Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout has a relatively unforgiving opinion of the appropriate ban length for baseball players that test positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Life without parole. The 2012 American League Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up weighed in on New York City’s WFAN radio station that first-time offenders of baseball’s PED program should be banned for life (via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times):

“To me, personally, I think you should be out of the game if you get caught, it takes away from the guys that are working hard every day and doing it all-natural.” “Some people just are trying to find that extra edge, it’s tough as a guy that goes out there and plays hard every day, puts in 110% effort. To wake up, see there’s a list of guys. … It’s good that MLB caught them, and they’re moving in the right direction with suspensions and stuff.”

Trout is in New York for a 4-game set against the New York Yankees, currently the epicenter of the PED/steroids debate with Alex Rodriguez as the lightning rod.

Once word spread to the media with regard to Trout’s comments, he was approached in Yankee Stadium visitor’s clubhouse to elaborate and declined, referring the media to the team Player Union Representative (LHP C. J. Wilson).

It’s interesting how many players are condemning the use of steroids/PEDs now, whereas even a few years ago players tended to shy away from comments, either because the players union typically appeals all suspensions on the “unfair” testing and/or perhaps they feared “but for the grace of a test, there go I”.

Either way, it appears players realize that cheaters, if in the minority, are costing clean players at a minimum roster spots, or even millions of dollars in salary that might go to them had the users’ numbers not been inflated.

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