Though it won’t affect his MLB playing status, MLB.com beat reporter Carrie Muskat is reporting that Cubs catcher, and 2008 NL Rookie of the Year, Geovany Soto tested positive for marijuana while playing for Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic this spring. He will not be eligible to play internationally for two years.
"I am embarrassed by my lapse in judgement," Soto said in a statement Thursday. (Translation: “Dude, I totally spaced on the drug test!”)
"While I fully acknowledge my inappropriate behavior, I want to assure my fans and my family that this was an isolated incident," he said. "I do not say this to minimize or deflect from my conduct and I fully understand the ramifications of my actions. I have and will accept any and all consequences."
Hang on. Doesn’t Soto know that there’s a pervasive culture of drinking in MLB clubhouses? Not drinking and weed!
Get it straight, Geovany! You’re too good a player to throw your career away over this stuff. It’s something to think about the next time you’re offered a toke by some random fan in a club when you’re out on the town getting apocalyptically shitfaced with your teammates.
Meanwhile, in he’s-so-shitty-so-nobody-really-cares news, Yahoo! is reporting that Texas Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd has been taking supplements provided to him by former BALCO mastermind Victor Conte.
Marlon Byrd has been taking supplements provided to him by former BALCO mastermind Victor Conte.
Sorry, I just had to write that out twice, because it’s not often that you get the chance to type something so profoundly retarded.
“Conte has provided the Texas Rangers center fielder with a variety of pills and powders for 18 months,” says the report. “Not once has Byrd asked Conte whether any of it could trigger a positive drug test.”
“I didn’t need to,” Byrd said. “From our conversations, there was no need to ask.”
Uh… yeah. I mean, I couldn’t imagine Conte being involved in anything shady, so I’m sure whatever substances he’s giving you are just fine there, Marlon.
Wow.
Incidentally, statistically, this year Byrd is having his worst season since leaving the National League for Texas three years ago.