
Mets Fan Apparel
Mets Autographed Baseballs
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Equipment

For the best seats and lowest MLB ticket prices, go to PurchaseSeats.com. Get your Mets Tickets now and follow them on the road with Yankees Tickets, Phillies Tickets, Nationals Tickets and Braves Tickets!