Photo credit: @mlbtraderumors

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND, Calif. — A future Hall of Fame player’s career was recently tainted when Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Canó was suspended for 80 games for using a diuretic. Here is the description of what caused his suspension. He tested positive for the diuretic furosemide, violating MLB’s joint drug agreement. Furosemide is a diuretic, commonly known as Lasix, that is used to treat horses.The Mariners open a three-game series this Tuesday at the Oakland Coliseum against their western division rivals, Oakland Athletics.

There is a good chance Canó will make his return against the A’s when they visit Oakland again in the middle of August. Born in the Dominican Republic, the veteran Canó has been one of the best second basemen in the game since he arrived and played with the New York Yankees in 2005. A stylish-fielding veteran of 14 seasons, 2005-13 with the Yankees and since 2014 with Seattle. He is on his fifth year of a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. 24 million per year. And he will be sitting for a while under suspension. His friend, who played with him in New York, Alex Rodríguez said: “It will be a long road back for Robinson,” but he believed he will land on his feet. He knows about the situation, Rodríguez is no novice to the word “suspension” as he also was suspended for the use of PEDs.

Dee Gordon has been playing second base for the Mariners since Canó’s suspension last week. The absence of Canó could be costly for this Mariners team who has been playing very well recently, just like the A’s, and this will be a very interesting first series of the season between these two divisional rivals.

The A’s return home after a triumphal road-trip that took them to New York, Boston and Toronto, winning seven and losing three and now have a 14-13 record on the road and 11-9 at home. The A’S will open this 10-game homestand tomorrow, three vs. Seattle, three vs. Arizona and four vs. Tampa Bay.

Currently,the A’s hold a 25-22 record and are in fourth place with 4.5 games from first place Houston, while Seattle is in second place 27-19 just two games behind the World Champion Astros and have been playing well on the road with a 15-9 record outside Safeco Field.

Tuesday’s game will match a pair of veteran right-handers: For Seattle, Mike Leake 4-3  6.00 ERA, who had a no decision against the A’s on April 13 in Seattle. For the A’s Trevor Cahill will make his sixth start of the season with 1-2 and 2.79 ERA. The Golden State Warriors will also be playing next door at the Oracle Arena as they have a 2-to-1 game advantage over the Houston Rockets in the Western Finals. I recommend you take BART to avoid the traffic jams.

Listen to the Atléticos in Spanish on KIQI 1010AM/990AM covering the Bay Area and Sacramento/Stockton.