FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 4 -- Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro declined an invitation by the House Government Reform Committee to testify at a March 17 hearing on steroid use in baseball.
"That's my wife's birthday. That should tell you right there what the answer is," said Palmeiro, who had previously said he would be willing to testify.
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Orioles to Watch: Sammy Sosa, pictured, is a new face in Baltimore, and he's one of several key players this season.
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Graphic: Projected Starters
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Graphic: Schedules
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Graphic: Fort Lauderdale Stadium
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"Honestly, I don't really have anything to say on the subject. I don't want anything to do with that stuff. All I'm interested in right now is just getting ready to play baseball and stay here with my team.
"I'm flattered that they've invited me, but I'll respectfully decline the invitation."
Sammy Sosa, who was also invited, said he was not sure whether he would attend but that he needed to speak to his agent before making a decision.
Both players were mentioned by Jose Canseco in his book as steroid users. Canseco, through his agent, said he would be willing to testify if granted immunity.
Sosa Says Hello
Sosa had two hits Friday in his Orioles debut, including a towering home run to left field against Florida Marlins pitcher Ronald Belisario. The home run cleared the outfield netting in left and landed on one of the practice fields.
"Everybody knows what I can do in the game," Sosa said. "But when you go to a new team pretty much, not that you have to try to go out there and do what I do every day, but at least that was nice of me to come out in the first at-bat and get a base hit. And then back to the normal routine."
Sosa, still nursing a sore left groin, was the designated hitter in the 3-1 loss. Manager Lee Mazzilli said he expected Sosa to be able to play in the field in Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals.
Starter Erik Bedard threw three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two.
"That's what he needs to do in the regular season," Mazzilli said.
Cuban exile Maels Rodriguez worked out for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Rodriguez has worked out three times for the Orioles, who hope to get one more look.
