Nationals right-hander Zechry Zinicola has been suspended 50 games following a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, MLB announced this afternoon.Zinicola's suspension is not for performance enhancing drugs but rather for a drug of abuse.
The 26-year-old right-hander is coming off a strong season in which he posted a combined 2.01 ERA, five saves and a 44-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio at Class AA Harrisburg and Class AAA Syracuse.
A sixth-round pick in the 2006 draft out of Arizona State, Zinicola was initially touted as a fast-track prospect who could reach the majors in short order, but he hasn't lived up to his potential until the last two seasons. He doesn't appear on any of the organization's current top prospects lists.
Zinicola's suspension will begin at the start of the regular season.
50 comments:
What a shame. No doubt the drug use contribute to his less than stellar performance.
Sad in so many respects. Hope he gets the help he needs.
Dumb doper. Should have stuck with martinis.
Bob Carpenter will return to the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network as the play-by-play voice of the Nationals, according a baseball source.
Late last year, it appeared Carpenter would not return to the booth after the Nats didn't pick up his option last August, but both sides managed to come to terms recently. Calls to Carpenter were not returned.
It will mark Carpenter's seventh season in the broadcast booth for MASN. He is known for the catch phrase, "See you later," whenever a Nationals player hits a home run.
F.P. Santangelo will continue to be Carpenter's broadcast partner. Santangelo is the fifth TV partner for Carpenter, who has worked with Tom Paciorek, Don Sutton, Rob Dibble and Ray Knight.
Do they gets these guys into treatment? Last think a drug abuser needs if 50 days of free time.
Zig Zag is his paper of choice, no doubt.
Hopefully this is a wake up call and he can get the help he needs. Drug addiction is a terrible thing to go through.
I guess he hangs out with Trent Williams and Fred Davis.
If he is suspended for the first fifty games and it begins when the season begins - does he go to spring training?
He is known for the catch phrase, "See you later," whenever a Nationals player hits a home run.
That, or a long fly ball that approaches the fence but doesn't quite make it over. He's also known for having a sharp eye for the double play ball, which doesn't always translate into having a sharp eye for the double play. But there's one thing you can say for sure about ol' Bob. He's always one step ahead of the game.
Never in the history of baseball has there been a big-league player with the initials "ZZ". I suspect the pressure of this got to him.
Nats reportedly in the mix on Eric Chavez. LH bat who can play 3B or maybe 1B. Is Zim or LaRoche not healthy? Odd potential addition after ReRosa, no?
dfh21
sad sad sad. Now we know why he was on the fast track. He won't play in the Lerners' organization again.
Yes but ZZ Top is excellent. Also, you know who isn't suspended the first 50 games next year? Prince Fielder.
It is a shame, but I don't think we know which was first--whatever he was using, or the "unfulfilled potential" he seemed to be starting to come around on, sorta. When was the first offense?
Still, too bad.
capcha: "reism" -- I guess the software doesn't believe in potential.
Three important things here:
1) I feel sad for Zac and his family, maybe a trip for the Mexican Winter League (where drugs are cheap and plentiful) was not the best assignment for the Nats to send him on during the offseason.
2) Horrible news that BCrap is back in the booth, watching paint dry is more exciting than listening to him and FP and don't get me started on the two radio chuckleheads, the Potomac radio guy is better than they are!
3) Great news on interest in Chavez he is a good bat off the bench which is what Davey is looking for to round out the bench.
That's a shame. As others noted, hope the guy gets some help to deal with it (assuming that he wants to deal with it).
Also, I'm fine with Bob and FP (let the flaming commence).
Nats reportedly in the mix on Eric Chavez. LH bat who can play 3B or maybe 1B. Is Zim or LaRoche not healthy? Odd potential addition after ReRosa, no?
Remember when Rizzo told Boswell he was busy working on the bench, and then BINGO! he traded for Gio? Now, when all the talk is Fielder to the Nats, Rizzo is again spotted working on the bench.
Working on the bench. It's Rizzo's "tell."
Who needs the PF Flyer when you have a FP Flyer in hand?
Glad to see Carpenter back. I still have a few pages to fill in my second Carpenter score book.
I'm sad and unhappy with Zech. I hope he gets the help he needs and gets straightened out.
On the Bob Carpenter note, I would be happy to see him back along with FP. In fact, I was hoping for such. They can flame me also, 1a!
I'd love to pass the pipe with Zeckry, Trent and Fred just like I did with my ole' lady and the Danoffs back in the day.
Peace,
John Denver
OT-
didn't see this posted yet but Darvish wants a 6/90 contract according to Japanese media
FWIW.
So how come this ZZ news gets a post here, but the piece on Marlon Byrd is only on the CSN site? Seems like that one is much more discussion worthy from the peanut gallery.
