Baseball Executive Defends Owners
Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for labor relations, lashed out Thursday at Johnny Damon and Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox for their comments this week about steroids.
Damon had said in a cable news report that owners didn’t mind steroids in the game because they boosted home run production, which increases attendance at ballparks. Schilling said he was mistrustful of the current drug testing program and blamed the owners for some players’ names being linked to steroid use.
One day after baseball banned the new designer steroid THG, Manfred delivered a stern response to the comments of the Boston players during a conference call with baseball reporters.
“Not once, not ever, has there been any suggestion by an owner or a club representative that we should be soft on performance-enhancing substances because we like home runs,” Manfred said. “That theory has only been heard out of the mouths of players like Mr. Damon. And it is simply not an accurate reflection of what the owners’ position is.”
Manfred also addressed Schilling’s comments, particularly the issue of privacy, after a report last month in the San Francisco Chronicle that said federal investigators were told San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds and New York Yankees Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield had received steroids from a Bay Area supplement lab that is the subject of a federal investigation.
“I understand the privacy argument in the context of testing for substances that are not performance-enhancing substances,” Manfred said. “In contrast, when you get into a situation where you’re using a substance for the specific purpose of altering the public display that goes on on the field, I am at a loss to understand where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. You’re using the substance to change the public display.
“Moreover, we think that the health concerns associated with the use of these substances and the potential risk to players who are using them, to players who feel compelled to use them because their competitors are using them, are so significant that they outweigh any privacy concerns that might be present.”
Manfred also defended baseball’s testing program. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency administers the collection of samples from players, with testing done at World Anti-Doping Agency-approved labs at UCLA and Montreal.
“In all candor, we believe we have a program in place with well-trained independent parties, really no need to use someone else,” Manfred said. “I guess I would characterize my comment about USADA by saying if that’s the price of poker to move forward on this topic, we’re prepared to pay it.”
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The Oakland Athletics finally kept one of their young stars, signing third baseman Eric Chavez to a six-year contract extension worth $66 million -- the biggest contract in franchise history.
Chavez, a three-time Gold Glove winner and the American League’s top power-hitting third baseman last season, would have been eligible for free agency after the season. But instead of allowing Chavez to leave as most valuable players Giambi and Miguel Tejada did, Oakland spent the cash necessary.
“It’s a real honor standing here, considering the guys that have gone by, and I’m the one standing here,” Chavez said. “It’s kind of unbelievable, really.... I’m grateful that they see me as a centerpiece.”
The deal, announced Thursday, includes a $12.5-million club option for 2011 with a $3-million buyout. Chavez will make $5.2 million this season.
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Minnesota Twin third baseman Corey Koskie left Thursday’s exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles because of a stiff lower back.
Koskie, who is listed as day to day, twisted his back while stealing second base. Manager Ron Gardenhire said he thought Koskie hurt himself by going in standing up instead of sliding.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
