ESPN reports that federal agents haven’t been able to track down ex-big-leaguer Chuck Knoblauch to serve him with a subpoena to appear before a House panel investigating steroid use in baseball:
When the committee didn’t hear from Knoblauch or a representative, it issued a subpoena to force the 1991 AL Rookie of the Year to submit to a deposition next Tuesday.
As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, though, that subpoena had not reached the former infielder who, like Clemens and more than 80 other players, was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in last month’s Mitchell Report on baseball’s steroids era.
Knoblauch swiped 407 …read more

BallHype – Owners Extend Selig’s Contract Because, Hey, Drugs Aren’t That Badballhype_story_widget_178447(false);
Commissioner Bud Selig has been given a three-year contract extension. As with most of what’s going on in Major League Baseball right now, this falls into the category of “disappointing but not surprising.” Quoth Florida Representative Cliff Stearns:
The explosion in the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs occurred under Selig’s 15-year tenure. I have found commissioner Selig’s glacial response to this growing stain on baseball unacceptable and I have called on him to step down. This three-year extension of Selig’s contract is a vote of confidence in …read more

Lost in the Roger Clemens – Brian McNamee spat that has resulted in Clemens filing suit against his former trainer is the story of the little guy. You know, the guy who never made it because he wasn’t juicing. Ex-minor-leaguer Rich Hartmann reportedly may file a class-action suit against MLB. Quoth Hartmann:
Was I cheated of my dreams of a big-league career? I don’t know. But I do know there were thousands of guys who were right on the doorstep between 1990 and 2005 and they were cheated because they didn’t use steroids.
And a little further down:
I hear these guys apologize …read more

A buddy pointed me to an interesting article by John Brattain over at Sympatico/MSN on the motives for cheating in baseball. With all the fuss over steroids, HGH, and other performance-enhancing drugs, John asks the logical question of why cheaters do what they do. The reasons, although hardly surprising, are a bit disturbing and force (or should force) us to ask some honest questions about ourselves as a society and, perhaps more realistically, as individuals within that society.
There are some real nuggets in here:
…people will do pretty heinous things for comparatively small amounts of cash; so we have to ask …read more

Maury Brown at Biz of Baseball chats with ESPN’s Rob Neyer. They touch on performance-enhancing drugs, Barry Zito’s contract, the Matt Morris trade, and more. [Tip o' the Knuckle Curve cap to Baseball Think Factory.]

ESPN reports that commissioner Bud Selig is “leaning toward suspending” New York Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi for the latter’s recent comments about steroid use. From the article:
After hearing of Giambi’s comments, Selig offered the slugger a deal: Talk to [lead investigator Sen. George] Mitchell and “cooperate fully” or you will face disciplinary action.
Is it me, or does this sound like an offer Giambi can’t refuse? Look, I’m no great fan of the MLBPA — it’s difficult to sympathize with the working conditions of millionaires — but when stuff like this happens, I’m reminded of why it has become so …read more

All is not well in Anaheim. The name of new center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. has surfaced in an investigation of pharmacies that allegedly sell performance-enhancing drugs online. Angels owner Arte Moreno tells the New York Times that he is “not a happy guy.”
Seems Moreno had one idea of how Matthews should handle the situation, while the player had another. Quoth Moreno:
Address the press and say: “Yes, my name has been linked to this story. I’m sorry this has become a distraction and we’re going to try to clear it up as quickly as possible. I’m not asking him to …read more