So I'll discuss it anyway. :-) I'd actually love to see Marlon Byrd back in a Nats uniform. I remember admiring his hustle when he played in RFK. He might not be the best option given his salary, but I'd be delighted if he were our stopgap, and potentially a 4th outfielder once Harper comes up. Also, I think it's by no means a foregone conclusion that Harper will be ready to play full time this year. So Byrd would be a nice option if we end up going most of the year with Werth in RF and Morse in LF. Surely he's an upgrade from Bernadina.
Since we're stuck with FP, I don't care much whether it's Carp or someone else doing the play by play. I'll be syncing the radio with the MASN feed as often as I can anyway. Charlie and Dave are miles ahead. At least Carp has toned down the See. You. Later. call and seemed to only do it on no doubter HRs this year. If anyone can find links to false positives, please do post. They are pretty hilarious.
Its ok to drink 12 beers, but don't toke on that doobie, we'll suspend you. Its a sham
Ok, the guy was not suspended for "drug abuse" he failed a test for the presence of some recreational drug. It's presumptive, even though this is his second offense, to call it drug abuse. Maybe it is, but maybe it is something less loaded than that.
Anon: This is the exact wording from MLB's press release:
"The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Washington Nationals Minor League right-handed pitcher Zechry Zinicola has received a 50-game suspension after a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse."
A violation of the MLDPTP "for a drug of abuse" is not the same as being suspended "for drug abuse."
Zuck has it right in the body, the headline, which can be less accurate in my mind, no?
dfh21
Anon @5:19: That's because beer is not illegal, and Augie Busch isn't shoting people in mexico and the US to control his beer turf.
It's his second violation? Somebody who is presumably trying to make it in the majors, knows he will be tested, and gets a second violation? This doesn't sound very recreational - this sounds like a problem. I hope he will be offered some help and he will take it.
Not sure if this has been posted here yet: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120105&content_id=26272602&vkey=news_was&c_id=was. Goes to what baseballswami said.
To sec222's point, I always liked Marlon Byrd, too.
Let's new post so we can change subjects
That headline on Zuckerman's Byrd article is like when there's a 0.000001% chance of snow and the TV station fills prime time with commercials saying "Could there be snow on the horizon? Tune in at 11." If there was a way I could revoke my page view of that article, I'd do it.
The Rangers traded Chad Tracy to the Rockies.
Except, I thought that we signed the guy a few weeks ago. Who did we sign?
What ever happened to the days when an MLB pitcher threw a no-hitter on LSD? I understand why basball needs to rigorously control performance enhancing substances, but I do not understand why players should give up their normal right to privacy to play a game. One more intrusion of self-righteous nannies into the personal lives of others. Having said this, I note that there was stupidity on the part of the player because it was not his first offense and he took a chance anyway.
With the initials ZZ, could his nickname be Zig Zag?
A "Drug Of Abuse" could certainly be anything from sugar to heroin... the first that springs to my mind though; is alcohol-C2H5(OH)-, which is certainly the most prevalent and costly to society.
Why is the following even being posted?
http://www.csnwashington.com/blog/nationals-talk/post/Fielder-to-DC-Julie-gets-the-scoop?blockID=625702&feedID=6358
Which editor allowed her to use three exclamation points in a four paragraph article?
This string of comments is the absolute nadir of the offseason. 45 days never felt so far away.
...and another thing: FireAndyFeffer, you bite your tongue. Charlie and Dave are legitimately one of the best pair of radio announcers in sports. I listened to a ton of MLB radio this year, often to the other team's radio feed, and Nats fans are blessed to have them.
##< Yawn >##
Attaboy Beantown. (9:08) My experience too.
LuvLuvLuv me some Charlie and Dave!!! And I get the smallest handful of TB games, so I was scared that Dave was going to TV... For Petes sake!! You don't even need ANY commentary on TV!!
TV..... TV games.....
Its ok to drink 12 beers, but don't toke on that doobie, we'll suspend you.
OK, looks like that changes my plans for upgrading those free beers from all those bets I'm holding.
capcha: "singr"
Well, after 12 beers, sure. Who isn't?
You must not have been reading comments that often since the season ended, Beantown. We can sink way lower than this. ;-)
NatinBeantown said...
This string of comments is the absolute nadir of the offseason. 45 days never felt so far away.
January 5, 2012 9:06 PM
"Zinicola told MLB.com that the positive test result may have come from his use of synthetic marijuana.
"I got done playing winter ball and I decided to have a little fun," he said. "I tried out this synthetic marijuana. I tried it a few times ... and I got drug tested. It's pretty much what it is. I take responsibility for it. There is no excuse." "
"synthetic marijuana" the "Bathtub Gin" of a new generation under a new prohibition regime.
Chances are it has roughly the same affect as the real thing, hours of effective intoxication yet 30 days of persistence in the body for "testing" purposes.
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