Oakland

Doomsday is here… MLB Suspension hands down today

Published

13 years ago

August 5, 2013

Oakland, CA – For months Major League Baseball has been rocked by the allegations that players have been linked to the now closed Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Florida. Some of MLB’s top names in baseball have turned their celebrity status into a reality show. The time has come for Commissioner Bug Selig to announce the fate of the players listed in connection with this clinic today by noon Eastern Standard Time.

The first player disciplined was 2011 MVP winner Ryan Braun who claims he never used PEDS yet he accepted MLB’s 65-game suspension he began serving July 22nd. Now, the highest paid player in baseball, Alex Rodriguez who has turned this investigation into a circus will finally know the fate of his involvement today.

While Rodriguez maintains his innocence MLB believes he recruited players to the clinic and attempted to destroy documents that specifically link him to using PEDs. In the past two weeks he has sparked controversy with the New York Yankees stating he feels the team is against him. Then recently said he will join the team Sunday night in Chicago for the White Sox series.

“I’m flying to Chicago to join my team,” said Alex when he held a press conference from his rehab assignment in Trenton, N.J.

As for the other players on the list which includes three MLB All-Stars, Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, Johnny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers and Everth Cabrera of the San Diego Chargers. Cruz spoke about the unknown suspension during the Oakland A’s vs Rangers series in Oakland over the weekend.

“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do about anything,” Cruz said before Sundays game. It’s not just about myself, it’s also about the team. I don’t know what will happen but it’s supposed to happen tomorrow.”

After the game, Nelson again faced reporters and stated he will address the media of his decision on Monday in Anaheim when the team faces the Angels. Unaware of the process following a suspension from the league he had no thoughts about where he would continue to work out or rehab his quad strain if he is suspended 50 or more games.

Texas manager Ron Washington provided no offense or defense for the upcoming suspensions or the situation itself. His focus was on yesterdays game and nothing else. He did explain when the clinics connection to certain players were released over the summer, he did reach out to Cruz by phone.

“I’m not thinking about Nelson’s last game,” said Washington. “I’m thinking about how he can help us now. I’ll deal with the situation when it happens. I have no opinion to any suspensions until something happens, then I’ll react.”

If Nelson is suspended, he left a lasting mark in his final playing days. He hit two home runs in the series and helped Texas close the gap on their division rivals, all while being bothered by a left quadriceps muscle. Cruz could still be eligible for the playoffs if the Rangers stay in contention. If he decides to appeal the suspension along with AROD, they could remain in the lineup for the remaining season depending on the time table for an arbitration.

In the meantime, the world awaits those who we think cheated the system. Though, this is not the first time or the last an MLB player will try to enhance their strength via PEDs. I believe it comes with baseball. This is not something that everybody partakes in, however if just one player would admit to using the steroid openly, we might have a better understanding as to why these drugs are so popular among this sport.

“It doesn’t appear we’re affected by it,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s dominated the news. I’m sure a lot of people would like to see it go away. It needs to be cleaned up and everybody wants to see a fair playing field.”

Melvin is one of many managers in the MLB that wants to better the system for players without cheating. Oakland’s right hander Bartolo Colon has been linked to the Biogenesis clinic but his 50-game suspension from last season will do. As for the punishments handed down today, MLB can only hope this maybe a start to a new direction for baseball.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC