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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Brewers Jeffress gets 100-game suspension

Right-hander Jeremy Jeffress, rated by many as the top pitching prospect in the Brewers’ farm system, has drawn a 100-game suspension for testing positive for a second time for a “substance of abuse.”

The penalty leaves Jeffress, 21, one positive test away from a lifetime ban under the Minor League Drug Treatment and Prevention program.

Substances are not revealed under the minor league drug program but Jeffress admitted in the past to testing positive for marijuana near the end of the 2007 season, while pitching for Class A West Virginia. He received a 50-game suspension at the time, which carried over to the 2008 season.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:09 AM | 22 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: Minor Leagues, Milwaukee, Steroids

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1. JoeHova Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:47 AM (#3234899)

Well that sucks. I had high hopes for Jeffress. This also obviously destroys any trade value he might have had.

I hope he gets help if he needs it. If he doesn't need help, he really needs to learn to stay away from weed.

2. Rough Carrigan

Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:54 AM (#3234904)

A 50 game suspension for smoking weed is ridiculous. Whatever he was caught using this time, the circumstances shouldn't have been such that it was getting him 100 games this time.

3. RayDiPerna

Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:55 AM (#3234905)

Substances are not revealed under the minor league drug program but Jeffress admitted in the past to testing positive for marijuana near the end of the 2007 season, while pitching for Class A West Virginia. He received a 50-game suspension at the time, which carried over to the 2008 season.

Hassling people for smoking marijuana. What a joke.

4. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:59 AM (#3234907)

Faster! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Throw faster! Throw faster! Ha ha ha! Faster! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Faster! Throw faster!

5. JoeHova Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:00 AM (#3234909)

Hassling people for smoking marijuana. What a joke.

Indeed. Still though, he knew he had already tested positive once. Assuming it's weed again, he really should have known better. It definitely seems extremely stupid and excessive that a guy could be banned for life for smoking weed 3 times (probably unlikely, but possible). I wonder if NPB would respect the ban or if somebody who was banned for life like that could at least try to salvage their career over there.

6. Tripon Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:01 AM (#3234910)

Why is weed a 50 game suspension in the minors, and a $25,000 fine in the majors?

7. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:02 AM (#3234912)

Why is weed a 50 game suspension in the minors, and a $25,000 fine in the majors?

And a running joke in the NBA?

8. joker24 Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:20 AM (#3234923)

Uhh it's not $25,000, MLB takes it very seriously actually. Oh wait, they agreed to in collective bargaining that they can't punish MLBPA members for pot. Seriously, they can't be tested for it.

9. Rich Rifkin Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:22 AM (#3234925)

Well that sucks. I had high hopes for Jeffress. This also obviously destroys any trade value he might have had.

The Bengals are still interested in him.

10. Tom Cervo, backup catcher Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:27 AM (#3234928)

If MLBPA members could be tested for weed Manny would have been banned for life by his 2nd or 3rd year. I still suspect he was taking hits in the green monster during games.

I agree that it's ridiculous for minor leaguers to get punished for this (same with any adult), but how stupid is Jeffress to keep smoking?

11. Rich Rifkin Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:04 AM (#3234947)

If MLBPA members could be tested for weed...

They are.

12. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:19 AM (#3234959)

The penalty leaves Jeffress, 21, one positive test away from a lifetime ban under the Minor League Drug Treatment and Prevention program

The Brewers should promote him to their major league rotation
It's not like he's any worse than Suppan or Parra

13. AROM Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:30 AM (#3234966)

If he's banned for life in the minors, for an offense MLB can't punish, can they just call him up?

14. joker24 Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:48 AM (#3234969)

They are.

Not really.

Testing for drugs of abuse is not administered randomly, but on a basis of reasonable cause. If one of the HPAC panel members has evidence that a player has used, possessed, or sold banned substances in the last 12 months, they call a conference and discuss the evidence with the other members. If a majority vote to test the suspected player is reached, then testing will take place immediately, after no later than 48 hours.

15. Walt Davis Posted: June 27, 2009 at 05:47 AM (#3234988)

I had high hopes for Jeffress.

And they were rewarded. :-)

16. Tripon Posted: June 27, 2009 at 05:53 AM (#3234989)

If he can't play in America. Might as well start his career in Japan.

17. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: June 27, 2009 at 06:07 AM (#3234991)

Because when you think "societal tolerance for marijuana," you think Japan.

18. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: June 27, 2009 at 06:56 AM (#3235001)

I think of the Netherlands. Welcome to Honkbal Hoofdklassen!

19. Argu!!!! SATAN!!!! (Sessile Fielder) Posted: June 27, 2009 at 07:50 AM (#3235006)

If he's banned for life in the minors, for an offense MLB can't punish, can they just call him up?

It would appear so, or actually that all they'd have to do is add him to the 40-man. From the Joint Drug Agreement (ha ha):

8.J. Completion of Minor League Discipline

A Player suspended under Major League Baseball’s Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (“Minor League Program”) who is selected to or otherwise placed on a 40-man roster before such suspension is complete shall be suspended at the Major League level for the lesser of: (a) the remainder of the suspension imposed under the Minor League Program or (b) the difference between the maximum penalty that could have been imposed under this Major League Program (had each of the Player’s violations occurred while he was on a 40-man roster) and the number of games already served by the Player at the Minor League level. A Player who tests positive under the Minor League Program or has otherwise violated the Minor League Program and who is not notified of that positive test result or of the violation until after his promotion to a 40-man roster shall be treated as if the Player tested positive under or violated the Major League Program. Except as provided in this Paragraph J, a violation of the Minor League Program shall not be considered as a violation of this Major League Program for any purpose under this Section 8.

20. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 27, 2009 at 08:18 AM (#3235010)

Cripes. And to make things worse what do folks think he is going to do to fill his time away from the game, crossstitch?

Sigh. Somebody teach this kid the "joys" of chewing tobacco or of hard liquor.....

21. Scott Kazmir's breaking balls Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:18 PM (#3235120)

Geovany Soto tested positive for weed during the WBC. He's still playing. Did he at least get a fine?
P.S. I agree, testing for weed is B.S.

22. BourbonSamurai is not Fausto Carmona Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:48 PM (#3235171)

Sigh. Somebody teach this kid the "joys" of chewing tobacco or of hard liquor.....

Or whippets! They can't test for those, right?

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Brewers Jeffress gets 100-game suspension

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