As he continues to fight for his right to be a full-time member of the New York Yankees while avoiding what would be a monumental suspension, Alex Rodriguez made a very open proclamation Wednesday about his involvement with former Biogenesis head Antony Bosch and the use of performance enhancing drugs. Originally suspended through the 2014 MLB season in August, Rodriguez began a long appeals process based on the fact that he did not put any illegal substances into his body. Commissioner Bud Selig felt as though the 38-year-old former All-Star was in violation of league policies and slapped him with a 211-game ban.
Following through with the process of being cleared and ready to play when the Yankees take the field for Opening Day 2014 against the Houston Astros, Rodriguez appeared at his grievance hearing Wednesday where he expected all parties involved to be present and state their issues. When arbitrator Fredric Horowitz ruled that league commissioner Bud Selig would not be forced to testify however, Rodriguez grew extremely angry, to the point where the 2009 World Series champion got up and stormed out of the court room. His destination? Straight to New York sports radio superpower WFAN. Sitting down with afternoon host Mike Francesa, Rodriguez indicated that he did absolutely nothing wrong while also announcing his complete distaste for the commissioner and the overall process.
"I did nothing," Rodriguez said Wednesday afternoon during the interview. "About the Bosch nonsense? Nothing. It was disgusting. This thing should have ended with Selig on Thursday and me testifying on Friday. But he did not have the courage to look me in the eye. I did nothing wrong and I shouldn't serve one inning of the suspension." The Bronx Bomber also said that he will not return to the hearing room once the grievance continues as scheduled on Thursday.
In addition to joining the air waves of New York City sports radio, Alex Rodriguez issued a statement further explaining that after 10 days of listening to testimony by 'felons and liars' and because Bud Selig was not present for his testimony, he could not sit in that room any longer.
"I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails," Rodriguez said. "I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process," Rodriguez said. This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the players' association refused to order Selig to come in and face me. The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce."
Responding to the third baseman's words, Major League Baseball released a statement saying that the process will continue because it is designed to find a fair resolution to the ongoing dispute.
For more than 40 years, Major League Baseball and the players association have had a contractual grievance process to address disputes between the two parties.
This negotiated process has served players and clubs well. Despite Mr. Rodriguez being upset with one of the arbitration panel's rulings today, Major League Baseball remains committed to this process and to a fair resolution of the pending dispute.
With a resolution still obviously needed, it will certainly be interesting to see what course of action Alex Rodriguez takes next and what eventually develops between both parties.
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