[MVB]

Official press release.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that pitcher Guillermo Mota, who finished the 2006 season as a member of the New York Mets, has been suspended for 50 games for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. His suspension will be effective for the start of the 2007 season.

I doubt the Mets will be so eager to bring him back next year...

[ThePundit]

I give Mota credit. Unlike so many pro athletes, at least he's taking responsibility for his actions and not taking the public for a bunch of fools with the old "I didn't know what I was taking" nonsense.

"I used extremely poor judgment and deserve to be held accountable," Mota said. "To my teammates and the entire Mets organization, I am sorry. I truly regret what I did and hope that you can forgive me."

"To baseball fans everywhere, I understand that you are disappointed in me, and I feel terrible and I promise this is the first and last time that this will happen."

[MJHMarc]

What drug was he taking? I don't think it was specified in the article.

I'm just curious.

[EmpireWF]

I dont think anyone knows for sure what drug, it'll probably be kept confidential.

I just saw this and I must say I'm dissapointed in Mota. From a selfish standpoint, this ruins the Mets plans as far as the 7th inning guy goes for the bullpen next year.

[firefrozen]

this is the second met to get caught this year. i just really hope that this will be the last. What do steroids actually do for a pitcher?

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by firefrozen

What do steroids actually do for a pitcher?

Good question, maybe we should ask Clemens and Pettite.

[MVB]

Originally Posted by firefrozen

this is the second met to get caught this year. i just really hope that this will be the last. What do steroids actually do for a pitcher?

That's what I was wondering... Steroids are for strength, which builds velocity on your fastball. But besides that, I don't know how steroids can be used by a pitcher...

I looked up Mota's scouting report:

Originally Posted by Fox Sports

Mota has all the pitches to be a top-rate closer, though he is still mostly untested in the role. He features a 94-96 MPH fastball, a plus change he learned from Gagne and a slider he doesn't throw as much as he should. For someone with such velocity, Mota has a strange tendency to lean too heavily on his change. He was beaten for home runs on the pitch several times in September. Mota is a good fielder but has had major problems controlling the running game.

Interesting stuff here... We see a fastball up to 96 mph- this could be a result of steroids.

Mota has been around the majors for 7 years, so he might have been using steroids the whole time (which I doubt) or he might have just started using the steroids as a result of his weak changeup ( allowing all those homers in September).

[Lefty Noob]

Steroids can also help speed up the healing process, which would DEFINITELY help a pitcher who tossed a lot of innings.

[EmpireWF]

Do we know it was steroids? It could have been a supplement that is banned. Or could it have been a recreational drug? I doubt that one but who knows.

[Lefty Noob]

Absolutely right, Empire. It's all speculation, and unless someone leaks it, we'll never know for sure because baseball policy is to not identify the cause of positive tests. Actually, looking at his comments -- "I promise this is the first and last time that this will happen." -- does kind of make it sound like it might have been a recreational drug he caught with. Again, though, just speculating.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, it's been leaked, and according to the New York Daily News, it was indeed steroids that Mota tested positive for.

[EmpireWF]

lol, surprised it was this quick. I think the most surprising thing since MLB started their testing is the majority of positive tests for these things are relievers. Most everyone expected hitters to be the main culprits, not pitchers...relievers at that. I don't know if Mota was recently injured but steroids will help a guy be able to get back to work quicker than if he were clean.

I doubt he gets signed by anyone. Nobody knows what he did when he was clean and what he did while he was tainted. After his suspension, he'll likely sign a minor league deal with some team and have to fight his way back to the majors. A far cry from a likely guaranteed $2-$5 Million per year major league contract he would have signed this off-season.