News-Record.com

I know these guys have to do this, but don't you think the lawyers for the major league baseball players' union are feeling a bit half-hearted about their efforts to get former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson's contract reinstated?

Here's the briefs news story.

My favorite line? The one at the end where it says the union is claiming the Orioles didn't have just cause for terminating Ponson's contract.

(long pause to keep from spitting Coke out my nose while I laugh)

I know the clause about standards of player conduct is a bit vague, but come one people. This is a guy who 1) punched out a judge during a fight on Christmas Day in his native Aruba 2) got arrested for drunk driving later last winter and 3) got arrested AGAIN for drunk driving a few weeks ago.

Oh yeah, he's also a terrible pitcher making millions of dollars.

Look, if you get arrested once for drunk driving - maybe it was a once in a lifetime stupid mistake. You get arrested twice in the same year, I'm thinking you've probably got a drinking problem. You throw in a brawl with a judge - a judge! - on Christmas Day, and I'm thinking you're got definite problems with personal conduct.

Add in an E.R.A. over six and I'm guessing that this conduct is clearly affecting your on-field performance.

So what, exactly, am I missing here? Ponson's got a mess of a personal life. He's tarnishing the image of an Orioles franchise that is already taking plenty of hits already (Thank you Raffy) and he's killing them on the field.

Can you find any just cause for keeping this guy?

Me neither.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2155666