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 bases during his 12-year career. Presumably he’s slowed since then, so the question now becomes whether the feds have a rag-armed catcher or just don’t hold runners very well.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

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 his record, which includes taking minimal steps in ridding baseball of these drugs.

Yeah, you could add Selig’s role in a work stoppage that forced cancellation of the World Series (something not even two world wars could do) to that list. How about destroying a franchise in Montreal? Or generally not having a clue?

What a joke. Not a funny one, either…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

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 to fans, but at least the fans got to see some cool stuff. They got to see tons of home runs. They got to see (Mark) McGwire and (Sammy) Sosa go at it for the season home run record in 1998. I’d love to see one of these guys apologize to the minor leaguers whose jobs they took with steroids.

I sometimes hear it said that the use of performance-enhancing drugs is a victimless crime. Not everyone has the luxury of sharing this perspective.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

There are some real nuggets in here:

…people will do pretty heinous things for comparatively small amounts of cash; so we have to ask what people might do when there’s millions on the line?

And this:

There are men who decided not to use (and never made the big leagues) and they’re pumping your gas, delivering your new couch, painting your house, or picking up your garbage. You’re not going to ask for their autograph (or pay for one at a card show) and if he tells you that he used to be a minor league ballplayer who said no to drugs you’d likely think “Yeah? So what?” and later tell your buddies about this pathetic guy telling you his life story.

Seriously, if you’ve ever watched one of those “reality” TV shows, then you know what people will do to themselves in the name of fortune and fame. What is missing from their lives that they would gladly sacrifice (pardon me for sounding a bit Klingon here) ideals such as honor and integrity in favor of the almighty dollar?

I have no idea, and frankly, I can’t begin to imagine. There are many ways a person can be rich. Having lots of money is only one of them, and I’m not sure it’s the best.

I also don’t know how the powers-that-be are going to solve this problem on their current tack. Punishment after the fact is useful to a degree but it doesn’t solve the underlying issues. On the bright side, it gives cheaters incentive to get better at hiding their misdeeds. Hey, at least they’re improving at something…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Post from: Knuckle Curve

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 powerful. At virtually every point in MLB history, owners have tried to screw players in one way or another. The current witch hunt is no exception.

Make no mistake, I don’t condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Far from it. But I fail to see how the current “solution” of threatening every worker is going to help matters.

There’s a colossal difference between seeking cooperation and unilaterally forcing compliance. Too bad the distinction is lost on some people.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

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 admit to anything illegal. His response was, “I’m talking to my people and we’ll get back to you.”

Heh. Behold the power of a very strong labor union. Moreno doesn’t get to call this shot, and it’s killing him.

Meanwhile, Matthews has hired noted lawyer Robert Shapiro. How does Moreno feel about this?

When he hired Shapiro, this doesn’t send a very good signal. When 8 or 10 days go by and the only response is from a criminal attorney, what signals does that send to your fans?

Moreno asks a good question. I’ll follow up with three more of my own:

1. What signals does it send to your fans when the team owner publicly slags his biggest free-agent acquisition of the winter on the basis of an ongoing investigation?
2. What are the motives of a man who insists on identifying his team with the city of Los Angeles despite the fact that it plays in a different county? (Hint: It starts with “m” and rhymes with honey.)
3. Is it possible that Moreno finally got the memo that signing Matthews to a long-term deal worth big bucks wasn’t such a hot idea, and that maybe he’s looking for a way out?

Note that I don’t have answers to these questions (well, except for the second one — but it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out). I’m just throwing stuff out there for discussion. I don’t see a happy ending here. For that, you’ll still need to take the 10-minute drive to Disneyland. If you do, please give my regards to Fantasyland.

Post from: Knuckle Curve