I call him “Rob.”

More PED news impacted Major League Baseball this week, as several players were linked to a dodgy anti-aging clinic in Miami.  Among the players were OF Nelson Cruz, LHP Gio Gonzalez, 3B Alex Rodriguez, OF Melky Cabrera, and RHP Bartolo Colon.  A-Rod, Cabrera, and Colon have all been linked to/suspended for using PEDs in the past, so this isn’t much of a surprise.  But Cruz and Gonzalez are under suspicion for the first time.  Naturally, they issued denials, but it’s so hard not to be skeptical if you are a baseball fan these days.

The good news is, they are under investigation.  The bad news is, PED use is still happening.  Perhaps stiffer penalties are the answer, as Matt Holiday suggested.

Contrary to popular belief, PED use happens in other sports, as evidenced by the alleged use of deer antler spray by Ray Lewis.  If true, that would explain why he came back from his injury so soon, and why he always freezes when he sees headlights.  The media is actually paying attention to this story, but he’ll eventually get a pass (no pun intended), as most NFL players do.

Even golfer Vijay Singh is facing PED accusations!

Sandy Alderson didn’t need PEDs when he talked to season ticket holders on Wednesday night.  During this time he said, “The reason we haven’t spent the money is not because of Fred Wilpon,” he said. “It’s because of me.”  I wonder how much he’s getting paid to throw himself under the bus?  In this blogger’s opinion, he’s covering for the Wilpons, whose ongoing financial catastrophe has been well documented.

In other news, Wilmer Flores had a breakout season in 2012, but where will he ultimately end up in the field?

Bloggers are still buzzing about Banner Day, which has now been moved to May 11, Mike Piazza, and the World Baseball Classic.  Here’s a nice take on all of these subjects by Kerel Cooper.

Pitchers and catchers report in only 12 days, and hope will spring eternal once again.

The winter overhaul is complete: the Mets have signed LaTroy Hawkins.

In the latest Hot Stove news, infielders Ronny Cedeno and Kelly Johnson have found work for the 2013 season.

The Mets have signed reliever Scott Atchison to a minor-league deal and invited the righthander to spring training.

Oops, spell check doesn’t work on headlines. What I meant to say was “no QUALLS for Mets.”

Serious, sad note — one of the newest Mets, Landon Powell, has lost his infant daughter Izzy to a liver condition.

Our thoughts go out to the Powell family.

You can post your condolences on the family’s Facebook page, Prayers for Izzy.

Bourn would bring much needed speed to Flushing.

Sandy Alderson and the Mets are playing a little chess to try to sign center fielder Michael Bourn.

If the Mets sign Bourn, they’d have to surrender their first round pick, eleventh overall, in the upcoming draft.  Giving up on the 11th best player in the amateur draft is a non-option for a rebuilding team.  To compound the loss, they’d also have to give up their slot money.  But there may be a loophole.  The Pirates couldn’t sign the player they drafted last year, meaning they get the ninth pick overall, even though they had a better record than New York.  Alderson and the Mets are lobbying the league to only give up their second round pick, since technically, they had the tenth worst record in baseball last year.

The players union is behind this request, but the league seems staunchly against it.  In an appearance on MLB Network this morning, Ken Rosenthal said the league’s stance is that the Mets knew the rules when they approved the CBA.

Could the Mets even afford Bourn?  Perhaps on a backloaded deal.  According to Jon Heyman, Bourn and his agent, Scott Boras, are looking for a 5-year deal at $15 million per.  It remains to be seen, but the Mets clearly aren’t going to pull the trigger on this one unless the circumstances are perfect.

The team pulled the trigger on Shaun Marcum, though.  The 30 year-old right-hander made only 3 appearances last year following elbow surgery.  He has a lifetime 3.76 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, and was an underrated member of the Blue Jays rotation before his elbow issues.  It’s a low-risk high-reward move for New York.

In all, the Sandy and his Nerd Herd appear mostly focused on building from the bottom-up.

By the way, did you know that your favorite PR guy and mine is on Twitter?

The Tampa Bay Rays have reached agreements with Kyle Farnsworth and Luke Scott. Should you care?