Yankees worried about the Redsox

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/sports/baseball/13mitchell.html?ex=1355202000&en=96d7e6e982321b86&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


George J. Mitchell’s report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, to be unveiled Thursday afternoon, will be highly critical of the commissioner’s office and the players’ union for tolerating the presence of drugs throughout years of abuse, a person who has read the closely guarded report said Wednesday



Mitchell has been battling the union during his 20-month investigation, but sharp criticism of Commissioner Bud Selig, who hired Mitchell and is paying for his investigation, would be more unexpected and would seemingly prove Mitchell’s claim of independence in this endeavor.

Selig, the commissioner since 1992, and Donald Fehr, the executive director of the players’ association since 1986, have scheduled separate news conferences after Mitchell holds a briefing. The three sessions will take place within blocks of one another in Midtown Manhattan.

Mitchell’s report will total roughly 300 pages, and also have substantial attachments, according to the person who read it. It will pull player names from three main sources: Kirk Radomski, a former Mets clubhouse attendant who pleaded guilty to steroid offenses in April and says he supplied players with performance-enhancing drugs from 1995 to 2005; the Signature Pharmacy investigation led by the Albany County district attorney; and one other source that the person did not make clear. The bulk of the names are believed to be from Radomski.

The person who read the report also said that information from Brian McNamee, a former Yankees strength coach who has worked as a personal trainer for Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, had been provided to Mitchell’s investigators. It was not clear if McNamee spoke directly to the investigators, or if information he provided is in the report.

In a conference call Wednesday to discuss his 2008 contract with the Yankees, Pettitte said that he was not working out with McNamee and did not know if McNamee had spoken to Mitchell’s investigators.

Over all, Mitchell has interviewed scores of former players and club executives. But the report will state that there is a lot of information the investigation did not uncover, the person said, making it unlikely that baseball’s steroids issue will be put to rest.

That person and one other person familiar with Mitchell’s findings said the report would name more than 50 active and former major league players who are linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The person who read the report said among those named would be the winners of Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards.

The report is also expected to call for beefed-up testing, but it apparently does not address the use of amphetamines.

Baseball officials felt the report was harsh when they read it this week, the second person said. The sources were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the report.

The players’ association is expecting to be attacked for doing what it says was nothing more than what it was supposed to do: advising players of the harm that could come from talking to Mitchell. Partly as a result of that advice, only one current major league player, Jason Giambi, is known to have cooperated with the investigation, and then only after Selig threatened to suspend him for tacitly acknowledging steroid use.

A former prosecutor and United States senator, Mitchell was appointed by Selig to conduct the investigation in March 2006.

Informed Wednesday that the Mitchell report would pointedly criticize the commissioner’s office, Fay Vincent, Selig’s predecessor, said, “Very interesting.” In a telephone interview from Florida, Vincent declined further comment until he read the report. “I do have expectations, but I’m almost certain to be proven wrong,” he said.

Vincent had tried to crack down on steroids in his last year as the commissioner. In June 1991, he sent every major league club a memorandum saying all illegal drug use was “strictly prohibited” by law, “cannot be condoned or tolerated” and could result in discipline or expulsion. Vincent specifically highlighted steroids in the memo.

The next year, Selig became commissioner. Through the 1990s, even as newspapers reported that as many as one in five baseball players used steroids, Selig and the union played down the issue. “If baseball has a problem, I must say candidly that we were not aware of it,” Selig said in 1995.

In 2000, The New York Times reported steroids were rampant in baseball, but a baseball spokesman said they “have never been much of an issue.” In 2002, after a Sports Illustrated cover story said baseball “had become a pharmacological trade show,” the commissioner and the union finally agreed on a testing policy.

Random tests would be done in 2003 without penalties. If more than 5 percent of players failed the tests, penalties would be imposed starting in 2004, which is what happened. The penalty for a first offense was treatment, and for five violations, a one-year suspension. That policy failed to satisfy critics.

