Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello wants harsher PED penalties

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello spoke out about his concerns with how Major League Baseball is handling penalties for performance-enhancing drugs.

Rick Porcello is not happy with Major League Baseball’s policy for penalizing players that test positive for performance enhancing drugs. In his opinion, not enough is being done to wipe PEDs from the game.

The Boston Red Sox starter spoke out about his disgust over how the league is handling PED offenders, particularly when it comes to allowing those players to keep playing during an appeal process.

If they recently tested positive, that means the illegal substance that is potentially fueling improved production could still be in their system. Why should they be allowed to put off their suspension if it allows them to play in more games that are tainted by their enhanced performance?

"“I have an absolute problem with them playing under the appeal or due process because you’re taking a guy who has tested positive for something, clearly playing with that advantage at that particular time, and he’s impacting games,” Porcello told WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “The whole idea behind the system is to prevent guys who tested positive [from having] an unfair advantage in a game, then why would they be allowed to play during the appeal process when they clearly have that in their system. To me, that doesn’t make sense.”"

Porcello raises a valid point. The season can often come down to a margin as slim as a game or two, so players that are allowed to continue to take the field while MLB sorts through their appeal could be swaying playoff races. The Red Sox are currently in a tight battle with the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the AL East. While it’s still early, Porcello is quick to mention that games in April and May count just as much in the standings as the games down the stretch.

Next: Reasons for an appeal