Gio Gonzalez reported to camp in Viera, Florida this week and again denied any connection to the Biogenesis clinic now under investigation for supplying performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players. He declared to reporters that it was time to “move on”.
This story, however, is far from over.
A recent article in the Miami New Times reported that Gonzalez and five other MLB players were listed in the notebook of Tony Bosch, founder of the Biogenesis clinic. Gonzalez’s name is listed five times next to several substances, though, as reported by Mark Zuckerman, only one contains a banned substance. The MLB has opened an investigation and Gonzalez told reporters he has already spoken to investigators. Though Gonzalez has never tested positive for any type of banned substance, he still faces a suspension based on whatever the MLB may find in its investigation.
Should he and Nationals’ fans be worried?
It’s too early to say definitively at the moment, but there are certainly factors working against him.
Common sense says that when there’s smoke, there’s fire. Multiple reporters have now seen Bosch’s notes and have confirmed Gonzalez’s name appears. There has to be a reason why his name is in those notes and it is probably not because Gonzalez was his favorite pitcher.
Gonzalez did offer an explanation. Max Gonzalez, Gio’s father, was a patient of the clinic and Gonzalez claimed it was possible his father’s bragging may have caught Bosch’s attention. Otherwise, there was no direct connection between himself and Bosch.
I suppose this could be plausible and it is certainly better than denying any connection whatsoever, but it is still a bit of a stretch. Your father bragged about you so much that Bosch felt the need to write your name down five times in his notes and one time next to a substance that included testosterone? Why? Just as a suggestion? Sure, we do not know exactly what Bosch was thinking, but it does not make much sense for a person to continue noting someone he has had no contact with.
Being linked to Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera also does not help. After the story broke, Yahoo Sports also linked Ryan Braun’s name to the clinic. All three have been linked to banned substances in the past.
In fact, the whole history of PED use in baseball is working against Gonzalez. Players are guilty until proven innocent after so many players have been caught lying. Even if Gonzalez is not suspended, he may never be able to recover his reputation as a clean player.
Should Gonzalez be suspended, it could be a significant loss to the Nationals to start the season. The team was able to seamlessly transition during Stephen Strasburg’s shutdown last season because they were able to plug the former ace, John Lannan, into the rotation. Lannan, however, is no longer on the team. The Nationals instead would turn to either Zach Duke or Christian Garcia. Duke has more starting experience, but Garcia seems more likely as Duke is the only left-hander left in the bullpen. Either way, losing Gonzalez for Duke or Garcia would certainly be a step down for the rotation.
With no positive tests and only a few scattered notes to go on, however, the MLB does not have enough evidence to suspend Gonzalez. It all depends on what Bosch himself tells investigators regarding their relationship, but I doubt Gonzalez will miss any time. The story may follow him throughout the season, but the Nationals’ rotation will remain intact.
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