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TheAssholeFomerlyKnownAsDBBT
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Damn my boys in my part of town are getting nailed for juicing first Ryan Franklin, now Mike Morse...
Morse suspended for positive drug test
Rookie apologetic for past mistakes, denies current usage
By Jim Street / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- A huge mistake Mariners rookie Mike Morse admits making almost two years ago, when he took steroids to help heal a torn thigh muscle, continues to haunt him.
Morse was suspended by Major League Baseball for 10 days on Wednesday for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs in May. His appeal was rejected by an arbitrator and he began serving the suspension prior to the Mariners' series finale against the Athletics.
It is the third time in Morse's professional career that he has been suspended for failing a drug test, the first two times coming in the Minor Leagues -- once when he was in the White Sox organization and again last year after being acquired by the Mariners -- and he insists that all three positive tests were the result of residue remaining in his system from two years ago.
"I know what I did and I was wrong, but I was a man about it and was punished for it," he said.
Morse produced a one-page statement explaining his side of the situation.
"Back in November 2003, when I was 21 years old, I made an enormous mistake in my life: I took steroids while in the Minor Leagues. My thigh muscle, which I had previously torn, had never healed and I was scared that my career was over. I was desperate and made a terrible mistake, which I deeply regret.
"In May 2004, I was punished and suspended, which I deserved, for my mistake. I embarrassed myself, my family and my team. I am responsible for the mistake of taking steroids and the positive result was not due to some over-the-counter supplement, protein shake or tainted test.
"I promised never to make the same mistake again. The arbitration panel found that the evidence supports that I have not used steroids since the 2003 offseason."
Morse said he supports the joint agreement between the Major League Baseball and Major League Players Association to rid the sport of steroids. But he also believes that being punished three times for the same mistake is too much.
Morse said he still has a lump in his left thigh and it still isn't as strong as his right thigh. But he says already has paid a heavy price for taking the steroids in the first place.
"The thing is I am not lying, I am not hiding anything," he said. "I served my time and to do it again, again and again isn't fair. It's like committing a crime, admitting it, going to jail, coming out two years later and then getting a phone call saying, 'You have to come back and serve more time.'
"I am for testing," he added. "I am for kicking out steroids. I made a mistake and we all make mistakes."
Morse said he turned to steroids as a last resort.
"It got to a point where [steroids] was my last hope," he said. "I couldn't play to my ability."
He wouldn't say where he obtained the steroids or who gave them to him.
After serving his first suspension in 2004, Morse resumed his Minor League career with the White Sox, batting .287 in 54 games at Triple-A Birmingham. He was traded to the Mariners on June 30, 2004, in a deal that sent Freddy Garcia to Chicago, and was assigned to Double-A San Antonio.
"In July 2004, I was again drug tested while in the Minor Leagues and the result was that the steroids in my system were in a declining quantity. However, I was again suspended under the Minor League Drug Policy for a second time, although I had not used steroids since the 2003 offseason."
Morse had another drug test soon after his promotion to the Mariners.
"I was shocked to learn that I tested positive for steroids," he said in the statement. "The results showed an extremely low level. As the panel's decision points out, the level was so low that it was 'undisputed' that it had 'no performance enhancing effect' on me.
"This positive test was due to the fact that there were still some remnants of the steroid left in my system from the 2003 offseason. I am troubled that I was suspended for the third time despite the fact that the scientific evidence supports that I kept my promise that I would never use steroids again.
"Even the panel states in its written decision that, "the panel recognizes that this result may be viewed as unfair to Michael Morse."
"The only thing I can say is that it's unjustifiable and inconceivable to think that fairness is achieved by punishing an individual three different times for the same offense," said Seth Levinson, Morse's agent. "The decision is so outrageous. In 20 years as an attorney, I've never read a more favorable decision about the losing party than what was written by the arbitration panel."
The following statement was issued Wednesday by Major League Baseball Players Association general counsel, Michael Weiner, regarding the suspension of Morse:
"Today, the MLB arbitration panel denied the grievance the MLBPA filed challenging the 10-day suspension of Michael Morse. Under the terms of the basic agreement, the suspension had been stayed pending the decision by the Panel.
"With respect, we believe this result is unfair and unfortunate. It punishes Michael Morse again for conduct for which he has already been punished.
"At the hearing, Morse candidly admitted he had used steroids following the 2003 season, when he was a Minor League player, but also testified he had not used steroids since. Because of that use, under the Minor League testing program, Morse tested positive and was suspended twice during 2004. Although he tested positive again in 2005 under the Major League program, it was for the same substance and at an extremely low level, a level which would give Morse no competitive advantage, and the panel believed that the positive test was a result of Morse's prior use. Nonetheless, the panel concluded that the basic agreement required that Morse be suspended yet again. While we respect the panel's decision as final and binding, the Players Association does not believe the parties ever intended for the basic agreement to compel such a harsh result."
Morse, who began the season at Triple-A Tacoma, was promoted to the Mariners on May 30 and has provided solid offense -- batting .287 (60-for-209) with three home runs and 23 RBIs in 65 games.
He will eligible to play again on September 17, when the Mariners are in Texas to play the Rangers.
Morse is the third Mariners player on the 40-man roster to be suspended for steroids this season. Outfielder Jamal Strong was suspended for 10 days when he was with Tacoma and starting pitcher Ryan Franklin received a 10-day suspension in July.
