Jordan Schafer Tests Positive for HGH, Suspended 50 Games

by Zonis on Apr 8, 2008 6:34 PM PDT

MLB suspended Double-A Mississippi outfielder Jordan Schafer 50 games for using human growth hormone.

Perhaps this partially explains Schafer's big leap forward last year, though studies on whether hGH really helps performance have yet to produce much in the way of results. Schafer has been viewed as a big-time talent since long before he was drafted -- Baseball America named him the top 13-year-old prospect in the nation in 2000 -- but he as often as not disappointed before blossoming in 2007. The 50-game ban figures to ruin his hopes of reaching the majors this season. He had been looked at as a good bet to take over as the Braves' center fielder next year, but that's in doubt now as well.

Per Rotoworld

As some might remember from the off season, Mark Kotsay was traded to the Braves in part because the Braves wanted a stopgap till Schafer was ready to make the jump from High Single A to the Majors, perhaps mid season. Kotsay was dealt to the Braves for Joey Devine (who conveniently, like all Former Atlanta Prospects, landed on the DL immediately), and took the Starting CF Role till the CF Prospect was ready. There was even speculation that the Braves might start Schafer in the Majors anyways if he did well enough in Spring Training.

But with this blow, Schafer looks tarnished. To the Braves? I don't know, but in the eyes of the Baseball Public, he probably is.

But this also brings up another thing I have a question about, how did MLB or MiLB for that matter find out about his HGH use? I thought MLB could not detect it because of the players union's refusal to allow blood testing? Anyways, it is something to think about for Prospects that make giant, unheralded leaps, even when they were highly regarded before.

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Your headline is wrong.

Schafer did not "test" positive.

While preparing for Tuesday night's game against the Rockies at Coors Field, many Braves players and coaches were wondering how MLB determined that Schafer was using HGH. Currently, there is no approved test for the banned substance.

But MLB would have had the right to deem Schafer guilty based on evidence they gathered via conversations with him, other players or even some of his non-baseball related associates.

link

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Apr 8, 2008 6:40 PM PDT reply actions

he had a locker next to Jack Cust

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Apr 8, 2008 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually, he just knew a guy who had a locker

next to a locker that knew Jack Cust's locker, but it was close enough that they went ahead and suspended him anyway.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Apr 8, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Is Schafer on the 40-man?

Minor leaguers not on 40-man rosters (and, thus, not under union protection if I've got my information correct), are subject to different rules. Of course, none of those involve blood testing as far as I know.

I do like that MLB is willing to suspend somebody with an overwhelming amount of evidence and not a positive test. This isn't a court room and "beyond a reasonable doubt" doesn't apply. I just wish Selig would've had the stones to do this with some other players who, you know, admitted to it.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 8, 2008 8:05 PM PDT reply actions

And what happens if a player and the PA

takes you to a courtroom? What if the PA decides to make this a major issue in the next CBA?

Blame Selig again, I suppose.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 9, 2008 12:28 AM PDT up reply actions

There goes the season

Until I saw this, I really I thought we could hang in there.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Apr 8, 2008 8:37 PM PDT reply actions

just what do you have against In There?

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 8, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

seriously

how do you get caught for hgh without a blood test? strange.

President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Apr 8, 2008 10:16 PM PDT reply actions

I think that's what we all wana know

by Zonis on Apr 8, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions

"Baseball America named him the top 13-year-old prospect in the nation in 2000"

BA ranks 13 year olds?

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Apr 9, 2008 7:15 AM PDT reply actions

My son was just labeled "future bust."

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Apr 9, 2008 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions

so was my daughter

but that's just based on scouting of her mother

by jakarta on Apr 9, 2008 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions

the future Ryan Leaf of chemical engineers

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Apr 9, 2008 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I hope he's not the future Todd Marinovich of chemical engineers

Sal, you don't want Sal, Jr. to be the first chemical engineer on a box of Wheaties, do you?

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 9, 2008 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

This reminds me of a great "tech-n-society" story

link

General Mills has agreed to pull an advertisement for its Kix cereal, after AIChE voiced concerns about the ad. The ad claimed - erroneously - that Kix is made without chemical engineering.

The ad, which appeared in recent issues of Better Homes & Gardens, Parents, and other magazines, features an image of an unidentifiable chemical and the headline "No Chemical Engineering."

The use of the "No Chemical Engineering" ad by General Mills was surprising because the company employs dozens of AIChE members. Once management at General Mills became aware of AIChE's concerns, though, the company proved very responsive.

...

In a letter to General Mills' CEO, AIChE's President Vern Weekman, Jr., stated, "Without chemical engineering, General Mills would not be able to manufacture millions of pounds of Kix each year to feed America's children. Chemical engineering ensures that the product is fresh, tasty, nutritious, pure, and uniformly of the high quality that General Mills guarantees to its customers."

AIChE = American Institute of Chemical Engineers

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Apr 9, 2008 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Gesundheit!

This really should be your sigline:

Chemical engineering ensures that the product is fresh, tasty, nutritious, pure, and uniformly of the high quality that General Mills guarantees to its customers.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 9, 2008 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Cool idea.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Apr 9, 2008 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

That's what disturbed me the most...

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Apr 9, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

13-year-olds, Dude

How did you miss that quote opportunity?

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 9, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Standard of Evidence

Sorry to be the lawyer in the group... but IF MLB used legal standards for evidence, the standard would likely be "preponderance of the evidence" which is the civil standard. The criminal standard is "beyond a reasonable doubt" (much higher than the civil standard). So unless MLB decides that using HGH is equivalent to a crime, they're more likely to use something like the "preponderance" standard... Which could explain why Schafer was suspended w/o a positive test. Well, that and there is no test.

Baseball is not necessarily an obsessive-compulsive disorder, like washing your hands 100 times a day, but it's beginning to seem that way. We're reaching the point where you can be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick. ~Thomas Boswell, Washington Post, 13 April 1990

by 149 on Apr 9, 2008 9:45 AM PDT reply actions