In 2005, as a congressional hearing was approaching, Selig and the union reopened the collective-bargaining agreement to toughen the penalties to start at a 10-day suspension and public identification of a first offender.

At the time, Selig cited a survey showing steroid use in baseball had fallen to 1 to 2 percent in 2004, compared with 5 to 7 percent in 2003.

“I have an enormous responsibility as the commissioner to clean this thing up,” Selig said then. “The fact is, we had a problem. The fact is, we’ve done something about it. We have done now as much as we can do.”

But when a House committee subpoenaed the actual policy documents, it found they were more lax than had been claimed. The penalty for a first offense was actually a 10-day suspension or a fine. If a player was only fined, he would not be identified.

Outraged members of Congress blasted Selig and Fehr. Senator John McCain wrote, “I can reach no conclusion but that the league and the players’ union have misrepresented to me and to the American public the substance of M.L.B.’s new steroid policy.”

The next month, after the televised hearing, at which Sammy Sosa denied use and Mark McGwire declined to answer questions, Selig wrote the union to ask for a new steroids policy, “three strikes and you’re out.” It would apply a 50-game suspension for a first offense, 100 games for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third offense.

Fehr and the players’ association approved the three-strikes policy in December 2005.

Three months later, Selig appointed Mitchell to conduct his investigation.

Johnny Estrada-C-Mets Dec. 13 - 12:49 am et

Mets non-tendered catcher Johnny Estrada, outfielder Ben Johnson and RHP Juan Padilla.
Estrada was a goner from the moment Brian Schneider was acquired, if not before then. Johnson and Padilla get knocked off the roster because they haven't recovered from injuries as well as hoped. The Mets may offer minor league contracts to both.
Related: Ben Johnson, Juan Padilla



Brad Eldred-OF-Pirates Dec. 13 - 12:47 am et

Pirates non-tendered first baseman Brad Eldred and RHP Brian Rogers.
Both players had already been designated for assignment. The Pirates declined to non-tender any arbitration-eligible players, like Xavier Nady.
Related: Brian Rogers



Scott Munter-R-Giants Dec. 13 - 12:45 am et

Giants non-tendered RHP Scott Munter.
Even with a good sinker, one really has to average more than a strikeout every two weeks to succeed in the majors.



Darren Clarke-R-Rockies Dec. 13 - 12:44 am et

Rockies non-tendered RHP Darren Clarke and outfielder Sean Barker.
Just clearing some dead weight. Clarke and Barker both made their major league debuts last season, but neither was recalled in September.



Brad Salmon-R-Reds Dec. 13 - 12:43 am et

Reds non-tendered RHP Brad Salmon and infielder-outfielder Jerry Gil.
As many awful pitchers as the Reds went through last year, it was odd how little of a chance Salmon received. He ended up with a 4.13 ERA and a 22/10 K/BB ratio in 24 innings, giving him the third-lowest ERA in the pen, yet he still spent July and August in the minors and all but three of his 26 appearances came in losses. He'll want to head elsewhere as a free agent.
Related: Jerry Gil



Josh Towers-S-Blue Jays Dec. 13 - 12:39 am et

Blue Jays non-tendered RHP Josh Towers.
We'll be kind and say the Jays were merely bluffing when they kept suggesting Towers wouldn't be non-tendered. There was never any good reason for them to pay their seventh or eighth starter $3 million or more. Towers could land in the NL West with the Padres or Rockies.



Darrell Rasner-S-Yankees Dec. 13 - 12:37 am et

Yankees non-tendered RHP Darrell Rasner, RHP Matt DeSalvo, RHP T.J. Beam and OF Bronson Sardinha.
That's one way to take care of the 40-man roster crunch. Rasner might end up being the Yankees' cost for Carl Pavano's refusal to accept a minor league deal. Of the four players here, he's the only one with much chance of making the Yankees miss him. Beam might not be completely useless out of the pen, but the Bombers had at least 10 guys in front of him.
Related: Bronson Sardinha, T.J. Beam, Matt DeSalvo

Dallas News


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/121307dnsporanglede.296908f.html

The Rangers apparently solved their first base dilemma late Wednesday by acquiring the player they had coveted, Ben Broussard, from Seattle for minor league infielder Tug Hulett.

