Though the Boston Red Sox own a 2-1 series lead over the Detroit Tigers in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, some players on the team are reportedly upset that Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta is playing in the series following his 50-game suspension during the regular season due to his connection to the Biogenesis clinic and performance enhancing drugs.
Peralta was suspended by Major League Baseball for his connection to the clinic, but under the collective bargaining agreement, once his 50-game ban expired he was allowed to rejoin the team as it entered the postseason. That has not sat well with some members of the Red Sox, according to MLB.com's Peter Gammons.
"There are several Red Sox players who have complained privately that Peralta is allowed to play. They wonder what remains in his body," Gammons wrote.
While some Boston players are upset, outfielder Jonny Gomes had no complaints.
"We all play by the rules, and he is playing by the rules. So go out and play," Gomes told MLB.com.
Though Gomes is okay with it, many Red Sox players can't stand the fact that Peralta is playing in the series, especially after it was he who drove in the lone run in Detroit-'s 1-0 victory over Boston in Game 1 of the ALCS. Boston has been able to bounce back with a 6-5 win on Sunday followed by a 1-0 win of their own on Tuesday to take a 2-1 series lead, but some players are still irked.
Gammons wouldn't go into detail as to who it was that was upset, but after pitcher John Lackey was highly vocal of how he felt about Alex Rodriguez playing during the appeal of his 211-game ban, he could be a likely candidate.
"I've got a problem with it. You bet I do," Lackey said per Yahoo Sports when A-Rod first faced the Red Sox in August despite being suspended. "How is he still playing? He obviously did something and he's playing. I'm not sure that's right . . . It's pretty evident he's been doing stuff for a lot of years I've been facing him."
Peralta played in 107 games prior to the ban and hit .303 with 11 homers and 55 RBIs. Upon returning for the postseason, he's been hitting .417 with three doubles and an RBI.
Peralta had a big series against the Athetics in the American League Division Series just to get to the ALCS, but the Red Sox aren't happy about him being able to play despite the fact that many people can point out that designated-hitter David Ortiz tested positive for PEDs back in 2003, though the slugger insists that someone set him up.
A decade and two Red Sox World Series titles later, and Big Papi still had a solid year, batting .309 with 30 homers and 103 RBIs. Thus far he's just 1-for-10 in the ALCS with four strikeouts, but he made his one hit count as it was an eighth inning grand slam in Boston's eventual Game 2 walkoff win.
While The Red Sox may be upset, Peralta isn't going anywhere, but the Red Sox can make the Tigers disappear altogether in 2013 by winning two more games, starting with Game 4 Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit.
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