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Mitchell Report: Live Coverage on MVN

Evan: Wrapping things up: The press conference of the Players Union didn’t shed much light on it. They are unhappy they did not receive an advance copy and will answer questions after they have had time to examine the document.

Reaction from around MVN:

An immediate reaction in podcast form to the Mitchell Report.

Tampa Bay’s Eric SanInnocencio wonders what happens now, Mr. Mitchell?

San Francisco’s Nick Cannata-Bowman gives 62 reasons why people should stop giving Barry Bonds hell.

Chicago (Cubs)’ Transmission takes Bud Selig to task for saying there is no test for hGH currently. There is.

Detroit’s Samara Pearlstein snickers at the list of Tigers named in the report.

Los Angeles (Angels)’ Joe Florkowski breaks down the Angels involved in the Mitchell Report and muses on the Eric Gagne to Red Sox information shown in the report.

Baltimore’s Anthony Amobi thinks the Orioles have been hit harder than any other team: Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts were fingered.

Evan: Selig on how baseball is still popular and setting attendance records throughout all this: “The fan understands we do care and are trying to do something about it.” … [Silence]

Evan: When Selig decided to have a report issued on the steroid usage, “no one was happy with me.” The sports organizations, the players, his employees — everyone. Selig felt this report was crucial to the sport of baseball.

Evan: “We are moving forward today.” I don’t know about that, Bud. I think we’re sliding backwards. Moving forward means moving on. As long as the steroid issue hangs over baseball, we aren’t moving forward.

Evan: “I am proud to say that baseball has never been more popular than ever… but our fans deserve a level playing field,” said Selig. (Paraphrased.)

“We will do even more. We will not rest” after implementing Mitchell’s recommendations.

Evan: THREE STEPS have been announced by Selig:

He embraces all 20 recommendations by Mitchell and has already eliminated the 24 hours notice clubs were given prior to tests. He will speak to the players union about working with him to solve the recommendations.

Selig promises to “deal with active plays identified by Mitchell as users of performance enhancing drugs.” The discipline of each player will rest on a case by case basis and made as swiftly as possible.

Lastly, he will “continue to be proactive about proposing new ways to detect and rid our sport of performance enhancing drugs.” He has found that the current testing is effective as detectable steroid usage has declined.

Evan: Selig thanks Mitchell for the exhaustive report. Selig said nothing was more important to him than the integrity of the game and that it was “important for baseball to face the issue of steroids head on.” He wanted problems revealed and individuals identified along with recommendations to improve drug testing.

“Mitchell is one of the most respected public figures in the nation.” “A leading international diplomat of our generation… a man of integrity. His report is a call to action and I will act.”

Evan: BUD SELIG COMING UP.

Evan: Visit Biz of Baseball for a comprehensive and in context list of who was implicated and who was mentioned but not implicated.

Evan: Good quote by an ESPN anchor. They were discussing how Jose Canseco arrived and was barred from entry (due to not being media) and the last that was seen of him was crossing 42d street in sleet, departing the press conference. “The press conference that he birthed,” said the anchor.

How true.

The anchor went on to note that many of Canseco’s statements have been proven true and some have yet to be. If Canseco has spoken only the truth, there will be more to come of this, I am sure.

Please note: as the fallout from the Mitchell Report dissipates, be sure to bookmark MVN.com/MLB over the next few days: many of our team sites will have plenty to say! I, as a Red Sox writer on this site, plan on speaking on the Roger Clemens issue — but looking ahead at his Hall of Fame chances. I also encourage you to check out the Yankees site as I am sure they will have plenty to say.

Evan: For those interested in viewing the Mitchell Report in its entirety (409 pages), please click here, as MLB has provided the report in .PDF format (Adobe Reader) for us.

Ryne: Good point Evan. I am going to digest more of this report until Selig’s press conference. Thanks to everyone in the community who joined us for this historical event. Keep the discussion going until 4:30pm EST in the comments section!

Evan: Michell recommends to Bud Selig that no disciplinary action be taken. You know what I’m most interested in? How many players issue standard denials and how many own up.

Ryne: Mitchell was challenged by a reporter saying his reporting is merely reporting things that have already been reported in the media, with the exception of the Roger Clemens question. Mitchell said the Players Union was largely uncooperative. It is a good point to consider, all and all, was this worth it?

Anyone you expected to see that wasn’t here? Let us know in the comments

Notable exceptions: Nomar Garciaparra, Brady Anderson

Ryne: The Orioles had to be wise to this report, Andy MacPhail was desperate to trade both Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts during the Winter Meetings. It seems too coincidental that both of those players are not only mentioned in the report, their steroid use have detailed descriptions in Mitchell’s document.

