MLB announced yesterday that it had suspended outfielders Jay Gibbons of the Baltimore Orioles and Jose Guillen, of the Kansas City Royals, fifteen days each for violations of MLB’s substance abuse policy. Rich Levin, the league’s spokesman, said the duration of the suspensions reflected MLB’s rules at the times of the violations. The present policy dictates a fifty-game suspension for the 1st positive test for illegal performance-enhancing drugs

Kansas City and José Guillén have reached an agreement on a 3-year, $36 million deal. 31-year-old power hitter Jose Guillén, batted .290 with 23 homers and 99 runs that he batted in for the Mariners this season. The Seattle Mariners declined its $9 million option and Jose Guillén refused a $5 million player option, receiving a $500,000 buyout. The agreement was reported by Foxsports.com. and ESPNdeportes.com.

Pettitte made a decision to pitch for the Yankees in the next season and put off retirement. The player’s agent, Randy Hendricks, said yesterday that the thirty-five-year-old pitcher had started telling teammates on weekend. Randy Hendricks then informed New York GM Brian Cashman of the news. New York captain Derek Jeter and catcher Jorge Posada had lobbied Andy Pettitte to come back, and the player consulted his wife. The positive decision came yesterday.

While football and hockey referees enjoy the benefit of “going upstairs” in order to review close calls, this kind of practice has no place in MLB. We can study any replay for all eternity, but the fact of the matter is that everything will be decided as the umpire rules. And here lies the beauty of the game. Technically, in practice, umpires could be completely replaced by video cameras and laser sensors, but then we will lose all those quirks that make the wonderful game of baseball the greatest sport in the world.