Did John Lackey just accuse Nelson Cruz of being on PEDs?
By Dan Zinski
Red Sox pitcher John Lackey did not enjoy getting the bejesus hammered out of him by the Orioles’ Nelson Cruz on Saturday. In a case of extreme sour grapes, Lackey hit out at MLB home run leader Cruz by making a veiled reference to Cruz’s 2013 suspension for involvement in the Biogensis scandal.
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Put another way, Lackey basically accused Cruz of being on PEDs. And he accused the media of conveniently forgetting about Cruz’s drug suspension.
Here’s what Lackey said in the wake of his drubbing at the hands of Cruz (via the Baltimore Sun):
"I’m not even going to comment on him. I’ve got nothing to say about him. There are some things that I would like to say, but I’m not going to. You guys forget pretty conveniently about stuff."
Lackey is clearly referring to Cruz’s 50-game PED suspension. He is clearly implying that Cruz is still using PEDs. That’s exactly the kind of attitude you might expect from a guy the day after someone lit him up for 3 hits including a double and a homer.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn’t need a translator to explain Lackey’s remarks to him, and he had a response to Mr. Lackey:
His own backyard? Does that mean Showalter thinks there are some Red Sox on PEDs? Come on guys, just name names. This firing vague allegations back and forth stuff is boring.
Buck Showalter, if you think there are Red Sox on PEDs (David Ortiz???) just man up and say it. John Lackey, if you think Nelson Cruz is on PEDs, just man up and say it.
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Nolan Writin'
This is baseball so you know how the whole thing will be resolved. Someone will drill someone in the leg, there will be a brief “brawl” and that will be it.
I’d rather see Lackey and Cruz pound each other in the parking lot. That would be more fun. But it won’t happen because baseball players are wussies.
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