"In performing an incredibly stupid and thoughtless act, Grandal screwed this franchise, his teammates and its fans when he tested positive for testosterone and thus was smacked with a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball. He just tore the club’s head off."Stupid, yes. Thoughtless....I highly doubt that. Going on an off-season regiment of McDoubles and 10-hour marathons of Halo would be a thoughtless act. Grandal did not "screw" the Padres. He's a good player, but he's not Buster Posey. As for the idea that he "tore the club's head off"...wow. If you ever wanted to see the definition of an overreaction, there you go. I was completely unaware the Grandal was the difference between contending and finishing in last place.
"It’s easy to say it’s forgivable. But not when it’s unforgivable."The Padres still haven't forgiven Ken Caminiti for admitting that he juiced during his 1996 NL MVP season. Oh wait...
"That’s the first 50 games of the 2013 season playing in the same division with the world champion (superbly run) Giants, a Dodgers franchise that has more money to burn than Scrooge McDuck, and an Arizona team run by wily Kevin Towers, who can find multiple ways to make chicken salad out of coop deposits. Not even Colorado has this problem, just other ones that involve stink."Yes, the Giants are winners. This is a fact, as much as it hurts to admit. The Dodgers have a ton of money invested in their roster...and still find a way to underachieve. Insert a blatant KT ass-kissing comment and a pointless reference to the Rockies and that sums up this paragraph.
"And Grandal, 24, a rookie, not only was a big part of that, but expected to be a franchise rock for years to come. He was really good. Coming to the city from the farm, he was unmoved by the bright lights, unafraid. And then he gets caught with his hand in the apothecary jar."Grandal was caught using PEDs, so all of his intangibles are now worthless to the Padres. CUT HIM!
"He thought of no one but himself. How can Grandal look a teammate in the eye? Sorry isn't good enough. This was a selfish act. He wasn't a bench guy. He was this team’s catcher."Please. The Padres are a pretty close-knit group of guys. If Canepa had any friends, he would understand that men will butt heads because of someone's bonehead decision...but then you apologize, have a few beers, share a bro-hug, and you move on. Grandal is not an asshole. He had a lapse in judgment. Only girls hold grudges.
"But if I were Ron Fowler, a man of honor and respect who is running this franchise _ and I certainly am not _ I would instruct Byrnes to call in Yas and tell him, ciao, adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen, aloha, sayonara, and maybe look up how to say goodbye in several other languages."If letting the organization down because of a bad decision was always met with swift and severe consequences, Canepa would have been out of work a long time ago.
"I really like Byrnes. He shoots straight. But it’s impossible to make sure nothing like this happens again. Baseball _ and other sports _ wants us to believe its drug-infested pond has been cleaned up. I guess that’s why seven players tested positive since May. And that’s seven who were dumb enough to get caught. Not even toddlers are naïve to the point of believing seven is all there is. Our games cannot keep up with the chemists, that’s all there is too it. Now they’re talking about PEDs that can be washed from your system within 24 hours."Toddlers aren't smart enough to dress themselves, but they know what a PED is. Brilliant, Canepa...brilliant.
"Not for a minute would I accuse all players of juicing _ although once a so-so player puts up big numbers, eyebrows lift (it remains possible for athletes to naturally get better) _ but we haven’t exited the steroid era. It’s here to stay. And the smart ones _ which Grandal wasn't _ will continue to get away with it."Anyone else get the feeling that a reference to Chase Headley was edited out of this column?
"Grandal shouldn't even be used as an example. If he were to be cut today some other team would unwrap him like a present from heaven. The carousel has no stop button."Yes, they would, and they wouldn't care that Grandal used testosterone. They would reap the benefits while the Padres collectively slap their foreheads when Hundley goes on a 0-for-30 stretch every other month.
"The biggest part of this story pertains to Grandal's skills. How much of this kid was real and how much artificial? When he does come back, will he be as good? He’s not a 32-year-old. Should the Padres not wonder how much of the old Grandal they’re going to see once he returns? And how will he be mentally after this public humiliation?"Testosterone doesn't affect your decision making. Grandal wasn't lighting the world on fire with his bat, but he was very selective at the plate. That shouldn't change. Mentally, Grandal should be fine. The Padres organization and its fans are a very forgiving group, and to think that his return would be met with anything other than cheers of support would be ludicrous.
In a library of idiotic Nick Canepa columns, this has to be one of his greatest hits. He notes how much Grandal means to the Padres future success, and is quick to imply that the ballclub's next move to maintain their integrity would be to release the best young catcher we have had since Benito Santiago. So, answer us this, Nick....how does cutting Grandal ensure future success for the team? Here's a hint...it doesn't. Sure, you play the "integrity" card, but, in turn, you create another hard-to-fill gap in the lineup for seasons to come. It's only two months, Canepa. Two months! The Padres will survive with a platoon of Hundley and Baker for that long. Hell, the club has been successful with worse behind the plate. If the U-T cared about integrity, they would hand Canepa his walking papers first thing in the morning.
Click here to read the article in its entirety...if you really want to.
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