This is A Thing That Happened: Brewers catcher Pedro Severino has been suspended for 80 games for suspected PED use. He’s not fighting the suspension nor is he denying it. In fact, he’s being up front and honest about it:
“Since late 2020, my wife and I had been trying to start a family unsuccessfully,” Severino said in a statement issued by the players’ association. “When we returned to the Dominican Republic after the 2021 season, we sought medical assistance to determine why we had not succeeded. One of the doctors I consulted with prescribed me with a medication to treat infertility issues. Unfortunately, I now know that the medication contained Clomiphene. I accept responsibility for this mistake and have decided not to challenge my suspension.”
Okay, this is damned refreshing. The last time a Brewers player was facing a suspension for PEDs, he denied it, claimed innocence, and basically threw someone under the bus to try and save face, only to have it bite him in the ass later. Yes, I am referring to the incident with Ryan Braun; he may have a spot in the Brewers Hall of Fame but not the Baseball Hall of Fame. No, I will not defend what he did, whether it’s the illicit substances or how he handled the fallout. Due to his own actions, he doesn’t deserve an induction ceremony in Cooperstown. That’s on him.
Since there’s a hole in the lineup, it seems that Milwaukee managed to pick up not one, but two, catchers to fill in the gap. So the team is probably going to be fine.
Opening Day is tomorrow at Wrigley Field. The Crew will have their Home Opener next week.
Baseball is back. Finally. It’s been a long, cold, dark winter without it.
Iacon East 