Steroid Nation

Jose Canseco bashed again: Caught in the Mexican minor leagues with steroids?

Word has it Bash Brother Jose Canseco found himself dismissed from a Mexican minor league baseball team (AAA) following an admission he took banned testosterone.  At least according to an MLB official:

Jose Canseco will not play in the Mexican Baseball League after admitting to league officials that he took a banned substance for which he has no prescription.

Mexican Baseball League officials say Jose Canseco has acknowledged that he took a banned substance for which he has no prescription and will now not play in the league.

Plinio Escalante, president of the Mexican League, confirmed to ESPN Deportes that the banned substance is testosterone.

A source told ESPN Deportes that Canseco refused to take a doping test.

Wait, Canseco denies the report:

Canseco took to Twitter Wednesday to refute the allegations.

"How can I test positive when I never took any test don't believe everything the media tells you.the truth always comes out I am not using any illegal substanced," Canseco tweeted. "Don't be so quick to judge till you here the truth that's a sure sign of ignorance hatred and jealousy."

Doesn't seem to be an issue of tests, Jose.  Doesn't seem to be any hatred or jealousy (can those be used in the same sentence?).  And the ignorance is not likely to be with the media this time.

Sounds like Canseco's comeback with the Quintana Roo Tigers is bashed.

Lenny 'Nails' Dykstra to occupy state prison for 3 years; Nailed for grand theft auto...HGH found in raid

Long time bad boy Lenny Dykstra will be calling a California State prison home for three years after one of his innumerable schemes landed him in trouble.  Dykstra was sentenced for GTA:

Lenny Dykstra, the former professional outfielder for the New York Mets, received his sentence on charges of providing false financial statements as well as grand theft auto. After pleading no contest, Dykstra was sentenced Monday to serve three years in a California state prison.

Dykstra’s scam involved claiming a line of credit through a fake company in order to lease luxury automobiles from unsuspecting car dealerships. After Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig denied his request to withdraw his plea, Ulfig said that the scam showed extensive planning and sophistication for which he was ultimately sentenced 3 years in prison.

The 49 year old former professional baseball player has had an unfortunate string of run-ins with the authorities resulting in legal repercussions including the most recent sentencing. The ex-New York Mets outfielder has found himself in a downward spiral which has ripped him from the enchanted lifestyle of a professional athlete to a sober living facility and now California state prison.

Dykstra stored some HGH, along with other illegal drugs at his SoCal palace:

Dykstra was arrested in his Los Angeles home by police who found ecstasy, cocaine, and synthetic human growth hormone (HGH) in his possession. After his initial not guilty plea on all 25 counts, Lenny Dykstra decided that it was in his best interest to change his plea to no contest and prosecutors decided to drop 21 counts in exchange for his change of plea.

Dykstra, infamous for ripping off several professional athletes with his financial advice' has been involved with (short list):

• Drug possession
• Bankruptcy fraud
• Indecent exposure

Dykstra's lawyer played a violin for the poor fellow, who has long been known to be out of control:

“No way this wasn’t a probationary case. To Give him state prison is outrageous. I find it disgusting.”

Dykstra has been ripping off people for decades.  One could point out that it is disgusting to let him run around  unfettered.

Nails claimed he was a steroid pioneer - he and Jose Canseco:

“You know,” Lenny finally said, breaking the ice, “I was like a pioneer for that stuff (steroids).”

• Randall Lane: Jim Cramer Stock Touting Scandal“Excuse me, Lenny?”

“The juice. I was like the very first to do that. Me and [José] Canseco.”

He straightened up, as he prepared, somewhat proudly, to reveal his role in this dangerous, unseemly history.

Dyskstra's Phillies 1993: 19, 66, .305 and a contract for 25 million.  Dykstra has long defrauded fans and friends.

Major League Baseball implements HGH testing

MLB implemented HGH (human growth hormone) testing for the first time last week.  The New York Daily News was there to interview the Met's Josh Thole and the Yankee's Phil Hughes.

First Thole:

Josh Thole will give way to Tim Byrdak as the Mets’ union representative this season, but the third-year catcher strongly supports the now-in-place adoption of HGH blood testing this season by MLB and the Players Association.

The Mets were tested for human growth hormone for the first time Wednesday under rules of the new collective bargaining agreement that was implemented in November.

“It’s not an issue at all for me, whether they do it in spring training or during the season,” Thole said Thursday. “The one thing that’s important for us as a unit is we should all want an even playing field.

“I can’t speak for everybody, but I can speak for myself and I can tell you this: Most guys are just saying whenever we do (the testing), we do it, but let’s just be sure there’s no gray area. During the steroid years, it was definitely becoming an unfair playing field. For the guys that actually spend all the time in the gym and really bust their butt and work hard, there should be a little reward at the end of not being overtaken by guys sticking a needle in themselves.”

Fascinating, blue collar players speaking out against the elite's (protected) use of PEDs.  "Level playing field", how radical.

Now for Hughes:

Baseball’s HGH testing is underway for the first time this season, and many Yankees have already been subjected to blood tests this spring.

Several players had blood taken for the purpose of HGH testing, though according to two Yankees pitchers, it hasn’t been as invasive as many had feared.

“It’s just like getting blood taken for a physical,” Phil Hughes said. “It’s a pain and I wish we didn’t have to do it, but it’s part of the deal now so we’ll live with it. If they were taking blood every day, I might be opposed to it, but every once in a while is fine. As a starting pitcher, you wouldn’t want blood taken before you pitch, but otherwise, it’s fine.”

It will be interesting to follow HGH testing, as the service develops over time.  Also important to note the change in attitute as`players speak out against PED cheating.