Pitching prospect Houser suspended

LHP James Houser, a Sarasota native who was the Rays' second-round pick in 2003, was suspended 50 games on Saturday for "testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance,'' according to MLB.

Houser was 5-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 20 starts and is considered among the Rays' second-tier of young pitching prospects. He was 12-4, 4.41 last season at advanced Class A Visalia and was named Class A SW Michigan's pitcher of the year in 2005 when going 8-8, 3.76.

Houser, 22, was mysteriously scratched from his Friday night start for Double-A Montgomery, raising speculation something was amiss. Houser was involved in a long closed-door meeting after Wednesday's game with Biscuits manager Billy Gardner Jr., pitching coach Neil Allen and field coordinator Jim Hoff.

Houser is at least the fifth player in the Rays organization to be suspended for drug policy violations, following reliever Juan Salas, who served a 50-game suspension earlier this season for similarly testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs during spring training.

Previously, outfielder Alex Sanchez was suspended 10 games on the eve of the 2005 season, and minor-league pitcher Matt Rico was was suspended 100 games last year under the minor-league program. Also, OF Josh Hamilton was suspended for the 2004-05 season for failing multiple drug tests and later admitted cocaine use, though he has resurrected his career this season with the Cincinnati Reds.

Comments

[SA]

AS someone who grew up with James this comes as a big suprise to me. I am speculating that it had something to do with the heart problem he has.

[Dave]

The truth of the matter is close to what DJ posted. James took something prescribed by his doctor and the doctor failed to tell him that it was something on the banned list. That's one side of the problem that tends to get overlooked sometimes. These young kids shouldn't have to worry about what their doctors are prescribing for them to get better. There are so many substances out there that the doctors are the ones paid to know what's authorized and what's not. I feel sorry for these guys - some of whom are legitimately trying to get better and are on the short end of the stick because their doctor screws up. The worst part is that the player gets the suspension, not the doctor. Oh yeah...and all the grief that goes along with the suspension and what the public will think.

[Bob R.]

Precisely, albr.

[albr]

Think this through with me, fellas. Bud Selig isn't an advocate for the game of baseball; he's a mouthpiece for ownership, and ownership is at war with the players union. Owners WANT to expose steroid use among players because it puts the union on the defensive and gives ownership a victory in the PR battle (hence the whole Mitchell commission farce). It actually hurts their position when the only guys who get caught are piddling types like Perez and Sanchez. Given that, why in God's name would Selig participate in a coverup? It's lunacy. Everyone gets tested, and if Bonds or Giambi flunked a test, you'd hear about it.

[bryan]

So mlb is picking on the Devilrays? Athletes take steroids to get better. You could put HGH in the clubhouse water fountains & they'd still be 31 games under .500

[Bob R.]

The big joke is the fans who have been bamboozled into considering the taking of steroids as some sort of character or ethical issue. It is purely a health issue, nothing more.

Using proper procedures-which was not really done in this case, but that is now beside the point-baseball has the right to develop an anti-steroids policy and to enforce it. They did develop one-in a proper way or not-and it is among the most stringent and carefully monitored in sports. That done, there is no need to harp on who gets suspended and who doesn't as if some greater moral concern was involved. Players in violation will serve their time and move on, as should the fans.

Using Giambi as some sort of target is nonsense. Whatever he did occurred before there was a baseball policy on the matter, and so there is no way to punish him nor should there be any effort to do so. It would be like overturning all the pitching records from the 1960s when they raised the mound and then penalizing the still active pitchers in the 1970s for having used the advantage. Or like suspending Burleigh Grimes for using the spitball when it was legal.

I agree that Selig is a jerk, but for wholly different reason than by inferring that he is part of some nefarious plot to penalize the Rays and minor leaguers and not the stars in the majors. Actually, that is probably the reverse of his intention which is to discredit the union by getting the public angry about the fundamentally non-issue of steroids and thus put pressure on them to concede on various other issues. He has exploited the rift among the players on the steroid controversy already in getting them to renegotiate mid-contract (with the help of congressional worms like McCain) and to cede some elements of due process.

For myself, I do not care one whit who did or did not use steroids, and I only care about current users because now there is a rule in place, and they can be punished, thus affecting the fortunes of their teams. It is no more significant than Clemens getting suspended for hitting a batter. McGwire had it exactly right when called before Congress; talking about the past users is futile and stupid. We should be honoring his correct and courageous stand, not berating him as weaseling out of testifying.

[Richard]

It's simple. The wealthy & smart players get the HGH or the masked steroids that can't be detected. The dumb ones use the detectable steroids. It has nothing to do with who gets tested? They all have the same chance of getting tested.

[DJ]

There are alot of substances on the banned list, and you can get some of them at your local GNC. Houser was probably taking some over the counter stuff to put on weight, which he always desperately needed. Nobody would look at him and say "that guy is on roids". Bonds could use Houser as a toothpick.

[MIchele]

Amazing. Why aren't they testing Barry Bonds? Depends on what team your on & who you are. He is hardly a role model.
Every player on every team should be tested. I think we'd all be in fora shocker if that were the case. Doesn't sound like they have even considered it. Who decides? Sounds like there is a little bribe money from some team owners to the people that decide who to test. Rich teams are favored. Devil Rays aren't among that group. Players are paid to much anyway. They are not hero's just because they can catch a ball or hit them. Our society has gotten very sad....

[Dana]

As Tom mentioned, it's amazing that none of the big-named players get suspended when we all know they do it, but the lowly Devil Rays have had 5 in recent years.

That's why MLB is a total joke and Selig's even worse for being the head of it.

[Tom]

Bud Selig and his MLB steroid policy is a big joke. They don't hesitate to suspend minor league players and guys like Neifi Perez, but Jason Giambi is untouchable because he contributes to charity (and he's a NY Skankee). Maybe if Devil Ray fans would get together and give money to a charity in Houser's name, we could get the suspension lifted.