Jordan Norberto, Numerous Others Latest to be Linked to Biogenesis
By Sean Davis
Apparently it wasn’t enough for the specter of performance enhancing drugs to be looming over Bartolo Colon, he needed company. According to a report from ESPN’s T.J. Quinn and Mike Fish, current reliever Jordan Norberto has joined Colon in being connected to Miami aging clinic Biogenesis, which as we’ve learned over the last month has a substantial client list of MLB players whom they have sold various banned substances to. Unfortunately this list doesn’t just include the two current Athletics, former Athletics reliever Fautino De Los Santos, and former starter Gio Gonzalez was on the original reported list.
August 8, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Jordan Norberto (77) pitches the ball against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
After the fact, the inclusion of Norberto on this list isn’t really much of a surprise considering the issues he dealt with last season concerning his shoulder. Oftentimes players turn to PEDs not so much to just improve their play on the field, but to aid them in recovering from injuries. Of course the fact that Norberto was on this list doesn’t prove anything, and he hasn’t failed any tests so it’s entirely possible that he was a client of Biogenesis but wasn’t receiving any substances that were actually on the MLB banned substance list. Today’s report also seemed to exonerate Gio Gonzalez from any such accusations as he appeared to be receiving only substances that were legal within Major League Baseball. The same could ultimately happen for Norberto as well.
It’s disconcerting to see so many players connected to the Athletics mentioned in these reports. While there are a number of players from throughout baseball being linked to Biogenesis, it doesn’t excuse the fact that members of the A’s are engaging in the same practice. Ultimately what may be happening is that they are simply attempting to keep up with the rest of the league, rather than gaining an advantage over everyone.
It’s becoming more and more clear that this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding performance enhancing drugs in baseball. The culture of PED use that exists in the game has taken such a stronghold that it’s hard not to turn a skeptical eye towards any player on the field when they accomplish something. It’s a harsh reality of today’s game, and we have the choice to either let it ruin our enjoyment of baseball, or we can take it as a negative aspect of the game that will in all likelihood be here for the duration and continue to enjoy the game we love because it’s the game we love. I’ll take the latter.