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MLB braces for Mitchell Report

By Pete Catapano | amNewYork managing editor

December 13, 2007

For a decade now, steroid allegations have dogged Major League Baseball, destroying players' reputations, shaming the league and tainting records.

But just how deep the infection runs may finally be known today when former senator George Mitchell releases the results of his 20-month investigation into performance-enhancing drug use in the league at a 2 p.m. press conference.

It is believed that the report will identify as many as 50 players, covering the years 1995-2005, who have used performance-enhancing drugs.

In recent years, some of the league's biggest stars have been linked to using either anabolic steroids or human growth hormone, including sluggers Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Ken Caminiti and, topping the list, all-time home run leader Barry Bonds.

Bonds pleaded not guilty this week to federal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from his testimony to a grand jury during the investigation of the BALCO drug laboratories in 2003, when he denied knowingly using drugs.

While the league has been airtight as to who will be named in the report, many expect that it will include both big names and mediocre journeymen who were just trying to stay in the league.

The most damage from the report could fall on the public perception of baseball, said Joe Pietaro, editor of New York Sports Scene magazine.

"You'll see the names you didn't expect on it," Pietaro said. "The public will say it's deeper than they thought. It's not just Bonds, Palmeiro, [Jason] Giambi -- you'll see marginal utility infielders, not just superstar guys and home run hitters."

What happens after the names are released is anyone's guess. Will the players be suspended, or will they simply cope with public humiliation and a steroid stigma?

"They're likely to face 50-game suspensions," Pietaro said. "But unless they test positive, it will be hard to discipline them because the Players Association would get involved."

Teams may also jettison rule-breaking players themselves.

Yesterday, Miguel Tejada, accused by disgraced first baseman Palmeiro of providing him with vitamin B-12 that might have been tainted with performance-enhancing drugs, was traded from Baltimore to Houston.

The Astros, however, denied that the timing of the trade had anything to do with the possibility of Tejada being in the report.

"The deal was announced today because we finished it this morning," Astros GM Ed Wade said.

Despite all the names to be released, there's still the possibility fans have just accepted that steroids are simply part of the game now.

"You're not going find too many people who say, 'You know what? I don't trust baseball anymore,' " said Will Leitch, editor of deadspin.com. "It's not the '50s. It would be much more shattering if we found out Mickey Mantle was on steroids."

Commissioner Bud Selig hired Mitchell in March 2006 to investigate drug use in the sport after the release of "Game of Shadows," which explicitly documented the BALCO investigation and had explicit details of Bonds' alleged steroid use.

(with AP)