Ryne: Asked if players, such as Clemens, should be allowed in Hall of Fame. Mitchell would not comment, claiming he was not asked to make judgements on any individual. It would not be “useful, appropriate, or helpful” to go beyond what he was asked to do.

Evan: Some interesting news that this report refers to Larry Bigbie as a “former major leaguer.” He played in Triple-A in 2007 for both the Dodgers and Braves minor league system. Mitchell credits him and Chad Allen as players who “provided information” along with several other people.

Some of those fingered: Lenny Dykstra, David Segui, Bigbie, Brian Roberts, Eric Gagne [teammates with Paul LoDuca and LoDuca bought steroids on Gagne’s behalf while together frim 1999 to 2004], Kevin Brown, Mike Lansing, Jack Cust, Mo Vaughn [started juicing in 2001], Tim Laker, Josias Manzanillo, Todd Hundley, Mark Carreon, Hal Morris, Matt Franco, Rondell White, Roger Clemens [speculation is initial usage in 1998], Andy Pettitte [first usage in 2002, after Pettitte went on the disabled list with elbow tendonitis], Kent Mercker, Jerry Hairston, Chuck Knoblauch, Jason Grimsley, Gregg Zaun, David Justice, F.P. Santangelo, Glenallen Hill, Denny Neagle, Ron Villone, Ryan Franklin, Chris Donnels, Todd Williams, Phil Hiatt, Todd Pratt, Kevin Young, Cody McKay, Adam Piatt, Miguel Tejada, Jason Christiansen, Mike Stanton, Stephen Randolph, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Paul LoDuca, Adam Riggs, Bart Miadich, Fernando Vina, Mike Bell, Matt Herges, Gary Bennett, Jr., Jim Parque, Brendan Donnelly, Chad Allen, Jeff Williams, Howie Clark [of A-Rod fame, the ‘Hah’ incident], Nook Logan, Daniel Naulty, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Gary Bennett, Marvin Bernard, Bobby Estalella, Jeremy Giambi, Benito Santiago, Gary Sheffield, Randy Velarde, Mike Spinelli, Steve Woodward, Gary Matthews Jr., Mark McGwire. (Note: Visit Biz of Baseball for a comprehensive and in context list.)

Ryne: 23 individuals who are, or have been, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox were interviewed, including six that are currently on the MLB club at the time of this report. Just FYI.

Ryne: Evan is getting together a comprehensive list of names from the report. Mitchell says over half the players named are no longer in MLB or MiLB meaning the commissioner has no jurisdiction. Eric Gagne’s personal check to Rodomski is in the report, I wonder how the Brewers feel about their $10 million dollar closer.

Ryne: Wow! Mitchell recommends the commissioner creates a “Department of Investigations” since drug testing just “scratches the surface” of drug use. This is because there are so many undetectable PEDs; sounds like baseball has its version of the Salem Witch Hunt or McCarthyism.

Evan: Mitchell also says that the report details allegations that some players received advance notice for —supposedly— unannounced, random drug testing. This is an important facet that needs to be corrected to make sure everyone is on the same playing field.

Ryne: To answer Samara’s question that Evan posted, Mitchell just said he has proof of “illegal” possession and use of steroids. Mitchell also pointed out that every player listed in the report was contacted to discuss their involvement with him and “almost all” current players declined. I would imagine only those forced, such as Jason Giambi, spoke with Mitchell. Kirk Rodomski is going to be infamous in history for his involvement here, without him, I wonder how many names this investigation would have uncovered?

Ryne: How many reporters at this press conference are actually listening to Mitchell, and how many are searching the report and highlighting every single name in it? His early points here are important and true, but can’t be as interesting as the photocopied personal checks they have in the reports from former and current players …

Evan: All 30 teams have been implicated in usage of steroids. This means the Red Sox, for those conspiracy theorists out there, will be fingered as having players who have used steroids. Whether or not this means Jose Canseco and Paxton Crawford (admitted users) or a more shocking name remains to be seen.

Ryne: Baseball reaction was “slow to develop and initially ineffective.” Detectable steroid use is down, but HGH use is up.

Ryne: Report will be posted on www.mlb.com following press conference, according to George Mitchell, who is now speaking live at the press conference.

Evan: Looks official: Roger Clemens purchased steroids and showed former trainer Brian McNamee the steroids bottle way back in 1998. Clemens told McNamee that the steroids were a large reason why he was able to turn his career around.

Other names: Miguel Tejada, Rondell White, Paul LoDuca.

Ryne: I can’t help but stir the pot here a little: Do you think it is coincidental the Yankees waited until today to finalize A-Rod’s contract?

