All-Star Notebook
Selig Says HGH Use Not Widespread
Wednesday, July 12, 2006; Page E05
PITTSBURGH, July 11 -- Commissioner Bud Selig said Tuesday he does not believe use of human growth hormone is a widespread problem in baseball, despite the revelations that emerged last month out of the federal raid on former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley's home.
"I've asked that question [about the extent of HGH use] to a lot of [team] doctors and trainers," Selig said, during a question-and-answer session with members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. "The most I've gotten out of anybody is, 'If more than one or two people on our team is doing it, we'd be shocked.' . . .
  Fans line the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh during the MLB Red Carpet Show as the AL looked to capture its ninth all-star game in 10 years. Last night's game ended too late for this edition. (By Kevin Lorenzi -- Bloomberg News) MLB Basics |
"According to people who are supposed to know, they believe it is not a big statistical problem today. The medical people seem more concerned about new amphetamines -- which they describe as quite dangerous -- than steroids or HGH."
Despite widespread criticism of baseball's handling of its performance-enhancing-drug controversy, Selig said he would not have done anything differently and said he was happy with the effectiveness of the sport's current policy.
"While it's easy to rewrite history today, I think we have dealt with it," Selig said. "I think steroid use has been minimized. On amphetamines, we're doing okay."
Only one player, Yusaku Iriki of the New York Mets, has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs this season, following 12 positive tests by major league players last season. Grimsley, who was released by the Diamondbacks after admitting to using steroids, HGH and amphetamines, also was given the same 50-game suspension by Selig.
Baseball also began testing for amphetamines for the first time this season, and Selig implied there have been positive tests. First-time offenders are not punished or identified publicly; a second offense carries a suspension of 25 games.
Asked how many players had tested positive for amphetamines, Selig declined to say, citing the privacy rules of the drug-testing agreement. "Amphetamine testing is working," he said.
On other topics:
· Selig openly questioned Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez's decision to skip the All-Star Game. Ramirez claimed to have a sore knee, but played all 19 innings of the Red Sox's first-half finale on Sunday.
"Maybe I'm old fashioned, but [when] you're voted into an All-Star Game, it's a privilege," he said. "You ought to be here. . . . This is the Midsummer Classic. Why wouldn't you be proud to be here? He's the only person we've had that problem with."
· Selig said MLB may examine a way to prevent all-star starting pitchers from starting the final game of the first half. Three AL starters (Roy Halladay, Johan Santana and Jose Contreras) started games Sunday, leaving them unavailable to pitch in Tuesday night's All-Star Game.
"It's something we ought to think about," he said.
· With baseball's collective bargaining agreement set to expire in December, Selig expressed optimism that a new CBA could be forged between the league and the union without the threat of a work stoppage.
"The relationship is as good as I've seen," he said. "But nothing is assured."
New TV Deal Announced
Later Tuesday, MLB announced a seven-year extension to its agreement with Fox Television to continue broadcasting games, and added TBS as a new broadcast partner for regular season and division series games. The new agreement with Fox was reportedly worth $3 billion.
As part of the new deal with Fox, the World Series starting in 2007 will begin on a Tuesday night, instead of a Saturday night -- with a ripple effect that means the regular season will probably end on a Thursday instead of a Sunday.
"I've grumbled for years about starting [the World Series] on Saturday," Selig said. "Saturdays are just terrible" for ratings.
Soriano Stays in Left
With a starting outfield made up of one center fielder and two left fielders, the National League had to move someone to right field, and Washington Nationals slugger Alfonso Soriano said he was relieved the player asked to move was Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and not Soriano.
Asked whether he could have played right field if he was asked, Soriano said: "I don't know. I've never played right field. I feel good staying in left field. I think it was a good choice."
Soriano batted leadoff in NL Manager Phil Garner's starting lineup; Bay played right field and batted cleanup.
