Chris Davis tested positive for amphetamines. (25 Game Ban)

[islebreeze]

According to what Gary Thorne just said, the Orioles are 14-4 when Davis is out of the lineup this year.

[Austin]

According to what Gary Thorne just said, the Orioles are 14-4 when Davis is out of the lineup this year.

It's not hard to believe considering Davis's awful performance this year. Still, it's a big hit to the team. I have no doubt that we can keep winning without him, though.

[crawjo]

Apparently 119 players had a therapeutic use exemption last year. If that's true, I'm not sure that MLB should even ban Adderall at all.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I have a hard time accepting that statement.

Till we know the facts, I am not willing to classify a guy as a cheater for using a prescription med that he previously had permission to use.

Depending on why he had permission last season and why he was denied permission this season would form that opinion. Lot left to know about this before we throw around the CHEATER label IMO

Didn't follow the rules then.

[isestrex]

I know this is just a joke, but this demonstrates just how prevalent they were in society back 35 years ago.

[Can_of_corn]

If he could get it done, why didn't he?

Evidently Davis didn't ask him.

[Witchy_Chick]

Apparently 119 players had a therapeutic use exemption last year. If that's true, I'm not sure that MLB should even ban Adderall at all.

Were those 119 players all granted the exemption for Adderall? Or for some other medication?

[Can_of_corn]

Weams posted in the game thread that CD did not have the therapeutic-use exemption in 2013 or 2014.

That explains some things.

[SteveO]

According to what Gary Thorne just said, the Orioles are 14-4 when Davis is out of the lineup this year.

But are they 14-4 with Davis, MW and Machado out of the lineup...

Not as big a blow as it would have been last year but to think that he has not contributed to this teams record despite his rough year is silly.

His hits have been few and far between but they have generally occurred at meaningful times.

[weams]

We recently saw Ron Washington taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.

Ron quit. He took no leave. I guess Chris could quit too.

[crawjo]

I'm going to say that I don't think this hurts the Orioles too much. It might not hurt them at all. I see more at bats now for Delmon Young and Kelly Johnson. Davis has been, at times this year, a black hole in the lineup. I think one or more of those guys can fill in the gap.

[atomic]

Is a team meeting going to change anyone's behavior? They already know a suspension is the consequence of getting caught. Guys like Gamboa especially, if they think the difference between them playing in Baltimore and them playing in Nofolk is Adderall and they can't get a prescription/exemption, what's the downside? The upside is $500k a year, maybe a career, maybe eventually $millions. The downside is they get suspended for a while then come back.

Even if the punishment was lifetime bans for first offense you'd still get people rolling the dice given the upside.

They get a lot more testing now in the minors than they do in the majors. It would be prety hard to cheat in the minors now and not get caught. But you are right there will always be cheaters no matter how strict the punishment. People mug people on the streets of Baltimore for a cellphone. Very little reward and great potential for punishment.

[Norfolk orioles]

So who's on board with Christian walker starting at first with flaherty at third and Pearce in the outfield over Kelly Johnson?

[Orioles0615]

So if the O's make the playoffs ( yes still saying if and I will until its offical) and then lets say they sweep the ALDS and the ALCS by some miracle. Would that mean Davis couldn't play in he world series as well.

[SteveO]

Didn't follow the rules then.

That I am good with CA....not trying to excuse him but to me there is a difference between a guy taking say HGH and a guy taking a medication that impacts all aspects of his life.

Just talked to a friend who has some knowledge of the MLB policy regarding therapeutic exemptions, he is in the medical field and has treated players. Essentially the policy demands that any substance such as Adderall that could have a potential benefit to the player can only be approved if the player has tried all other therapeutic alternatives.

What that means is that he may have had an exemption in the past for its use, a number of other drugs have come out since then, may have been switched to one of those drugs which do not require an exemption and been "ok" . As my friend put it when you have ADHD and life stress increase, say for example you have a child, a bad season, and other stuff going on as CD has this year, suddenly that drug which is "ok" becomes inadequate. Why CD did not follow the process to get an exemption, I cant say but that scenario is vastly different IMO than taking HGH, the clear and the cream so to speak.