August 02, 2005
Rafael Palmeiro was bad enough but this is just plain embarassing:
Seattle Mariners pitcher Ryan Franklin has received a 10-day suspension under the terms of Major League Baseball's steroids policy. A day after baseball announced that Baltimore first baseman Rafael Palmeiro had failed his test, Franklin became the eighth player to receive a suspension under MLB's more stringent drug policy, which took effect in March. The commissioner's office announced the suspension Tuesday afternoon. A representative from Franklin-Frye-McCann agency, which represents Franklin, said the pitcher would talk to the media after 2 p.m. ET in Detroit. Franklin, 32, has a career record of 33-46 with a 4.19 ERA in six major-league seasons, all with Seattle. He is 6-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 22 games this season, including 20 starts. (Emphasis Added)The Mariners are a mere 8 games away from the worst record in the Majors, and it looks like they are ready to make a stretch run. If this was someone on a winning club then I could understand it a little better, but don't try and tell me that the Mariners (my very own Mariners) are juiced up. It is simply not possible. Further down in the article...
The other major leaguers who have received suspensions for using performance-enhancing drugs this season are Seattle's Jamal Strong,... (emphasis added)These guys are so hapless, they can't even successfully cheat.



