Chavis suspended 80 games for banned substance

Why not? He'll be back at the end of June (according to his statement). Not saying I'd recommend it, but he could easily be traded in July. (I have no idea if he can be traded while on a MiLB substance abuse suspension, but I would doubt it.)

True. I think my comment was kind of stuck somewhere in the 20th century.

For what it's worth, just since you bring it up, there's no clause in the minor league drug policy for "explaining" why you tested positive. I understand this comes from Chavis' statement, but I'm just saying, that's not something you can do. The following are the bases for an appeal:

Perhaps he could claim exceptional circumstances or something if he figured out why he tested positive, but there's nothing that says you can "explain" why you tested positive as he's suggesting. That's an oversimplification.

At any rate, it's REALLY hard to win any appeal under this regime. I have no idea how a player would ever get evidence regarding the chain of custody of his sample or a lab error.

To be honest, if I were a minor league baseball player, I probably wouldn't even use over-the-counter protein powder given the chances it might have something in it that would cause a positive test.

Personally, given the number of times these guys are tested in a given year, I typically assume a player who tests positive does so because he took the wrong supplement, so it's a suspension of stupidity more than it's a suspension of moral turpitude. The minor league drug program is so much stricter than the major league drug program (seriously, compare them sometime, and think about how much more often minor leaguers are suspended than major leaguers are), that it's pretty obviously, to me anyway, designed to lead to suspensions so MLB can say it's doing something about steroids without the players' union (in which most minor leaguers aren't members...) getting too upset.

Consider this from the NYT piece. It's from 2016, but still, it bears keeping in mind, because if it happened then, it could happen now:

I am certainly not condoning the use of illegal substances in sports, I just feel I have a broader view based on the history of baseball players. How long were greenies part of the clubhouse norm?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_baseball

 It takes a lot to get thru a 162 game season and this stuff has been going on forever. Doesn't make it right but I am not going to vilify all that have done it. When a little utility guy gets busted with them you know it is wide spread.

A lot has changed here.  I don't blame players for cheating (or whatever you want to call it), but the notion that players don't take supplements, steroids, HGH....to get an advantages is naive.  There are definite advantages to taking them...that is why players do.   

As far as what they may or may not do, no one can definitely say, sure.  But the numbers back up that they can really improve performance...vis a vis...counting power stats.

I mean the intent isn't to turn someone into Barry Bonds, that isn't going to happen.  The intent is to increase your own performance.  I don't think Chavis or anyone else for that matter, deserves any benefit of the doubt.  People cheat all the time, it is part of the human experience.

I literally said they make a difference in my next sentence.

And as far as the numbers showing that they make a big difference in power production, that's questionable at best. Yes, I'm aware that a handful of guys went crazy in the late 90s. There's a lot more data than that, and it's a lot less conclusive than you want it to do.

MLB juicing baseballs probably has more to do with increased/crazy power numbers.  I mean, Giancarlo hit 59 homeruns last year and it's not even viewed as that "crazy".  No reason to think they weren't also juicing baseballs in the late 90s.

I'm not saying it's likely but I don't think it would be hard to imagine an ex girlfriend/boyfriend, or just a crazy friend putting something in his drink to screw him. People are crazy.

I have no idea how this still happens by “accident”. Have your supplements tested and approved. It shouldn’t be that difficult and if baseball doesn’t have a process for this then these players shouldn’t be getting suspended.

From the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program:

Perfect. There is no legitimate excuse short of an Act of God for testing positive. The approved supplements are identified. The onus is on the player. The days of "I didn't know", "I have no idea how it happened" or "I was just trying to recover faster and my friend 'Joe' swore by this stuff from the tropical canopy" are over.

I am glad the testing is becoming more sophisticated and more positives registered. The penalties are greater too. Let the players make their mark legitimately.