Day 127: Drum Roll Please: And the Cheaters Are...

Major League Baseball handed down 12 suspensions this afternoon. They took their own sweet time too—waiting for the offenders to be announced was sort of like waiting for the revelation of the list of perverts on the Kennebunk Zumba list.

Each of the 12 delinquents have been given 50 game suspensions effective immediately. This will allow players to return to their teams should they make the post season. Stupid, if you ask me. Who cares? And why should they be permitted to take part in any portion of this season? They cheated. I realize it's standard procedure for first offenders (if you're not Alex Rodriguez), but, in my opinion, a 50 game suspension doesn't provide enough of a deterrent to keep guys from doing it again.

If MLB wants to prove they're trying to clean up the game, they should strongly consider taking the same action that the International Olympic Committee does. If an athlete tests positive, the first time they're banned from competition for two years. The second time, they're banned for life. I'm pretty sure the possibility of a lifetime ban will clean up baseball quite a bit.

Pete Rose was banned for life for betting on baseball 25 years ago. Have you heard of anyone since then betting on baseball? And gambling doesn't help you heal faster, hit the ball farther or throw the ball harder.

The following 12 players have all agreed to accept their 50 game suspension:

• Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers
• Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres (dude should be suspended just for his name alone)
• Fautino De Los Santos, San Diego Padres
• Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers
• Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies
• Francisco Cervelli, NY Yankees (on DL)
• Jordany Valdepsin, NY Mets (minors)
• Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners (minors)
• Cesar Puello, NY Mets (minors)
• Sergio Escalona, Houston Astros (minors)
• Fernando Martinez, NY Yankees (minors)
• Jordan Norberto, Free-agent

A bit later this afternoon, MLB confirmed what we heard yesterday regarding Alex Rodriguez—although he's getting a short grace period, effective Thursday, A-Rod will be suspended for 211 games that will take him through the end of the 2014 season. This will be the longest non-gambling suspension for MLB to date.

Rodriguez refuses to go down without a fight—he plans to appeal the suspension. The New York Post had it right: Just Go. Shut your stupid cheating, lying pie hole, accept your punishment and serve your 211 games like a man.