Players union chief Michael Weiner blasts Bud Selig for A-Rod suspension

MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner said players were split in their opinions of MLB's Biogenesis suspensions. (Getty Images) MLB

MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner said players were split in their opinions of MLB's Biogenesis suspensions. (Getty Images)

MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner said Bud Selig's 211-game suspension of Alex Rodriguez was "inappropriate and almost ridiculous" on the Dan Patrick Show Tuesday morning.

Major League Baseball distributed 50-game suspensions to 12 other players Monday as a result of an investigation into the distribution of banned performance-enhancing drugs by the Biogenesis clinic in Miami. The suspensions follow MLB rules for first-time offenders under the Joint Drug Agreement. Those players have accepted their suspensions without appeal, setting them up for reinstatement for the 2013 postseason and a full 2014 season.

ROSENBERG: Cleaning up the Alex Rodriguez mess

The league believes the length of Rodriguez's suspension -- the longest non-lifetime ban in baseball history --  is legal under Commissioner’s Bud Selig’s ability to determine punishments for non-analytic positives. MLB also reportedly has evidence of Rodriguez using PEDs from 2010-2012, and alleges that he directed other players to Biogenesis and has attempted to obtain and destroy evidence from the clinic.

VERDUCCI: A-Rod finally held accountable

Weiner pointed to a lack of precedence when it comes to the length of Rodriguez's suspension via USA Today:

“We feel what [Selig] did, frankly, was inappropriate and almost ridiculous. Look at the penalties that have been (given) out and cases that have been decided by the commissioner’s officer along with the Players Association. Nothing comes close to 211 games.”

Weiner went on to say that the Players Association will assess its position on drug-related suspensions because current players appear to be split on the punishments.

From USA Today:

“There were a lot of players who were in favor of tougher penalties," Weiner said. "There were a lot of players who weren’t.”