Royals’ Eric Skoglund given 80-game suspension for PEDs

NEW YORK—Kansas City Royals pitcher Eric Skoglund was suspended Wednesday for the season’s first 80 games after testing positive for two performance-enhancing substances.

The MLB commissioner’s office said the positive tests were for selective androgen receptor modulators S-22 (Ostarine) and LGD-4033 (Ligandrol).

Royals general manager Dayton Moore said in a statement Skoglund “unknowingly made a mistake” and “we remain proud of who Eric is as a person and will support him as an organization.”

Lance Armstrong is mad he gets more criticism than A-Rod, saying “Alex Rodriguez didn’t raise half a billion dollars”

“I do think there’s a double standard,” he said. “But I’m OK with it.”

…Armstrong, banned from cycling for life in 2012, invoked another famous cheater in Alex Rodriguez, the former Yankees superstar who received a one-year ban for his role in Biogenesis, but has been able to reclaim a positive spot in the public eye years later. It’s a luxury Armstrong hasn’t been afforded, despite his Livestrong brand’s work for cancer research.

“Alex Rodriguez didn’t raise half a billion dollars and try to save a bunch of people’s lives,” Armstrong said. “That’s kind of the irony of this. Look, it’s great when somebody hits home runs and maybe does an event here and there for the Girls and Boys Club. This story held a place in people’s hearts and minds that was way beyond those guys.”

Griffin Conine, Jeff’s son, banned 50 games for drug test

NEW YORK- Toronto outfielder Griffin Conine, a son of former major league outfielder Jeff Conine, has been suspended for the first 50 games of next season under the minor league drug program for a positive test for the banned stimulant ritalinic acid.

New York Yankees pitcher Daniel Marten was suspended for the first 25 games for a violation of the drug program; 25-game suspensions are assessed for use or possession of a syringe of an injectable substance, the commissioner’s office said Monday.

Griffin Conine, 21, was selected by the Blue Jays in the second round of last June’s amateur draft with the 52nd overall pick and signed for a bonus of $1.35 million.

They grow up so fast….

A-Rod on Hall of Fame hopes: ‘I want to get in, I hope I get in, I pray I get in’

Alex Rodriguez has Baseball Hall of Fame numbers, but he’s no lock. Turns out, voters care about how those numbers were accumulated, and A-Rod is one of the few Hall of Fame hopefuls who served a suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Rodriguez, who has transitioned seamlessly into the broadcast booth, is aware that he has an uphill battle, but he still hopes and prays he gets into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

A-Rod revealed that during an interview with Marvin R. Shanken of Cigar Aficionado.

For those of you who are interested in this in his own words, here’s the interview