Atlanta – Even as home runs dropped, Rockies player representative Jason Jennings knew discipline for steroid users would tighten after the team met with union officials in July.
Those attending from the Rockies and Washington Nationals expressed a strong desire to police themselves, preventing further congressional involvement.
That meeting served as a snapshot of players’ opinions around the league Monday when union boss Donald Fehr revealed players are willing to increase the discipline for first-time steroid users to 20 games, while agreeing to amphetamines testing.
“I am not sure how that won’t be good enough. That’s almost a full month of games when you consider off days, and that really hurts a team,” said Jennings from his home in Texas. “The higher the consequences, the more it will prevent guys from doing it.”
The union’s response falls short of commissioner Bud Selig’s desire for a three-strikes-and-you’re-out policy that begins with a 50-game suspension for an initial positive test. In his letter to Selig, Fehr said he didn’t believe such first-time discipline was necessary to deter steroid use.
From Jennings to Mike DeJean and Dustan Mohr, the Rockies have argued the current policy is working, pointing to the suspension of nine major-leaguers, including shamed Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro.
Jennings, however, agreed Monday that a stiffer first-time suspension would address a valid criticism of the current policy – an injured player is required to miss more time on the disabled list (15 days) than one who fails a steroids test (10 days). The union proposed a 75-day suspension for second-time offenders.
“The home run numbers were silly for about 15 years,” Jennings said, “so as a pitcher I am for stronger discipline.”
The amphetamine issue was discussed during the Rockies’ meeting with union officials. There was talk then players might ask for the schedule to be shortened as a concession for amphetamine testing, but that was not mentioned in Fehr’s letter.
“I have no idea what kind of impact that will have,” Jennings said. “But we want to handle this ourselves. We don’t want people to think we are naive to the issues in our game.”
FOOTNOTES: General manager Dan O’Dowd said Sunny Kim will compete for a rotation spot next spring. … There has been no movement on negotiations with DeJean. … Right fielder Brad Hawpe, in a 5-for-48 slump, did not start Monday. “I am just pressing and my timing is off,” Hawpe said.
