You have to like the underdog. Not pulling for the little guy is not an option in these parts. This is America. It's part of the social contract. Unless you're a heartless narcissist. Or a Yankee fan. I apologize in advance if anyone is offended by that last remark. Some of my best friends are heartless narcissists.

Which brings me to Lino Urdaneta, relief pitcher, New York Mets. I was happy to see the 27 year old Venezuelan finally make it back to the show, if for no other reason than he held the dubious distinction of never having retired a single major league batter. Not one. OK, he only faced 8 batters back in 2004 with the Tigers but still, the guy was due. In an imperfect world Lino was perfect. In an imperfect sort of way. Exactly the kind of minor league lifer everyone wants to see make good.

Mets GM Omar Minaya reaches into the minors each summer and finds the most interesting players. Last year it was Jose Lima, this year Urdaneta. In the big "U", Minaya found an 11 year minor league veteran of 17 teams who somehow managed to pitch at least part of every year since 1999 in "A" ball. That's the equivalent of repeating first grade. Eight times.

It wasn't just that Urdaneta stayed in the low minors longer than Annie Savoy. It's the complete lack of results, even facing batters several years younger. But teams saw decent velocity and movement and overlooked the stats. A 5.84 ERA in New Orleans doesn't normally warrant a call up, but it was a way for the Mets to fill a short gap without wasting options on younger and more talented Mets minor league hurlers.

So it came to be In early May Lino finally got a major league hitter out. Three of them in fact. Gave up 2 hits and a run over one innings work spread over consecutive nights against Arizona and San Francisco. Then Monday, numbers and a healthy Ambrioux Burgos caught up to Urdaneta. Back to New Orleans to await the next big adventure. Which won't come any time soon.

On Wednesday Major League Baseball announced Urdaneta had been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a performance enhancing substance.

Why? After all the warnings, after all the media coverage, knowing the tests are coming why does a player get involved with any kind of drug? Why did Lino Urdaneta punch in hole in the bottom of his own boat? And what benefit did it have for his pitching?

You can reach for the easy assumption and say Urdaneta's judgement is poor. That he was willing to risk anything to get back to the majors. Maybe he didn't understand the drug testing procedures, or thought he could mask his usage. Could be he took something he didn't understand was a banned substance. Maybe the language barrier played a part.

Now Lino Urdaneta has the mark of steroids on him. He doesn't hit like Barry Bonds or Jason Giambi. He's not an elite pitcher, or even a marginal pitcher, or even a prospect. Now he's a suspect. Permanently. Urdaneta has gone 3-0 on his career and the odds of getting three in a row over the plate at 27 don't look promising.

There is supposed to be a lesson here. There isn't. Performance enhancement drugs don't always enhance performance. But they do shorten careers. Even one that was already as short as Lino Urdaneta's.