The A-Rod Thread

[RickD]

A-Rod needs to give his head a shake.

You may recall when it was revealed that A-Rod used 'roids, it was his cousin that supposedly administered them to him.

The Yanks agreed with MLB's recommendation that banned this guy from all non-public areas; clubhouses, any team charters, buses, etc.

Now word is that he has accompanied A-Rod on some trips last season and was spotted in his hotel when the Yank's were in town to play the A's!

Cousin or not I have to ask, "WHY?"

When you have survived the public beatings of steroid users, why allow the guy who gave you the shots on the road with you? Do you not know how improper that looks? You would think he would remove himself from any and all associations with this guy save family reunions!

It immediately makes me wonder, and even if nothing 'roid-wise is happening, that association is enough to cause headaches.

A-Rod, please just say no to your cousin! Cut him loose!

[WilsonC]

It's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

Frankly, I have more respect for someone who doesn't sever a close friendship with a family member because he's afraid of gossip than one who does. It's a guy hanging out with his cousin during his free time. If A-Rod wanted to use steroids again, he could get some with or without his cousin's help.

[RickD]

There are ways to do this though. Family reunions, telephones, off-season, etc. Considering the scandal due to his involvement with this guy it just goes to appearance and integrity!

[Mudge]

Even if they do a lousy job we have to let MLB police the steroid issue, not the media!

[Old Sweater]

Even if they do a lousy job we have to let MLB police the steroid issue, not the media!

Very true, but both the above parties specialize in blowing smoke on the subject.

Another A Rod update I saw when I signed in, is that A Rod split the sheets with whats her name. Dollars to donuts it's at Yahoo Sports when I swing over there.

[Wookie]

After all he went through a couple years ago, why be stupid enough to come in contact with this guy again. It makes no sense (unless you are an idiot).

[RickD]

After all he went through a couple years ago, why be stupid enough to come in contact with this guy again. It makes no sense (unless you are an idiot).

My point exactly. Like I said, if you want to keep the family relationship fine, do it over a phone, testing or family reunions. You almost allowed this guy to help ruin your career. Use your head....for once!

[DetroitFan4ever]

Yeah, he isn't very smart for taking steroids in the first place, you will get caught sometime. He's already doing good enough I don't think he needs roids.

[wcs71401]

I guess I have to say "why put yourself in that position"?

It is like basketball players and football players that find the need to carry a firearm with them wherever they go. If you find your self in a place where you feel you need a firearm to protect yourself, you are probably in the wrong place.

[DetroitFan4ever]

found a article on it

The matter regarding Alex Rodriguez's cousin being at the New York Yankees' team hotel has been resolved, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

"Our position is, we told the Yankees, they agreed, that [Yuri Sucart] should not be allowed in any non-public areas; clubhouses, any team charters, buses. And it's our understanding that that prohibition has been respected," MLB executive vice president of player relations Rob Manfred told ESPN.com.

"We've talked to the Yankees and they've assured us the prohibition has been respected."

The New York Daily News, citing a source, said that Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, was spotted at the Yankees team hotel in San Francisco this week and has been a constant presence on the road, dating back to last year.


Sucart was banned from having contact with the team by the Yankees in coordination with MLB. The team and the league work together to make sure that Sucart does not gain access to restricted areas.

"All we can do is control his access to areas that [MLB] or the team control. We will stay in touch with the Yankees to make sure that prohibition is being respected. A hotel lobby is a public place; there is nothing we can do."

When asked if the matter was considered closed, Manfred said: "It's never closed, obviously we have an ongoing ban in place. In terms of this instance, we're satisfied that the prohibition was respected."

Asked about the issue of the perception of Rodriguez's cousin being seen in the team's hotel, and whether that is something MLB can render a judgment on, Manfred said he couldn't answer that question.

"He's banned from areas we can control. Beyond that, it's kind of silly to have a position on things you can't control," he said.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman offered a similar take Thursday.

"He doesn't have access to any area the Yankees control," Cashman said, according to the New York Post. "In the event he is visiting with Alex in a public setting, he is his cousin and it is something we do not control. He will be his cousin forever."

In a news conference during spring training of 2009, Rodriguez confirmed a Sports Illustrated report that he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs when Major League Baseball conducted survey testing in 2003. While not mentioning his cousin's name at the time, Rodriguez explained how the cousin traveled to the Dominican Republic to obtain perfromance-enhancing drugs and injected Rodriguez with them when he was a Texas Ranger.


Rodriguez did not identify the cousin that day, but ESPN.com first reported that the person in question was Sucart.


The Yankees banned Sucart after he arrived to pick up Rodriguez following the team's spring training opener.


"Yuri was a mule, not a guy who would initiate anything," a friend once close to Rodriguez told ESPN.com in 2009. "He did what Alex told him to. He was only looking out for Alex. He is not a guy who would take the initiative to go out and buy drugs. Alex said during the press conference that his cousin just did what was asked -- that is perfect for Yuri's M.O. He is a person who would be with him forever, a loyal guy without a bad bone in his body."


In his first 50 games this season, the 35-year-old Rodriguez is batting .292 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs.


Meanwhile, Major League Baseball also is investigating the surgery that pitcher Bartolo Colon had a little more than a year ago. In the surgery performed in the Dominican, stem cells and fat from Colon's body were injected in his elbow and shoulder. One of the doctors who performed the surgery admits to using human growth hormone in surgeries, but said he would never do so on a professional athlete.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/m...ory?id=6618321

video included