Today in New York, Alex Rodriguez began his time in front of an arbitrator to appeal his 211 game suspension by Major League Baseball.
MLB is there to defend its decision and describes the allegations against A-Rod this way:
Alex Rodriguez used performance-enhancing substances obtained from the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic, and that he also recruited other players for the now-defunct South Florida business and interfered with its investigation into the case.
What’s a bit shocking is that by the end of the day, there were no leaks coming out of the proceeding. The case for and against Rodriguez was played out in media after one or both sides planted stories to shore up their positions.
In a related matter, it was reported today on the Miami News Times’ website that Tony Bosch, founder of Biogenesis can add a new investigation to his list. The State of Florida has begun an inquiry. An attorney for one athlete mentioned in Bosch’s records tells New Times his client recently received a subpoena from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Bosch is in New York to testify at the arbitration and it is presumed, and hoped for by MLB, that he will be consistent with his previous statements on the subject of supplying PEDs to more than a dozen professional baseball players, all of whom were suspended.
Only one, Rodriguez appealed the suspension, reflecting A-Rod’s belief that the mountain of evidence including Bosch’s testimony will not support the suspension as a whole, or at least reduce it.
Would he consider a reduction in the number of games as a victory? As is his custom, the Yankees third baseman could not get to the point, preferring to spout dialogue that could easily be ripped from a script of a schmaltzy film.
“I’m not going to get into that,” said Rodriguez. “I’m not going to get into my expectations. I’m fighting for my life and my whole baseball legacy.”
To be continued…