While the 2013 Major League Baseball season is over, one of its major storylines is still playing out as Alex Rodriguez and MLB's battle over the Biogenesis scandal that over shadowed the league this past summer is still heating up. After Rodriguez's latest criticisms of commissioner Bud Selig, MLB CEO Rob Manfred fired back by calling A-Rod's career "tarnished" and "sad."
After Rodriguez criticized Selig and said that he was just protecting "the interests of the next 18-year-old coming into the league," Manfred responded by saying A-Rod and his lawyers were engaging in "gross misconduct," according to ESPN.
"This latest, sad chapter in Mr. Rodriguez's tarnished career is yet another example of this player trying to avoid taking responsibility for his poor choices," Manfred said via ESPN. "Given the disappointing acts that Mr. Rodriguez has repeatedly made throughout his career, his expressed concern for young people rings very hollow. Mr. Rodriguez's use of PEDs was longer and more pervasive than any other player, and when this process is complete, the facts will prove it is Mr. Rodriguez and his representatives who have engaged in ongoing, gross misconduct."
Rodriguez was suspended in August for an unprecedented 211 games for his connection to the now defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic linked to providing 14 players with performance enhancing drugs. His suspension came since he violated the joint drug agreement and the collective bargaining agreement. A-Rod had the harshest punishment of all the players as Ryan Braun received a 65-game ban while the other 12 players each accepted and served 50-game suspensions.
A-Rod was able to finish off the season when he returned from injuries in August due to the fact that arbitrator Frederic Horowitz wasn't available to hear his argument until October. Rodriguez hit .244 with seven homers and 19 RBIs for the New York Yankees through 44 games.
Rodriguez's lead lawyer Joe Tacopina responded by calling for Manfred to be removed from the case.
"Rob Manfred has gone so far over the line with his latest slanderous attack against Alex (which presumably was approved by Commissioner Selig) that we demand the other two arbitration panel members immediately remove Manfred from the panel hearing Alex's appeal," Tacopina said in a statement via ESPN. "Indeed, we do not see how he can continue to hold any position of responsibility within Major League Baseball. But we will leave that to the conscience and judgment of the owners within the league."
MLB issued an official statement an hour later, according to ESPN.
"Mr. Tacopina's latest rant is so delusional it doesn't warrant a response," the statement said per ESPN. "The fact that Mr. Tacopina has now asked for two of the three panel members to be recused tells you everything you need to know."
Rodriguez is suing the MLB and Selig, who said he has supported the manner in which the investigation into A-Rod has been conducted, for alleged instances of misconduct to oust A-Rod for 211-games.
"It is sad that Commissioner Selig once again is turning a blind eye, knowing that crimes are being committed under his regime," Rodriguez said, according to ESPN. "I have 100 percent faith in my legal team. To be sure, this fight is necessary to protect me, but it also serves the interests of the next 18-year-old coming into the league, to be sure he doesn't step into the house of horrors that I am being forced to walk through."
A-Rod's hearing is on hiatus until Nov. 18 when the defense will prevent its case. After it concludes, Horowitz will make a decision within the next 25 days on A-Rod's fate, most likely in December some time.
Until then, the bad blood will likely continue to spill into the mass media.
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