Will Carroll has a story today outlining what is actually known about the Rafael Palmeiro suspension. It’s good stuff, as usual, mostly because Will writes clearly and for the most part limits what he says to what is known. All else he labels clearly as conjecture.
The key issue here is whether Palmeiro could have tested positive to drugs other than steroids. The secrecy of the whole process forces us to assume the worst, and heck, maybe we should. I don’t know.
I would have said before this that Palmeiro was a very dubious Hall of Famer. Now, oddly, this diamond in the rough is getting more famous for being the first big fish to test positive (and to point his finger at Congress). On the latter point I have a feeling we haven’t heard the last word, and the penalties for perjury in front of Congress are severe.
It could get much more ugly before it’s over.