http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3008363 Everyone's golden boy, the comeback kid, Rick Ankiel apparently recieved a 12 month supply of human growth hormone back in 2004. Guess we'll be seeing a 50 game suspension in the not so distant future.
Another example of how MLB shot themselves in the head. HGH wasn't a banned substance until 2005!!! Reportedly Ankiel had stopped using it before then, so they can't feasibly take any action.
Yeah I guess you can't really punish someone retroactively, but still kind of funny that the entire country has been on this guy's jock since he's been called up, now this drops.
He may be the ultimate proof that juicing works. Because the discrepancy before and after would be pretty obvious in both batting average and HR's. The idea that you could take a pitcher and turn him into a hitter is not impossible, but nearly improbable, and in this case he juices, and becomes the dog and pony show with a few years. It's a real jolt to those who say it doesn't help you hit a baseball if it is true.
Pure gut instinct tells me Ankiel is juiced even now. He's being open, somewhat, but reclusive, and relying on his doctor patient priveledge like it is the 5th ammendment. I think it's 50/50 right now whether he is on the up and up. I feel bad for him if he is, but we've got lots of red lights.