The talk of the league in 2014 was Chris Davis being suspended for using non-prescribed Adderall – comprised of two stimulants that essentially “calm” the nervous system to focus. This year, as of a report that debuted on July 30, two Orioles minor leaguers have tested positive for GHRP-2, also known as “Peptide 2″.
Peptide 2 is a growth hormone which delays the gastric transit. AKA: slows food processing down for the body to absorb more of the food’s nutrients. It also stimulates an appetite. This “drug” does not sound too bad; my 5’6″, 100lb frame could use it! However, this is not a joking matter. There are many people in need of this drug yet cannot afford it: cancer patients. Chemotherapy and radiation takes away the appetite which then makes the patient lose weight because healthy nutrients are not being placed in the body to help recover and fight. During treatments the patient can opt for a dose of the peptide.
With some background of the drug and a guilt trip/sad truth, it is time to announce the names of the two Delmarva Shorebirds who are suspended for 80 games: RHP Nick Cunningham and SS Jared Breen.
For 2015, Cunningham was four and three in 20 games, and had an ERA of 3.23. This 6’2″ righty has had his shining moments on the bump then times of dirt like blowing a save opportunity. His pitching styles vary whether he is starting or relieving which is actually fun to watch, but we will not be seeing so for 80 games… Cunningham may be using his engineering degree from University of Arizona sooner than he thought. Also, you know when you meet someone and you just get that negative vibe for no apparent reason? Yes, that is what I experienced with Cunningham (thanks, Tinder). I am not knocking his ability to hurl, but as a person I had that negative vibe that something was up.
I have written about Breen before; quiet infielder needing offensive spotlight. Since the May 23rd post, his batting average dropped from a .281 to a .242 yet got his first homerun of the season on July 2 versus Lakewood Blueclaws. On July 3, during the Fourth of July theme night, tragedy struck Arthur Purdue Stadium. Going for a foul ball down the third base side, Breen slid into the concrete wall, fracturing his orbital bone and shattering his right patella. Recovery could take a full year. So, will the 80 game suspension go into affect immediately as of July 30 or will the count start once he is off of the disabled list to then really punish him?
When I was gearing up to play college volleyball, I had to sit through a mandatory sports meeting to review NCAA rules including the packet of drugs prohibited from play. For us females, Midol (a pill to help us get through that time of month) is on that long list of prohibited substances – the list covers everything. Both guys went to college, assuming they stayed awake for all NCAA presentations, and have been drilled by coaches about the negative things about taking prohibited drugs/substances, let alone have seen the SportsCenter coverage of all prohibited substance incidents.
The message to all is: is taking a foreign substance really worth it? Let us ask all 74 MiLB players in suspension of play for testing positive (for something) in 2015.