With Seattle facing an 11 p.m. (CST) deadline to either tender Broussard a qualifying contract or trade him, the Mariners decided to get something for him rather than make him a free agent by not offering a contract.

http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1050500#articleFull

By the end of today, one or more Red Sox [team stats] players could have asterisks next to their names.

More than 60 baseball players, quite possibly including current or past Red Sox, will be named this afternoon in a chain of evidence that links them to the purchase or use of performance-enhancing drugs in the release of George Mitchell’s investigative report.

So far, current members of the Sox roster have not been associated with the widespread steroids and human growth hormone scandal, although past players, including Jose Canseco, have.

The report likely will create a firestorm that could affect all 30 teams, as new names - including MVPs and All-Stars, according to the Associated Press - are unveiled. Mitchell is expected to call for increased testing conducted by an independent agency.

Red Sox starter Curt Schilling [stats], who testified in 2005 before a Congressional committee investigating steroid abuse in Major League Baseball, yesterday said he would not be shocked if one of his teammates is named in the report.

“This one, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Schilling said on WEEI. “I hope not, but after (Cleveland Indians pitcher) Paul Byrd and all the stuff that happened there (during the ALCS, when Byrd was linked to HGH), I think I’m kind of past being shocked at anybody.”

Schilling believes the report will not be something anyone will be able to sweep under the rug.

“Just from the stuff that I heard, this is going to resonate pretty loudly for a while,” he said.

There will be a considerable deal of scrutiny applied to the list of names as it pertains to the Red Sox because of Mitchell’s conflict of interest, which almost is impossible to ignore, minimize or rationalize.

Mitchell, the former U.S. Senator from Maine and current Red Sox director who has been on a leave of absence from the team and its payroll since March 2006, was asked by commissioner Bud Selig to head the investigation into the sport’s not-so-secret immersion in the world of steroids and human growth hormone since the mid-1990s. This so-called steroid era has coincided with a period of incredible revenue growth in baseball.

Mitchell does not have an equity stake in the Red Sox, as a thorough ESPN.com report by former Herald scribe Howard Bryant details, but he is expected to resume a paid role with the organization once the investigation is completed.

Mitchell has said repeatedly he will apply blind justice when it comes to revealing Red Sox names, but if there is a noticeable lack or complete exclusion of Sox players, the uproar will discredit the report’s impact.

“The ballclub will carefully read the results of the investigation, but it’s our intent not to comment until we see the report,” said John Blake, Red Sox vice president of media relations.

Mitchell will hold his press conference at 2 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan. At 4:30 at a nearby hotel, Selig will have his own press conference. A full version of the report is expected to be posted on MLB.com when Mitchell’s press conference begins.

The report itself will not reveal names of those who failed drug tests or received treatment. Instead, it is expected to focus on names of players who paid for or received shipments of substances such as steroids and human growth hormone. As far as anybody has been able to report, just two active players - Jason Giambi of the Yankees and another unidentified party - cooperated with Mitchell during his investigation.

Mitchell did meet with members of the Oakland and Baltimore front offices during his investigation. His case was aided in large part by Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets clubhouse attendant who pleaded guilty in April to money laundering and illegal distribution of performance-enhancing substances.
Besides Canseco, Giambi, Byrd and Barry Bonds, who was indicted last month on perjury charges relating to his alleged use of steroids, the list of active or recently retired players who have been linked to banned substances includes Jose Guillen, David Segui, Gary Sheffield, Jay Gibbons, Troy Glaus, Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Grimsley, Mark McGwire and Gary Matthews Jr.

Red Sox [team stats] notes

The Sox tendered 2008 contracts to all but one of the 21 unsigned players on their 40-man roster. Brendan Donnelly [stats] was the lone exception.

