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A-Rod on Robinson Cano’s suspension: ‘It will be a long road back, a tough road back’

 

Alex Rodriguez doesn’t have any particular advice to offer his former teammate in Robinson Cano, but baseball’s newest broadcaster does have firsthand experience when it comes to receiving criticism as a former PED user. 

During ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast of the Astros-Indians game, play-by-play voice Matt Vasgersian urged A-Rod to speak about Cano, who was issued an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance on Tuesday.

Although Rodriguez was reluctant to discuss the issue on the air because he “loves Robbie,” he still managed to share a brief opinion during the game.

“I do know that it will be a long road back, a tough road back, but I’m confident that Robinson Cano is going to come back and continue his spectacular career and I hope at the same time he can learn a great lesson and make his life even better,” Rodriguez said.

Cano was banned for using a diuretic called Furosemide, which is commonly used to mask performance-enhancing drug (PED) use. Although he initially appealed the suspension, Cano later dropped the appeal, and as a result, he will will be ineligible for postseason play.

Before Cano signed a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Mariners during the 2013 offseason, he was teammates with Rodriguez in New York for nine years (2005-13). In 2014, Rodriguez missed the entire season due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. 

Surprisingly, Rodriguez managed to turn his career around after serving his suspension. In 2015, he hit 33 home runs with the Yankees, and in 2016, he retired from baseball and became a broadcaster for FOX Sports and ESPN. 

Life is good for Rodriguez right now, and when Cano is allowed to return to action, he may want to follow the path Rodriguez took. But Rodriguez’s association with steroids has damaged his chances for a spot in the Hall of Fame, and Cano’s odds may be the same as time goes on.

 

Another embarrassing moment for Derek Jeter’s Marlins

Derek Jeter is dealing with some Florida heat again.

Recently, Miami sports radio host Andy Slater had his credentials revoked by the Miami Marlins after he discovered that the team’s corporate office in the British Virgin Islands wasn’t an office at all — it was simply a post office box.

Slater appeared on ESPN Radio’s “Dan Le Batard Show” last week to explain what happened between him and the club.

“I was basically told that I could not come cover the Marlins,” Slater said. “I was denied credentials right after I went to the British Virgin Islands, that trip. I was actually approved for the next day, for that Sunday, and then I got a denial email, and then was denied about a week later when I applied yet again. I spoke to Marlins PR and they basically don’t like the way that I cover the team. So I’ve been denied credentials since then.”

According to a report from Deadspin, Marlins vice president of communications Jason Latimer told Slater that the club viewed this incident as “bothersome.”

Jeter’s first season as owner of the Marlins hasn’t been too pleasant. Since the offseason, the former Yankee great has sold off the franchise’s top players, fired long-time employees, and denied that the team is in the midst of “tanking” games. 

 

If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.