BBTF.org/m/astros : Calcaterra: Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton suspended 50 games for marijuana

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Larry Dierker back with Astros as special assistant

(blog.chron.com)

posted 18 hours ago by Repoz to astros | 0 comment(s)

Somebody dig up McLean Stevenson…it’s been renewed!

Larry Dierker, who has been a part of Major League Baseball in Houston as a player, manager and broadcaster for almost a half-century, will rejoin the team as a special assistant to new Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan, the team announced today.

“I’ll be doing some writing and will be a right-hand man for Reid, mostly in the area of public relations,” Dierker said. “I get the feeling that I will gravitate to the area ...

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1. bookbook posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Absurd.

2. Yastrzemski in left. posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

@1 - Agreed. Too bad he didn't play for the Mariners or Rockies.

3. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So dumb.

4. Blastin posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

And here, Eso, we agree 100%. :)

5. YR Misses Reggie Bars posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Woah man, you harshed his mellow.

6. Cowboy Popup posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:50 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wow, that's terrible. Sucks for him.

7. Don Geovany Soto (chris h.) posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:51 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Evidently he misunderstood when his coaches told him to try and hit .420.

8. Voros McCracken of Pinkus posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This kid better get his life together, because using that kind of drug only leads to failure.

9. Steve Parris, Je t'aime posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Should've stayed away from "Higher Learning."

10. Willie Mayspedes posted on January 09, 2013 at 08:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How will this effect his hall of fame chances?

11. Bitter Calculus Instructor posted on January 09, 2013 at 09:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How will this affect his hall of fame chances?

Edit: No Coke. I used the verb, not the noun.

12. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on January 09, 2013 at 09:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How will this aflac his hall of fame chances?

13. Willie Mayspedes posted on January 09, 2013 at 09:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So mine was improper grammar? Damn you grammar police!

14. Poster Nutbag posted on January 09, 2013 at 09:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This kid better get his life together, because using that kind of drug only leads to failure.

Totally....like that long-haired kid who won those two Cy Young Awards....Marijuana = Failure. Always.

15. Blastin posted on January 09, 2013 at 09:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Timmy is a failure. Only two Cys and two rings? Please.

16. KT's Pot Arb posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:15 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

If I was this kid I'd fight it, I've heard these tests are rife with false positives. I have been told you can trigger it by eating poppy seed muffins, certain types of brownies, etc.

I shared an office once with a kid who liked to hand roll his own cigarettes out of a particularly fragrant type of Jamaican tobacco he called "ganja", and he was fired when he failed his test. I'm very sure it was a false positive because the kid didn't do any drugs, didn't even drink! His only vice was those damn natural cigarettes, but as he only smoked 7 or 8 a day I didn't mind much. After he was canned I was stuck with a guy who smoked 2 packs a day of Camels, ugh.

17. Dan posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:31 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Can't they add him to the 40 man and invalidate this? I recall the Brewers doing that with a reliever whose name is eluding me at the moment. Jeffress or something?

18. base ball chick posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

OMFG!!!

an astro using a performance enhancing drug!!!! oh dear, jonathan singleton shooting up. it's so TERRIBLE!!!

what an imbezzle. who don't know that that stuff stays in your body and you get positive tests like MONTHS after using, just like deca durabolin. i wonder who was shooting it in his jonathan's ass in the bathroom stall..

19. Nasty Nate posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I shared an office once with a kid who liked to hand roll his own cigarettes out of a particularly fragrant type of Jamaican tobacco he called "ganja"

And he drank a particularly fragrant type of juice he called "whiskey"...

20. NattyBoh posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:48 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So how are the brownies at Minute Maid Park?

21. LooseCannon posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

They should test players on the 40-man roster for marijuana.

22. Swedish Chef posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:51 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I recall the Brewers doing that with a reliever whose name is eluding me at the moment. Jeffress or something?

He had had two suspensions for 50 and 100 games and faced a lifetime suspension for the next failed test, this isn't quite as urgent.

