THE Phillies are expected to be dealt a stunning blow today when, according to a report on ESPN.com, Major League Baseball will announce that reliever J.C. Romero has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance.
According to the report, filed by respected Baseball writer Peter Gammons, Romero's suspension comes as the result of an over-the-counter supplement that he purchased in a Cherry Hill vitamin store and that was initially cleared by the Major League Baseball Players Association. "I'm innocent of what they're accusing me of. I'm not perfect. What's happening now is not fair," Romero, who was on a Phillies-sponsored cruise, told Comcast SportsNet last night. "I'm not afraid of the truth and the truth is going to be told."
Reached by phone late last night, manager Charlie Manuel politely declined to comment. A Phillies spokesman said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is not at liberty to discuss any suspension until it has been announced by Major League Baseball.
A 50-game suspension would enable Romero to return by June 1, meaning the Phillies aren't forced to rush out and sign a free-agent lefthander like Joe Beimel. Nevertheless, any loss of Romero will leave a big hole in a Phillies bullpen that finished the 2008 season with a National League-low 3.22 ERA. Romero spent the majority of last season as the only lefthander in the bullpen, a hard-throwing southpaw with setup man capability.
Since landing with the Phillies midway through the 2007 season, Romero has been an important part of the team's relief corps. He appeared in 81 games last season, recording a 2.75 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 38 walks in 59 innings. In the World Series, he was the winning pitcher in Games 3 and 5, the clincher.
According to ESPN, Major League Baseball isn't contending that Romero tried to cheat. Instead, he was ruled guilty of "negligence" in the wake of an arbitration hearing held in Tampa on the first day of the World Series, Oct. 22.
ESPN said the players association had told players the supplement was acceptable. Romero said he purchased it at a GNC store in Cherry Hill on July 22, and had it checked by his personal nutritionist. He was randomly tested before a game against the Mets Aug. 26, and again on Sept. 19.
The players union sent a Nov. 21 letter to players that said: "We have previously told you there is no reason to believe a supplement bought at a U.S. based retail store could cause you to test positive under our Drug Program. That is no longer true. We have recently learned of three substances which can be bought over the counter at stores in the United States that will cause you to test positive."
Romero told ESPN.com: "I still cannot see where I did something wrong. There is nothing that should take away from the rings of my teammates. I didn't cheat. I tried to follow the rules . . .
"What they now say I should have done was call the drug hotline."
Romero was informed Sept. 23 by union counsel Bob Lenaghan that he had tested positive. He told ESPN he stopped taking supplements, and was tested again Oct. 1. The results were negative, so the supplement was no longer in his system for the postseason.
On Oct. 3, he was told MLB would reduce his suspension to 25 games at the start of the 2009 season if he admitted guilt, which he would not do. After the positive result from Sept. 19 came back Oct. 12, the offer was changed to an immediate 25-game suspension if he admitted guilt, meaning he would miss the World Series. Again, Romero declined. *
