biogenesis scandal

SARASOTA, Fla. -- If the Orioles complete the signing of infielder Everth Cabrera this week, there will be room to question why the club was willing to take a chance on a player who was involved in the Biogenesis scandal and has a pending charge of misdemeanor resisting arrest hanging over his head.

After the most difficult year of his professional life, Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz is reborn as the American League's top slugger.

Nelson Cruz hit two more home runs -- his 18th and 19th of the season -- but Bud Norris put the Orioles in another early hole. And they couldn't recover in an 8-3 loss to the Brewers in the series finale at Miller Park.

If you think, or are hoping, the 162-game suspension imposed on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has brought an end to the Biogenesis saga or A-Rod¿s controvery-laced career, think again.

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he believes players are glad that baseball has taken added measures to try to rid the game of performance-enhancing drugs.

Baseball is acting tough on performance enhancing drugs, but Nick Markakis and Buck Showalter rightly suggest the game isn't going nearly far enough to solve the problem.

SAN DIEGO ¿ The Orioles open a brief two-game series at Petco Park ¿ the first stop on a three-city, eight-game interleague road trip through the NL West.

Orioles infielder and designated hitter Danny Valencia, whose name reportedly appeared on a list from Biogenesis, the defunct Miami-area anti-aging clinic, was cleared of any involvement and did not receive a suspension.