Posted on 12/13/2007 10:01:19 AM PST by pkajj
Mitchell report on MLB set to be detailed today By BRIAN McTAGGART Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Former Astros pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are reportedly named in the Mitchell report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball that is set to be released later today.
ESPN.com reported today that former New York Yankees trainer Brian McNamee has given former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, hired by Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig 20 months ago to investigate drug use in the sport, information on supplying Clemens and Pettitte with steroids.
Randy Hendricks, the agent for Clemens and Pettitte, and Astros owner Drayton McLane didn't immediately return a message from the Chronicle seeking comment. Clemens and Pettitte played for the Astros from 2004-2006 before re-signing with the New York Yankees for last season. Pettitte, a Deer Park resident, earlier this week signed a $16 million deal for the 2008 season to return to New York.
Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, striking out 4,672 batters and winning 354 games in 24 seasons. His seven Cy Young Awards are a record. Clemens' son Koby is a player in the Astros' minor league system.
The long-awaited report is expected to link the names of as many as 80 current and former major league players, including All-Stars and MVPs, to performance-enhancing drugs. Selig will hold a news conference shortly after the report's 1 p.m. release.
ESPN reported Wednesday that two lawyers familiar with the report said Mitchell will pin the blame for widespread drug use on Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The AP reported Wednesday that the 304-page report will point to MVPs and All-Stars and call for beefed-up testing by an outside agency to clean up the game.
According to the Associated Press, Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, sent an e-mail to owners and team presidents in advance of the report with instructions how to respond to media inquiries. "We look forward to carefully reading the results of Sen. Mitchell's investigation," the recommended response said. "Protecting the integrity of our game is vital, and we intend to study his findings and recommendations, and will not comment until we have done so."
In March 2006, Selig announced Mitchell would lead an investigation. The decision came not long after the release of Game of Shadows, a book detailing steroid use in baseball, focusing on Barry Bonds.
Major League Baseball has been wrapped in the grips of a steroids scandal since federal agents raided BALCO, a nutrition lab in Burlingame, Calif., in September 2003. The raid led to several of baseball's biggest stars having to testify before grand juries, including Jason Giambi, Bonds and Gary Sheffield.
Soon Barry will have lots of company.
I'd love to have the asterisk concession in Cooperstown!
They could have a whole wing dedicated to asterisk players. Perhaps even Pete Rose could finally be included.
Playing 162 games in 186 days is grueling and has caused players to turn to Roids and Greenies, both of which are devastating to their bodies.
This is by no means an excuse for the juiced players but in time baseball will have to address the issue of the 162 game season.
I just hope that they have proof and don’t just smear innocent ball players. The truth is that anyone can SAY anything...it doesn’t necessarily make it true. Of course I am totally against steroid use. I do think you can pretty much tell by looking at a player who is using. They usually bulked up QUICK and they look like they no longer have a neck! LOL Take Pudge Rodriguez...when he signed with the Tigers after being with the Marlins, he looked like a thinned down version of himself. That all happened after the crap started hitting the fan about steroid use. He said he just went on a diet. What a bunch of bunk!!
I am guessing that most people given the chance at a 20 million dollar a year contract to play baseball would hit the Juice.
That season was instituted long before there was television broadcasts that could allow millions to see individual games. Would anyone really notice if the schedule were cut in half? How many times is it necessary for the Yankees to play the Redsox each season?
How'd you get his Rookie Card????
That this is a Federal matter is proof that baseball is an institution of the state.
Yep, and watching hearings of the Rural Electrification Board is more interesting than watching a baseball game.
Quicker too.
Personally, I love the 162 game season. It is a true test of a team’s durribility and I like to be able to follow the standing throughout the season.
But, players are humans and I understand that they are not working in a coal mine and are paid very well. But the season in brutal.
AS for me, I would love a 20 million dollar contract to play ball and would most likely do Roids to keep me in the game.
I listen to the City Council meetings on radio. That’s where it’s at and that’s the real deal. Baseball? I’m so old even steroids wouldn’t get me out to centerfield before the inning is over and time to go back to the dugout.
Yeah, they should go back to the 154-game season that worked just fine from 1904 until 1961. That schedule seemed to work out well for Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Ott, DiMaggio, Musial, and a whole lot of other Hall-of-Famers.
Also, back then there was only ONE playoff series - - the World Series. Nowadays it's possible that a team could play an additional 11 to 19 games beyond the regular season rather than just 4 to 7 games.
Clemens?
There’s a shocker.
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