Schoeneweis: No Proof of Steroid Epidemic

To those fans skeptical that the players’ union is determined to wipe out the perceived steroid epidemic in the major leagues, Angel player representative Scott Schoeneweis says this: No one has proved there is a steroid epidemic in the major leagues.

The union discounts the recent estimates of such retired stars as Jose Canseco, who asserted that 85% of players took steroids, and Ken Caminiti, who suggested that half did. The national outcry surrounding those and other estimates compelled the union to drop its long-held opposition to random drug testing.

But the proposal presented by the union last week contemplates random testing to determine whether there is a steroid problem rather than operating under the assumption there is one.

Under the proposal, test results would first be used only to determine whether steroid use among players exceeds 5%. If so--and only if so--a two-year testing program would begin.

“If we find it’s 40%, that would be a problem,” Schoeneweis said. “If we find out it’s 5%, or 3%, that doesn’t seem like a problem to me.”

With 25 players on each of 30 teams, 5% use would translate to 38 players.

If significant steroid use is found and then reduced, the union wants the testing stopped after two years. Schoeneweis did not agree that the absence of permanent testing could encourage some players to renew steroid use after the two-year program expired.

“If you can eradicate the problem, why test any more?” he said. “It may just go away. We’ll see.”

Jarrod Washburn pitches today, then will fly to Chicago to represent the Angels at Monday’s union meeting, one at which a strike date could be set.

*

Outfielder Tim Salmon is expected to sit out a game or two after his left hand was hit and bruised by a pitch from Toronto’s Steve Parris. Salmon was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which were negative, and which also proved that Joe West is better off as an umpire than as a doctor.

As soon as he was hit, Salmon grabbed his hand in pain and did not even make a move to first base as trainer Ned Bergert treated him.

Salmon said he was concerned about a possible broken bone, particularly when he heard West, the plate umpire, say, “Oh, he just broke his hand.”

*

Manager Mike Scioscia dropped third baseman Troy Glaus to sixth in the batting order against right-handers, behind designated hitter Brad Fullmer.

While Fullmer is hot and Glaus is not, the season statistics support the move too: Fullmer has 14 home runs, a .291 batting average and a .578 slugging percentage against right-handers, and he strikes out once every 13 at-bats. Glaus has 13 home runs, a .205 batting average and a .384 slugging percentage against right-handers, and he strikes out once every four at-bats.

TODAY

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN

(14-3, 3.13 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’ ROY HALLADAY

(14-4, 2.74 ERA)

SkyDome, 10 a.m. PDT

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--Washburn ranks second and Halladay third among AL starters in winning percentage, behind Pedro Martinez, and both rank among the top seven in earned-run average. In the only other meeting of 14-game winners this season, Boston’s Derek Lowe beat Oakland’s Barry Zito last week.