"I want to apologize to the fans, my teammates, the Mariners organization, baseball and to my family," Morse said in the statement. "I can only hope they will accept my apology."
Morse suspended for positive drug test
Rookie apologetic for past mistakes, denies current usage
By Jim Street / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- A huge mistake Mariners rookie Mike Morse admits making almost two years ago, when he took steroids to help heal a torn thigh muscle, continues to haunt him.
Morse was suspended by Major League Baseball for 10 days on Wednesday for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs in May. His appeal was rejected by an arbitrator and he began serving the suspension prior to the Mariners' series finale against the Athletics.
It is the third time in Morse's professional career that he has been suspended for failing a drug test, the first two times coming in the Minor Leagues -- once when he was in the White Sox organization and again last year after being acquired by the Mariners -- and he insists that all three positive tests were the result of residue remaining in his system from two years ago.
"I know what I did and I was wrong, but I was a man about it and was punished for it," he said.
Morse produced a one-page statement explaining his side of the situation.
"Back in November 2003, when I was 21 years old, I made an enormous mistake in my life: I took steroids while in the Minor Leagues. My thigh muscle, which I had previously torn, had never healed and I was scared that my career was over. I was desperate and made a terrible mistake, which I deeply regret.
"In May 2004, I was punished and suspended, which I deserved, for my mistake. I embarrassed myself, my family and my team. I am responsible for the mistake of taking steroids and the positive result was not due to some over-the-counter supplement, protein shake or tainted test.
"I promised never to make the same mistake again. The arbitration panel found that the evidence supports that I have not used steroids since the 2003 offseason."
Morse said he supports the joint agreement between the Major League Baseball and Major League Players Association to rid the sport of steroids. But he also believes that being punished three times for the same mistake is too much.
Morse said he still has a lump in his left thigh and it still isn't as strong as his right thigh. But he says already has paid a heavy price for taking the steroids in the first place.
"The thing is I am not lying, I am not hiding anything," he said. "I served my time and to do it again, again and again isn't fair. It's like committing a crime, admitting it, going to jail, coming out two years later and then getting a phone call saying, 'You have to come back and serve more time.'
"I am for testing," he added. "I am for kicking out steroids. I made a mistake and we all make mistakes."
Morse said he turned to steroids as a last resort.
"It got to a point where [steroids] was my last hope," he said. "I couldn't play to my ability."
He wouldn't say where he obtained the steroids or who gave them to him.
After serving his first suspension in 2004, Morse resumed his Minor League career with the White Sox, batting .287 in 54 games at Triple-A Birmingham. He was traded to the Mariners on June 30, 2004, in a deal that sent Freddy Garcia to Chicago, and was assigned to Double-A San Antonio.
"In July 2004, I was again drug tested while in the Minor Leagues and the result was that the steroids in my system were in a declining quantity. However, I was again suspended under the Minor League Drug Policy for a second time, although I had not used steroids since the 2003 offseason."
Morse had another drug test soon after his promotion to the Mariners.
"I was shocked to learn that I tested positive for steroids," he said in the statement. "The results showed an extremely low level. As the panel's decision points out, the level was so low that it was 'undisputed' that it had 'no performance enhancing effect' on me.
"This positive test was due to the fact that there were still some remnants of the steroid left in my system from the 2003 offseason. I am troubled that I was suspended for the third time despite the fact that the scientific evidence supports that I kept my promise that I would never use steroids again.
"Even the panel states in its written decision that, "the panel recognizes that this result may be viewed as unfair to Michael Morse."
"The only thing I can say is that it's unjustifiable and inconceivable to think that fairness is achieved by punishing an individual three different times for the same offense," said Seth Levinson, Morse's agent. "The decision is so outrageous. In 20 years as an attorney, I've never read a more favorable decision about the losing party than what was written by the arbitration panel."
The following statement was issued Wednesday by Major League Baseball Players Association general counsel, Michael Weiner, regarding the suspension of Morse:
"Today, the MLB arbitration panel denied the grievance the MLBPA filed challenging the 10-day suspension of Michael Morse. Under the terms of the basic agreement, the suspension had been stayed pending the decision by the Panel.
"With respect, we believe this result is unfair and unfortunate. It punishes Michael Morse again for conduct for which he has already been punished.
"At the hearing, Morse candidly admitted he had used steroids following the 2003 season, when he was a Minor League player, but also testified he had not used steroids since. Because of that use, under the Minor League testing program, Morse tested positive and was suspended twice during 2004. Although he tested positive again in 2005 under the Major League program, it was for the same substance and at an extremely low level, a level which would give Morse no competitive advantage, and the panel believed that the positive test was a result of Morse's prior use. Nonetheless, the panel concluded that the basic agreement required that Morse be suspended yet again. While we respect the panel's decision as final and binding, the Players Association does not believe the parties ever intended for the basic agreement to compel such a harsh result."
Morse, who began the season at Triple-A Tacoma, was promoted to the Mariners on May 30 and has provided solid offense -- batting .287 (60-for-209) with three home runs and 23 RBIs in 65 games.
He will eligible to play again on September 17, when the Mariners are in Texas to play the Rangers.
Morse is the third Mariners player on the 40-man roster to be suspended for steroids this season. Outfielder Jamal Strong was suspended for 10 days when he was with Tacoma and starting pitcher Ryan Franklin received a 10-day suspension in July.
"I want to apologize to the fans, my teammates, the Mariners organization, baseball and to my family," Morse said in the statement. "I can only hope they will accept my apology."