However, the now-free agent reliever and the ballclub are still discussing a deal that would likely contain an option for 2009. Donnelly, who underwent Tommy John surgery in August, is not expected to be ready to pitch again until late in ’08.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.deal13dec13,0,786537.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout

Orioles executives no longer believed Miguel Tejada had the range to stay at shortstop, and he has never played any other position as a big leaguer. He turns 32 in May, his best offensive years are behind him and he's due $26 million through 2009.

His customary enthusiasm has wavered since 2005, and his name previously has been linked with performance-enhancing drugs, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he were mentioned when the Mitchell Report is released today.

Therefore, trading Tejada to the Houston Astros for five younger players looks on the surface to be the right move to make
But is it?

Based on the inexperience of the players the Orioles received, that answer won't be known for several years. However, industry-wide, the sentiment is that this wasn't exactly a slam-dunk, had-to-make-it kind of deal.

Instead, it's viewed as a solid return of usable parts, an understandable and acceptable swap for an aging superstar. But there's not one guy in the Houston Five who is considered a difference-maker. And Tejada is, despite his warts and hefty paycheck, a four-time All-Star and former Most Valuable Player who is beloved by his teammates and possesses unconventional power and run production for a middle infielder.

"Time will tell about the trade," one National League talent evaluator said. "The Orioles are saving money and stockpiling young pitchers, but neither one of the pitchers have front-line starter stuff, the type you need to compete in that division."

The two starters, left-hander Troy Patton and right-hander Matt Albers, project as legitimate big leaguers, but likely won't rise beyond the middle of a rotation, according to several observers. Baseball America ranked the duo second and third, respectively, in the Astros' organization heading into 2007 - but Houston has been listed in the bottom third of farm systems since 2003.

Luke Scott, an intense power hitter who should fill a void in left field and against right-handed pitching, has struggled with injuries and is seen by some as a fourth outfielder. Reliever Dennis Sarfate has closer stuff and Daniel Cabrera control. And third baseman Mike Costanzo is an offensive and defensive project, albeit one with true power.

There's no Roy Oswalt offered this time around as there was briefly in July 2006. But then again, this isn't the same Tejada. His value and reputation have taken a hit. So much that his availability barely made a ripple at last week's winter meetings.

The San Francisco Giants had interest, and the St. Louis Cardinals kicked Tejada's tires - but neither of those clubs is swimming in prospects, either. The Los Angeles Angels, with a rich farm system, seemed like a good fit, but they never really pursued Tejada this time.

That left only the aggressive Astros, who now have one of the best lineups in baseball. And the conventional wisdom is that Tejada will thrive batting in front of Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee and playing for a team that should contend for the crown in the weak National League Central.

"Miggi is going to be rejuvenated over there," the NL source said. "Great hitters' park and [he'll be] playing in a wide-open division, where from Day One he won't have to think about how to overcome the Yankees and the Red Sox."

The bottom line is Tejada should immediately improve an already good Houston offense at the sacrifice of pitching depth and up-the-middle defense.

And the Orioles got younger, cheaper and added much-needed depth that could - maybe as soon as 2008 - turn into solid building blocks.

In theory, failing to get a Top 50 prospect for a player like Tejada is disappointing.

In reality, given Tejada's dwindling market value, acquiring five guys who could fill holes in a rebuilding effort is probably the best the Orioles could expect to do this winter.

dan.connolly@baltsun.com

More articles

Mike Lowell has gotta be a former user
juicedPitcher Post #1: 07:25 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 2819
WEEI reported years ago that he was a former user and 'we don't want him on our team, I wish we just had Beckett.' This was fodder for the John Dennis and Gerry Callahan morning show for weeks when the trade was announced, and even at spring training. But when Lowell produced they shut up. Now this morning Callahan says,"I think the name that may shock everyone would be Mike Lowell". Lol. I think Lowell is definately a roider....based on stats and my gut feeling ( which isn't much. but whatever, sosa has about the same amount of evidence )it seems so.
AJ25Forever Post #2: 08:38 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 18


You seriously need to get a life. We get it ok. you think every pitcher in the world did roids and thus apparently think it is ok that Barroid cheated to steal the greatest record in all of sports. You have made that clear over the past few years.