Ryne: Here we go! They are handing out copies of the Mitchell Report as we speak.

They just showed footage from the Congressional Hearing. I remember sitting in front of my TV that day too, glued to the superstars I had celebrated just a few years earlier, and once it was over, losing all faith in the integrity of baseball. That hearing hurt my love for the game almost as much as the strike. I hope today goes down as a step in the right direction to fixing what is wrong in baseball, and not as a yet another black eye for the sport.

Evan: This is the impetus Bud needed to get even stricter testing in place. Right now the testing is like a baby tiger. It could scratch you, but it won’t really kill you. The recommendations are going to be for even more stringent testing and culpability, and if that doesn’t happen, everyone will be hauled down to Congress again. No one wants that. This is going to benefit Selig and baseball more than the players. The players are the scapegoat here.

Ryne: I know we are all excited for the Mitchell Report press conference at 2, but what are your expectations of the Bug Selig press conference at 4:30? He has had two days to digest the report and prepare to talk about it, but how do you think he really feels about its findings?

Evan: Jose Canseco is at the press conference. Interesting. Jokes to be made, but I’ll refrain.

Ryne: Just a note as we’re getting closer to top of the hour, if you have a specific question you would like Evan or I to address, please post it in the comments. Not that our opinions mean any more than your own, but we’re here if you want us!

Also, as I am listening John Kruk analyze why players use steroids (competitive nature, etc), how ironic would it be if he were named on the Mitchell Report? He played in the early 90’s … it could happen!

Evan: Samara Pearlstein makes a real good point. Her words: I guess you can always get steroids legally or illegally. So if the guys bought steroids and there’s no evidence they used them, the question becomes, did they obtain them legally or illegally? If it’s illegally, it almost doesn’t matter if they used them or not, because they committed a crime anyways.

I would hope the mitchell report would make a distinction between that and illegal channels. Ia guy went through all the hoops and got the steroids, and there’s no evidence he actually used them (which it sounds like the report is gonna be thin on), there’s nothing baseball can (and maybe should) do. but if a guy got ‘em illegally, even without that evidence of use, baseball can (and should) come down on him. Y’know?

I don’t understand how they could compile this information without making note of whether someone obtained the stuff legally or illegally, WHEN THAT’S THE KEY POINT.

Evan: In my opinion, this document will hold zero weight. In the end, it’s just a report speculating on names and offering possible solutions. You can’t take action against speculation, but you can take action against recommended solutions. That’s the story here.

Ryne: That is going to be the most interesting part of the report to me. Will baseball or the government take action? Some of the names, Ken Caminiti for example, obviously can’t be punished by either. Albert Belle or John Rocker are no longer active players, so what can baseball do there? Barry Bonds should be named, will that be enough to alter the history books? How will baseball, society, and the courts react to this information? How much weight will this document hold to be able to support convictions, suspensions, etc?

Evan: I wonder what the point of this report is. It’s going to suggest a course of action for baseball to take. It’s going to release names. But what are the ramifications?

Those players will not get punished, will they? If they do, they are being punished despite not testing positive for a test. If they don’t, then their name has been sullied in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty.

Ryne: We’re starting our live blogging now, about 30 minutes before the report is going to be released. You may be able to question the integrity of this report; the questionable circumstances surrounding the investigation have been well documented. However, what you can not debate is this is the most important document in the history of sports. The names may surprise you, they may not. The solutions to solve PED use in baseball may work, it may not. Nevertheless, the ramifications of the report will be felt and known for years to come. Will this prompt Congress to get back involved? Will “Mitchell Reports” be intitiated throughout football, hockey, golf, or tennis? How will the people named in the report be punished: by baseball, by the government, etc. Is the report simply third-party information or would it hold up in the court of law? I disregarded most news about the Mitchell Report as it was being written, but all day today, the anticipation has been overwhelming; we are about to witness something historic, something that has never been done before, and may never be done again. Enjoy!

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell and MLB commissioner Bud Selig have scheduled press conferences tomorrow to discuss the findings of the Mitchell Report. George Mitchell will meet with the media at 2 p.m, Selig has scheduled a 4:30 news conference.

Starting at 1:30pm, Evan Brunell, President of MVN and writer at Fire Brand of the American League, and Ryne Crabb, Director of Baseball Operations and writer at The Transaction Guy as well as Fire Brand of the American League, will be live blogging right here at MLB Source.

MVN Radio’s Brandon Rosage and Dan Benton will release a post-press conference radio segment, offering reaction, opinion and analysis of The Mitchell Report immediately after it’s released this afternoon.

Bookmark this page and refresh often; your thoughts, as always, are welcome in the comments section!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 10:46 pm and is filed under Mitchell Report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.