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Post by Loki on Jun 1, 2006 1:36:10 GMT -5
------The Houston Astros and Roger Clemes agreed on a one year contract. So it looks like the Rocket is now out of retirement. Yeah right. Its all about winning. I dont think so...If its about anything.....its got to be and involve dollar signs.
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Post by Loki on Jun 13, 2006 12:59:33 GMT -5
Grimsley suspended for 50 games
By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer
June 12, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- Embattled pitcher Jason Grimsley was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball on Monday, less than a week after federal agents raided his home during an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs.
Commissioner Bud Selig's office suspended Grimsley for violating baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, based on his statements to authorities regarding human growth hormone.
"I think he earned it," Arizona Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick said. "I think it sends a message and an appropriate message."
"He violated the agreement. Obviously MLB feels that he did. That's Bud's decision and I think it's the right decision and I applaud him for it," he said.
The Diamondbacks released the reliever last Wednesday -- they don't intend to pay him, either -- and his agent said he did not expect Grimsley to pitch again. If Grimsley returns, the penalty would take effect when he's placed on a 40-man roster.
"Nothing's changed," agent Joe Bick said Monday.
Last Tuesday, 13 agents searched Grimsley's Arizona home following his admission he had used HGH, steroids and amphetamines.
According to court documents, authorities tracked a package containing two "kits" of HGH -- about a season's worth -- that was delivered at Grimsley's house on April 19. He failed a baseball drug test in 2003, documents showed.
Acting on those documents, MLB suspended him for his alleged possession, admitted use and intended use of HGH. Baseball toughened its drug program and penalties this season, but there is no test for HGH.
"He's retired. It's a moot point," Detroit Tigers closer Todd Jones said. "He didn't test positive, but because he said he did, they're going to suspend him?
"It's kind of like giving a speeding ticket to a guy that got killed in a car wreck," he said.
The 38-year-old Grimsley was 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 19 games as a long reliever this season, his first with Arizona.
"The suspension will become effective only if Jason chooses to continue his playing career," said Michael Weiner, general counsel to the players union. "The association will confer with Jason as to whether, under the circumstances, he wishes to grieve the suspension."
Grimsley and the Diamondbacks are currently in a dispute over payment of the remainder of his $825,000 salary.
Grimsley asked for his release last week and Arizona granted it. At the time, Bick said there had been no negotiation about money and added, "Released players get paid."
But the team later said it did not intend to pay him the rest, and filed a notice of termination Monday.
"This guy did no less than steal from us," Kendrick said Saturday night.
Bick responded by saying Grimsley would contest the Diamondbacks' decision, and Weiner said the union would soon file a grievance.
"The Diamondbacks' release of Jason is a clear violation of the Basic Agreement," Weiner said.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum and AP Sports Writers Bob Baum in Phoenix and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.
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Post by Loki on Jun 16, 2006 1:37:31 GMT -5
addresses HGH use in open letter to fans
NEW YORK (AP) -- In an open letter to fans, commissioner Bud Selig said he will not tolerate the use of human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.
Selig's letter was to appear in several publications Friday and on MLB.com. Though he didn't name Jason Grimsley, the commissioner said he was disappointed and angered by a player's admission that he used HGH, and the player's statements that other major leaguers use the banned substance.
On June 6, federal agents raided Grimsley's Arizona home following his admission that he had used HGH, steroids and amphetamines. The pitcher also reportedly named several players who he said were using HGH, currently undetectable with baseball's drug test. The reliever was released by the Diamondbacks the following day and given a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball on Monday.
Selig warned that players who use banned substances also put themselves in legal jeopardy.
"These individuals break the rules of baseball," he said. "But the use of steroids, human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs in this manner is also against the law. The investigative abilities of the FBI are powerful and baseball players are no different from anyone else in our society. If you break the law, you put yourself at risk."
The commissioner said the overwhelming majority of players obey the rules, but some cheat to try to get an edge and raise suspicions about the integrity of their teammates while violating fans' trust in them.
Selig said he was proud of baseball's steroid policy and would continue to support research for a reliable urine test to detect HGH.