But Mike Lowell? If he did roid and that was the reason for his success in the past then apparently he was takign them wrong or only half a season bc everyone knows he used to always play hot as fire till the break then die in the second half. For two season he pretty much carried my fantasy teams til the ASB, then was just an albatross the second half. Then he had an entire year of complete suckage followed by last years resurgance for a whole season. So if he is taking them or was in the past he apparently isnt gainign any consistancy from them.

I think you just get bored in your moms basement and decide to just accuse everyone in the game of roiding bc no one loves you and you want others to be as lonely as you. Just a guess though. Since this is a forum Im sure your response will be that you are actually some high power professional or you'll tell me you are either an ex-ball player or a black belt in something. Those are the usual replies to axccusations.
ImSmartherThanYou Post #3: 09:01 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 3394
Lowell would surprise no one. I've long suspected him. He bounced back awfully quick from cancer and would have put up monster numbers in 03 had he not gotten hurt. He was always a quality player, but that one year was pretty atypical for him power wise.

I have been wayching news this morning like allways and the concensus is that there are MANY Yankees on the list and reporters have seen the list and can not name names till after news conference today. Something tells me it is going to ba a "Sad day in Mudville"

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Saying there are "many yankees" makes it interesting for people.....when they are counting people like Grimsley and Giambi and other passerby type players, its not really a big deal if that happens to be the case.

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I keep seeing the same reports. It is driving me nuts, just put the list out already. I am hardly interested in the hour long news conference they are going to have, where they are going to cover or go over all of the same garbage they have been going over for years. Just put out the list with an explanation of the charges & then shut up and go away

Mitchell A red sox fan


This from the Bergen county record:

"There's also clear evidence Mitchell is a Red Sox fan: he was caught by a Newsday reporter this spring at Fenway wearing a Sox jacket and hat, obtaining autographs for his son."

Gee, I wonder if there will be any Red Sox on the list?

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20071213/SPORTS/112130110

Carson High graduate Darrell Rasner wasn't tendered a contract for the 2008 season by the New York Yankees, but the right-handed pitcher will re-sign with the Yankees.

Darrell Rasner Sr., Rasner's father, said his son will resign with the Yankees. By not tendering a 2008 contract to Rasner, the Yankees will be able to remove Rasner from their 40-man roster.

But Rasner will still be invited to the Yankees Spring Training with a chance to make the 2008 Major League roster. Rasner's father said his son will be given the chance to make the Big League club as a spot starter and long reliever.

The Yankees have a number of candidates to fill their starting rotation, so Rasner's beset chance to make the team will be as a spot starter and long reliever. The Yankees projected starting rotation is Andy Pettitte, which just resigned to a one-year deal with the club, Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. There's also pitchers like Ian Kennedy waiting in the wings and the potential the Yankees could go after another starter such as the Oakland Athletics' Dan Haren.

If Rasner doesn't make the opening day Major League roster, it's likely he'll begin the season in Triple A.

Rasner's father said that when the team informed his son they were not tendering him an offer and removing him from the 40-man roster, it planned to immediately resign him. Rasner's father said the team made him a fair offer.

The Yankees also didn't tender offers for 2008 to right-handed pitchers T.J. Beam and Matt DeSalvo. By not making offers to Beam, DeSalvo and Rasner, the Yankees cleared room on the 40-man roster for Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and LaTroy Hawkins. The Yankees are in the process of reaching deals with all three.

Rasner could have been hurt by the decision by Carl Pavano not to accept a minor league contract from the Yankees. By not accepting the minor league contract, Pavano stays on the 40-man roster. If he had accepted the minor league contract, Rasner could have received Pavano's roster spot.

Last season, Rasner went 1-3 with a 4.01 earned run average with the Yankees before he broke his finger in May, which effective ended his season.