23. Swedish Chef posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

They should test players on the 40-man roster for marijuana.

They don't test routinely for drugs of abuse, only on suspicion, but they are prohibited. Though you can't get suspended for marijuana, which repeat connoisseurs of other recreational drugs can be, only fined and lectured.

24. puck posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

@1 - Agreed. Too bad he didn't play for the Mariners or Rockies.

The Rockies' AA affiliate in the Texas league, too, though.

Edit: meant to link to this Simpsons video game but I couldn't find a video link. IIRC Bart yells "oh no, I'm in Texas!" just before he loses..

25. puck posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:05 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Evidently he misunderstood when his coaches told him to try and hit .420.

The MLS schedule came out today; the season's first game between Seattle and Colorado is on 4/20.

26. Der_K posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

i wonder who was shooting it in his jonathan's ass in the bathroom stall..

i don't think that that's a traditional pot delivery system but - hey...

27. base ball chick posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

der k

here and i thought that was the objection to those performance enhancing drugs - getting it in the ass from some other guy, especially when bent over the toilet

still not getting how mary j wanna enhances anything but appetite

actually, he SHOULD get his ass slammed (hahaha) for something gonna effup his performance/reaction time. mary j wanna slows the reaction time worse than alcohol. boy ain't gonna hit SHTT but the junk food

28. base ball chick posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

natty boh

can't say bout the food in the Rich People Area, but the food on the concourses is REALLY awful. there is nothing i have ever eaten that wasn't just AWFUL. of course, i haven't had any ballpark food in maybe 4 years - it's expensive, VERY expensive. it is possible that somewhere, there is something to eat that isn't super salty and otherwise tasteless, but i doubt it

29. zonk posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:42 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Instead of suspending people for pot - he actually ought to get 4 strikes per AB or something....

I mean legalize it, anyone know a guy, yada yada -- but I can't imagine it has anything but a negative impact on his performance... at least, that's what Geo Soto told me.

30. billyshears posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:10 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is obviously silly. But if you're subject to drug testing, just don't ####### smoke pot. I guess it's only a multi-million dollar career on the line though, so whatever.

31. The importance of being Ernest Riles posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:49 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

30: yeah. Without comment on our current drug laws, how ####### dumb is this kid? I work in an environment that federally requires random drug tests; I have a fraction of the money on the line, but I somehow avoid toking up in the interests of my career. If that amount of money isn't enough to get you to pass the joint, you may ne stupid or addicted or both.

32. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:16 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

He may well be addicted. The Astros should send him to rehab.

33. Liver of blaspheming 'zop posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:21 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Agreeing with 30. I used to like certain recreational activities, but once it came time to be a professional - you know, there are some fun things you don't get to do anymore as a big boy.

34. base ball chick posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:22 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

billy

yeah - the guy is the astros top prospect,m they are pimping him BIG time and he is THAT EFFING STUPID??? you know, i understand trying to sneak in a steroid or 2 in desperation to do whatever to make the bigs, even these days, but getting suspended 2 months for MARY WANNA???

it's SOOO stupid i can't even describe how STUPID it is. unless he is addicted to it and if he is he damm well better get detoxed and stay in NA or something.

pisses me off. of course, everything about the astros pisses me off these days

35. Jim (jimmuscomp) posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:27 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

pisses me off. of course, everything about the astros pisses me off these days

I will say, as an Angel fan, I am very happy to see the Astros on the schedule so often in 2013....

36. PreservedFish posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:43 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's tough becoming a "big boy" when you're 19 years old though. I mean, still stupid, but I do feel sorry for him.

37. Good cripple hitter posted on January 10, 2013 at 02:25 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

pisses me off. of course, everything about the astros pisses me off these days

What about the triumphant return of Alan Ashby? I might watch a few Astros games this year just to listen to him.

38. Walt Davis posted on January 10, 2013 at 03:28 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

They should test players on the 40-man roster for marijuana.

