Biogenesis Scandal a Major Issue in the Minors

by Will Slattery

No matter what line of work you are in, you are at the mercy of those above you. No matter how low level you think you might be, the actions of the big shots above you in the food chain can drastically control your professional life. Just ask Syracuse Chiefs player Will Rhymes.

With the Biogenesis scandal consuming all MLB talk at the moment, you might think the mass suspensions have nothing to do with Rhymes and his fellow minor leaguers. But you would be wrong. Rhymes spoke to the media in between a double header against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The sole reason for the double header is because a known Biogenesis drugs cheat, Fernando Martinez, forced a prior game into extra innings with a home run.

“The 12 guys that were suspended from Biogenesis are just taking 12 jobs that could have gone to minor leaguers,” Rhymes said. “The only reason that I am at the ball park right now is because Martinez hit a home run. So that changes my stats unnecessarily and makes us play innings that we shouldn’t have to play. It all causes a ripple effect that we can feel down at are level too.”

Rhymes also said the players union doesn’t have its priorities right when it comes to policing the game.

“The union is mainly concerned with protecting the top one percent of players who make the big money.” Rhymes said. “Basically the people like Alex Rodriguez.”

Rhymes mood wasn’t helped by the Chiefs dropping the resumed game by a score of 7-6, with the game having restarted at 6-6. The game also had the Chiefs in the unusual role of being the road team in their home stadium since the suspended game had been played in the RailRiders ballpark.

The first game started promisingly for the Chiefs, with Josh Johnson hitting a single and then stealing to second and then to third. However the Chiefs couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and the game ended when Alberto Gonzalez’s walkoff hit allowed Melky Mesa to get the winning run for the RailRiders.

The second game went far better from a Chiefs perspective as they recorded a 3-2 win over the Railriders to break even on the night. The game lasted a little less than two and a half hours, in part due to the inspired performance from Chiefs pitcher Yunesky Maya, who only allowed six hits in his eight innings before being called ashore by manager Tony Beasley.

The Chiefs got on the scoreboard first in the game when left fielder Tyler Moore’s sacrifice fly allowed Eury Perez to get a run. The lead was short lived as Mesa, who had already consigned the Chiefs to defeat in the first game, belted a two run homer to give his side a 2-1 lead.

The RailRiders made the Chiefs work hard to retake the lead. In the fourth inning and with Corey Brown at third, catcher Jhonatan Solano hit a single to right field to allow his teammate to tie the game.

That run gave the Chiefs the momentum that allowed them to take a lead they never relinquished. Second baseman Josh Johnson smacked a double to left field that allowed Zach Walters to run home what proved to be the winning run.

Despite the Chiefs getting their bats on some balls in the second game it was pitcher Maya who won many plaudits. Chiefs closer Erik Davis said when Maya pitches like that he is a joy to watch.

“I love when he pitches because he works fast and throws strikes,” Davis said. “It’s just fun to watch him work. It’s great to be out of the ball park before 10:00 p.m.”