Friday Morning Rangers Notes: Gutierrez's 50-Game Mistake
Joey MatschulatBecause I can think of nothing more appropriate for a wintery Friday morning in early February than another round of A Tribe Called Quest ... well, and maybe a snow-blanketed Ballpark as well:
● Double-A Frisco right-hander Danny Gutierrez has incurred a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball after testing positive for the ADD-treating amphetamine adderall, constituting a violation of the minor league drug policy; Gutierrez reportedly possessed a prescription for the drug, but failed to apply for and obtain a league-mandated Therapuetic Use Exemption to use the drug with impunity (Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News)
[Hopefully this is the lone blind-siding tidbit of bad news to stream our way before spring training gets underway; last year, two out-for-the-season bombshells -- Joaquin Benoit and Eric Hurley -- both dropped within 10 days of each other at the end of January. Gutierrez, whose exceptional fastball-curve combo has elevated his stock to a point where some have regarded him as the sixth-best prospect in the organization (including, notably, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus), has apologized for his oversight, and the Rangers have accepted it, albeit not without making their disappointment abundantly clear while doing so.
You know, I'm fully aware that procedural errors of this sort happen all the time, and I readily acknowledge that we don't really have any business passing judgment without knowing the full story (which we're likely never going to get), but it would be a little easier to give Gutierrez the benefit of the doubt if the cloud of "off-the-field issues" didn't persist in hanging over his head. This incident doesn't warrant branding him a headcase or anything of the sort, but it does fit into the pattern of irresponsible behavior that dates as far back as 2007 and came to a head as recently as last summer, and it's going to have to be proactively addressed at some point ... and probably sooner rather than later, at that.]
● General manager Jon Daniels confirmed on Thursday that the ballclub was maintaining dialogue with "some players and agents," but had no active offers on the table; furthermore, Daniels stated that the odds of Texas acquiring any additional players were "less than 50-50" (Jeff Wilson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
[A bit more on this and a few other items a little later this morning. Or something.]
Reader Comments (16)
This kid was nothing but trouble for the Royals. Apparently this time he had a prescription for Adderall, which is banned but allowed with a waiver, but he never applied for the exemption. Which makes him a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Too bad; he's got a lot of talent.
Wow bummer for him. How does this affect the roster?
It doesn't. According to Evan, he isn't on the 40 man roster, so he is subject to minor league baseball's drug policy. If he had been on the 40, he only would have gotten a warning for not getting a theraputic exemption first.
His other violation of policy, according to JD was failing to inform the Rangers of his alleged need for this prescription. I read that the legal use of these "ADD" drugs, which also happen to enhance performance, is prescribed in pro baseball at double the ratio of regular society. One could argue that kids with ADD are that much more likely to get into (& succeed at) sports.... Or not.
There need be no shame in having ADD. The fact that the Rangers didn't know that their 9th best prospect needed to have prescribed something which is otherwise illegal and against baseball regulations suggests that this wasn't just a paperwork error-- isn't (just) ADD-- but is something he's reluctant to admit.
Probably a blessing in disguise that he now knows that the Rangers know, and that he's on thin ice. Better to start over carefully than to continue carelessly. Here''s hoping he lives in the light. Who knows what really surrounds him. Let's hope he finds good friends among his new teammates.
As is the case with most suspensions, I am left with questions whose answers would alter the way that I view it::
(1) If Gutierrez has been a long-time user of adderall, then he had either applied for and received clearance from MLB in the past or he had never been tested. If it was the former, then shame on him for not following a protocol that he was aware of (though it is still possible that he failed to comply because he assumed that his prior application while with the Royals covered him into this season).
(2) If his recent prescription was the first that he has received, then this suggests that Gutierrez might be taking a proactive stance in getting his life together. Perhaps he was seeking medical help to help him with his demons and his doctor felt that he would benefit from the prescription. The optimist in me wants to believe that this is actually a good sign for the Rangers and Gutierrez.
@David - you make an EXCELLENT point!
It's a blip. A mistake is not necessarily a transgression. Sure, given his history, there will be criticism. But consider, an infraction whose consequence is determined by standing and not degree shouldn't necessarily lend itself to indictment. Nothing really to see here.
If it doesn't affect the 40-man, it need not matter. Wake me up when it comes time to determine if he needs protection on the 40 in order not to expose him to the Rule 5 down the road!!!
Even if it doesn't affect the 40-man, it still sucks for development time. As it was, Gutierrez figured to factor into the pitching staff sometime in 2011. That could still happen, but its pushed back, and that's assuming this IS a one-time blip. As Joey's analysis above suggests, that's anything but a guarantee, since this kid has a history of not being the sharpest tool in the shed.
This is just an initial reaction, but I kinda think this kid needs an agent who's really looking out for him.
Think of it this way: If you were representing a young player with his potential (who has been diagnosed with ADD), would you just assume that he paid attention to all the procedures and policies and let him take care of himself? I would probably assume that he doesn't really know what he's doing (or forgets what to do frequently), and I would have filed the paperwork for him. By losing 50 games, he's lost a little benefit of the doubt for his first couple of arbitration years.
Assuming Scott Boras left it up to Gutz requires the initial assumption that Gutz told Scott Boras he was taking this stuff.
Easy to forgive, as long as there are no scapegoats. He does seems to be taking full responsibility... unlike me who is taking this extra 4-minute break from work to read up on my Rangers!
Good can come of it: awareness, humility, extra time to work on the change-up, a temporarily extra Frisco roster-spot to sort out the delicious crunch that is their rotation...
I love the pic of the stadium covered in snow. Do you have a larger one so I can use it as wallpaper?
This sort of thing really emphasizes the importance of depth... even at the lower levels.
Rewind back to 03, 04, 05... and if a top Rangers prospect was slapped with a 50 game ban, it could truly set the Rangers back...
Since we have so many pitching prospects in the pipeline, I don't think this is that great a loss.
I'm not disputing DFW's point at all... in fact, I agree with it... it does suck, for Guitterez! But 50 games is not going to necessarily push him out of a 2011 rotation (or bullpen) spot.
@Michael Gleason
"Better to start over carefully than to continue carelessly."
Are you going to take credit for that?
What do you mean S2R?... as author of an aphorism?
I'll let you have the credit if you're running for some office (counter to our current federal regime, of course...).
Cheers!
Not looking for credit, just thought that was a great turn of a phrase. I've never heard it, and I'm fairly well read.