The edition of the STR focuses on some off the field issues around the league, as well as some pitching tidbits. 18 days til Opening Day!!

Cocaine is a Hell of a Drug

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington apologized on Wednesday for using cocaine at some point during the 2009 season, which has led to him voluntarily accepting additional testing by the MLB in the future. Washington says it was a onetime thing, and he also submitted his resignation after the test, but the team trusted him that he only used it once and he wouldn’t use it going forward. Now I don’t know Washington at all, but I have to say that this is shocking news. You would never expect a major league manager to do such a drug while in tenure, but he seems pretty remorseful. The Rangers will continue to not take any disciplinary action, but I’m sure he’d be toast if he ever did it again. Interesting that Josh Hamilton, a former drug user, is also with the Rangers…(I’m not implying anything here).

Hey Cliff, You’re Suspended

Newbie Cliff Lee has been suspended for his first five games as a Seattle Mariner for throwing over the head of Diamondbacks C Chris Snyder in an exhibition game on Monday. It’s unclear whether Lee was going to start Opening Day in his new digs, in case King Felix was slated to start, but now he will miss his first rotation completely. Of course, he may appeal the decision, although it would only drop a game or two. I think it’s a waste to do this in a spring training game since it will now impact the regular season. I would rather him wait and do it in the season. I mean, at least then he could rest in the summer rather than before the season even starts!

Hey Elijah, You’re Fired

The Washington Nationals have released troubled outfielder Elijah Dukes on Wednesday after he struggled much over the first few weeks of spring training. I really doubt this is a baseball move for a couple of reasons: 1) Dukes is only 25, 2) Dukes has great potential, 3) Dukes hits for power and drives in runs despite striking out a lot (which Adam Dunn does, so they’re not against that kind of production), 4) Dukes has an incredibly troubled past (did he do something recently?), and 5) There’s only 2 ½ weeks left until the regular season (come on!). Someone will give him a minor league contract, unless he really did do something that comes out soon.

Tidbits:

• On Sunday, Ben Sheets gave up 10 runs in the first inning for the A’s without getting any outs! $10 million contract for this season…. Ouch!
• Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb aims for a late-April return to the rotation. Keep your fingers crossed in AZ, I don’t think it’s gonna happen.
• Rox closer Huston Street is likely to start the season on the DL. The team did OK without him last year, but let’s just put it this way: the Rockies are going to need to score some serious runs.
• Dice-K is slowly making his way back to Boston after throwing batting practice on Wednesday, and he will throw a minor league game on Sunday. Luckily for the Sox, they have a crazy amount of pitching.

-Chris