San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera reacts after striking out...

San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera reacts after striking out during the first inning of a game against the San Diego Padres. (June 5, 2012) Credit: AP

Melky Cabrera plays in San Francisco now, but the shock waves from Wednesday's 50-game suspension for use of testosterone, a banned performance-enhancing drug, traveled all the way back to Yankee Stadium, his former home.

"It's disappointing," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Obviously, Melky means a lot to all of us. He was a part of our [2009] championship and provided some really good moments here. It's something that everyone has to deal with and something that baseball is trying to stay away from, but it happened."

The positive test is a huge blow to Cabrera, who was named the MVP of last month's All-Star Game and is headed for free agency at the end of this season, which has been -- statistically speaking -- the best of his eight-year career.

Cabrera was hitting .346 and trailed only the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen (.359) in the National League. But the timing of the suspension freezes him at 501 plate appearances, one short of the minimum needed to qualify for the batting title. Under Rule 10.22(a), however, Cabrera still can win the title if he finishes in the lead with one hitless at-bat added to his average.

Unlike the defending NL MVP Ryan Braun, who disputed a positive test for testosterone and had his suspension overturned on appeal, Cabrera admitted to his misstep. According to a person familiar with the process, Cabrera and his representatives did put up an early defense after they were informed of the result, but chose to forgo a formal appeal.

"My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used," Cabrera said in a statement released Wednesday by the Players Association. "I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down."

The suspension also severely wounds the Giants, who were tied for the NL West lead with the Dodgers and will be without Cabrera, arguably their best offensive player, for not only the rest of the regular season but also the first five playoff games, if they make it that far.

"We were extremely disappointed to learn of the suspension of Melky Cabrera for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," the Giants said in a statement. "We fully support Major League Baseball's policy and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs from our game."

Cabrera, 28, batted .269 in five seasons with the Yankees, and in 2009 hit a career-best 13 homers in 154 games before he was traded to the Braves that winter for pitchers Boone Logan and Javier Vazquez. Last season, after signing with the Royals, Cabrera's average jumped to .305 with 18 homers and 87 RBIs, but this was shaping up to be his breakthrough year, before the first rumblings of PED use in late July and now the positive test. Cabrera had 11 home runs and 60 RBIs this season.

"I'm a hundred percent surprised," said Robinson Cano, who came up to the Yankees in 2005 with Cabrera and is one of his closest friends.

"I just feel sad right now and feel sorry for him. He's a friend and I'm going to be there for him. That's what a friend is all about."

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