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Post by Loki on Jun 20, 2006 2:39:43 GMT -5
Cincinnati 4, NY Mets 2
Cincinnati 4, NY Mets 2
Preview - Box Score - Recap
By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer
June 19, 2006
AP - Jun 19, 11:03 pm EDT
More Photos
NEW YORK (AP) -- Ken Griffey Jr. took another step toward the top 10.
Griffey tied Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt on the career home run chart and Bronson Arroyo pitched a complete game to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the New York Mets 4-2 Monday night for their eighth straight victory on the road.
Griffey's 548th homer spoiled Orlando Hernandez's strong start and put the 12-time All-Star in 11th place alongside Schmidt.
"He's one of those guys when he comes in the locker room, you know who he is. You don't want to play golf with him unless you get some strokes," Griffey said. "He was an awesome player. For my name to be mentioned with him is an honor in itself."
The 36-year-old Griffey and his father, Ken Sr., have now combined for 700 major league homers. Junior got the ball back as a souvenir and said he would give it to his dad.
"Which one am I prouder? Probably 700 with my dad," Griffey said. "Now I can say, `Happy Father's Day -- here you go."'
Next up on the career list is Reggie Jackson with 563.
"I can't let my mind drift about what might have been if I didn't get hurt," Griffey said.
Brandon Phillips added a two-run double and Arroyo threw a seven-hitter for the Reds, thrilled to be on the road again. They just lost eight of nine to end their worst 10-game homestand (2-8) since 1950.
The NL East-leading Mets also have looked more comfortable on the road recently. They've dropped three of four at Shea Stadium since winning eight in a row to close a 9-1 road trip.
Arroyo (9-3) gave up a run in the first and Carlos Beltran's 19th homer leading off the ninth. He struck out five and walked one in his third career complete game, second this season.
"He's a tremendous competitor. He is fearless, and one of the better pitchers in baseball -- and I mean pitchers," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "It's a lot of fun to watch. You sometimes think it's a lost art for guys that know how to pitch. He's one of those guys."
After David Wright's one-out single, Arroyo retired Jose Valentin and Xavier Nady to end it on his 116th pitch.
"I didn't take a pounding in any inning at all," Arroyo said. "I had plenty left in the tank."
The right-hander, acquired from Boston on March 20 for outfielder Wily Mo Pena in a trade that has worked out beautifully for the Reds, retired 10 straight before Jose Reyes' bloop single in the eighth.
"He just kept us off balance from the word go. A lot of arms, a lot of legs," Wright said. "The big thing is, he changes his arm angle."
Hernandez (4-6) yielded two runs and eight hits over seven innings. He struck out seven, including Griffey the first two times up, and walked two.
Leading off the sixth, Griffey drove a 2-2 pitch an estimated 440 feet off the lower portion of the scoreboard in right-center for his 12th homer this season and a 2-1 Cincinnati lead.
"El Duque only made one mistake, really, on Griffey," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "He handled him pretty well early, and just missed his spot. He pitched a good ballgame."
The Reds loaded the bases in the eighth against Pedro Feliciano, and Phillips blooped a two-run double to right off Chad Bradford.
Hernandez turned an unassisted double play to end the second. And, as often is the case with El Duque, it was colorful.
David Ross' RBI single tied the score at 1 and left runners at the corners with one out. Arroyo then popped up a suicide squeeze and Hernandez lunged to the ground for a nice catch, trapping Phillips off third base.
Hernandez got up and stationed himself on the line between Phillips and the bag, waiting to make the tag. But Phillips slowly sauntered in the other direction -- so El Duque simply folded his arms and waited for a couple of seconds.
Phillips finally tried a fake and break around plate umpire Dan Iassogna, and was called out for running way outside the base line just as Hernandez applied the tag. El Duque flipped the ball to Phillips, who tossed it into the stands behind Cincinnati's dugout.
"I've seen that double play before, but I've never seen it take quite that long," Wright said.
Reyes hit Arroyo's first pitch of the game for a double and scored on Beltran's groundout.
Notes
Arroyo pitched his first complete game for Pittsburgh at Shea Stadium on Oct. 2, 2001. ... Nady returned to the lineup in RF for the first time since his appendectomy on May 30 and went 0-for-4.
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