Perlozzo Testifies in Steroids Probe

Baltimore Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo testified Wednesday in a probe headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to investigate the use of steroids in baseball.

Perlozzo and strength coach Tim Bishop were among those on the coaching staff who were in line to be interviewed. Investigators intend to speak with staff members of all 30 teams this summer.

Perlozzo did not reveal details of the questions or answers that were given during his two-hour interview with a representative of Mitchell.

“I answered the questions that were asked honestly,” Perlozzo said before Baltimore played host to the Florida Marlins. “This is one step in a long series of interviews. Everyone in Major League Baseball is going to get interviewed, so whenever that’s all finished, they can come to whatever conclusion they get out of it.”

*

Kerry Wood’s comeback has hit a snag. Maybe even a season-ending one for the Chicago Cubs right-hander. Wood, who has made four starts after shoulder surgery, said he’s concerned that he might not be able to pitch again this year.

“With each passing day, I get more and more doubts,” Wood said. “But I have to keep going and try to get through this.”

He’s eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list today, but it now looks as if that will be delayed and there’s no timetable for him to throw again.

*

Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen apologized for using the word “fag” in referring to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti, then kept up his criticism of the writer.

Guillen went into a tirade against Mariotti before Tuesday night’s game against St. Louis and called him a number of names.

Before Wednesday night’s game, Guillen said, “I shouldn’t have mentioned the name that was mentioned, but I’m not going to back off of Jay....

The word I used, I should have used something different. A lot of people’s feelings were hurt and I didn’t mean it that way.”

*

First baseman Albert Pujols, who has 25 home runs this season, should be ready to come off the disabled list and play by Monday when the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series at home against the Cleveland Indians, Manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday.

“Sooner than that? Maybe,” La Russa said.

Pujols has been out since June 3 because of a strained muscle on his right side.

*

The Boston Red Sox obtained pitcher Jason Johnson, a day after the right-hander was designated for assignment by the Indians.