Well, ya gotta be high or delusional to wanna play for the Astros.

The Astros should send him to rehab.

Then shut him down 2/3 of the way through the season.

39. Phil Coorey. posted on January 10, 2013 at 06:09 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I will say, as an Angel fan, I am very happy to see the Astros on the schedule so often in 2013....

It's like a 15 game head start for the remaining teams in the West

40. Double-Spin Mechanic posted on January 10, 2013 at 08:00 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

They should test players on the 40-man roster for marijuana.

Yeah! Let's search their houses for no reason, too!

Jesus Christ, since when does playing a game for money cost a guy his citizenship?

41. Ron J2 posted on January 10, 2013 at 10:44 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I have been told you can trigger it by eating poppy seed muffins, certain types of brownies, etc.

Confirmed on an episode of Mythbusters, but:

Those are el cheapo testing kits (and even then, supposedly these are quite a bit better these days WRT to over-sensitivity)

The type of testing MLB does are designed to avoid everyday false positives.

42. John Northey posted on January 10, 2013 at 10:53 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

You Americans are funny. Suspend a guy for marijuana but drunk driving is ignored, guns are encouraged, and if a guy is beating his wife that also is A-OK by MLB rules. What a weird way to be.

43. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars posted on January 10, 2013 at 10:55 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm not on a 40-man roster either. If baseball tests me, I'm doomed.

44. Bitter Mouse is a genre addict posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:05 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

You Americans are funny. Suspend a guy for marijuana but drunk driving is ignored, guns are encouraged, and if a guy is beating his wife that also is A-OK by MLB rules. What a weird way to be.

Word. I live here and I don't get it.

And 'KT's Pot Arb' you have been bringing it lately - go you.

45. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:08 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm not on a 40-man roster either. If baseball tests me, I'm doomed.

I like the idea of MLB Drug Testers showing up at random offices and testing people for drugs, PEDs, etc.

46. Don Geovany Soto (chris h.) posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:14 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like the idea of MLB Drug Testers showing up at random offices and testing people for drugs, PEDs, etc.

Long as it's not MY office, sure, what the hell.

47. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like the idea of MLB Drug Testers showing up at random offices and testing people for drugs, PEDs, etc.

It's OK. I know our FedEx guy.

48. Astroenteritis posted on January 10, 2013 at 01:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

You Americans are funny. Suspend a guy for marijuana but drunk driving is ignored, guns are encouraged, and if a guy is beating his wife that also is A-OK by MLB rules. What a weird way to be.

No kidding. Try living here in Texas, though, and it's really crazy. Our new senator is a piece of work, and we've got the likes of Alex Jones running around. Get tired of explaining that, no, we are not all like THAT (insert crazy wingnut attribute).
Anyway, bummed about Singleton, because watching the development of the young guys is all Astro fans have to do these days, and this will slow him a bit.

49. bfan posted on January 10, 2013 at 06:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Without comment on our current drug laws, how ####### dumb is this kid? I work in an environment that federally requires random drug tests; I have a fraction of the money on the line, but I somehow avoid toking up in the interests of my career. If that amount of money isn't enough to get you to pass the joint, you may ne stupid or addicted or both.

It reminds me of a great comment made by Sickels on Donavan Tate (who has also faced this problem). Sickels point is that Tate has been very irresponsible with his career, in continuing to light up after having been caught and lightly punished, once. Whether you agree or disagree on some philosophical basis with why alcohol is legal and pot is not, you know the rules and the consequences for not following them, and to do so to the detriment of your career just makes no sense.

50. Morty Causa posted on January 10, 2013 at 07:05 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like the idea of MLB Drug Testers showing up at random offices and testing people for drugs, PEDs, etc.

I don't follow tennis but someone I know who does says like as often as 10-15 times a year drug testers will simply show up anywhere and test you. Seems if you are serious about drugs, including PED's, that's what you do.

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Larry Dierker back with Astros as special assistant

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Astros Think Factory