The LA Times (may take registration) report that Angels owner Arte Moreno, backed by MLB commissioner Bug Selig, wants Angel player Gary Matthews Jr. to explain himself before the Angels open the season.
Arte Moreno got a powerful endorsement on Saturday, when Commissioner Bud Selig said he supported the Angels' owner in his insistence that center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. publicly address allegations that he ordered a shipment of human growth hormone.
"Arte and I are absolutely on the same page on this issue," Selig said. "There isn't a scintilla of difference between Arte Moreno's position and mine. To say it as bluntly as I can say it, he's stating my position."
We are not sure exactly what the team owner wants from Matthews. A statement explaining his situation? A confession?
Moreno and Selig met for about 30 minutes before Saturday's game between the Angels and the Seattle Mariners, then met with reporters. Moreno did not take questions and deferred comment to Selig.
In the 12 days since the allegations surfaced, Matthews has hired a criminal defense lawyer and public relations firm but has not addressed the matter publicly. Moreno asked him to do so in a private meeting when the allegations arose and has repeated that request in several media interviews over the past week.
"A statement would be very, very helpful, to say the least," Selig said .
Matthews may be involved in criminal investigations, thus he does have to be careful what he says. It doesn't appear Matthews has to fear that possibility, but who knows. Further it is not clear how and why his name was singled out.
Moreno has said he wants the issue resolved by opening day, and lawyers representing the Angels and Major League Baseball have discussed options including a suspension, conversion of his guaranteed contract to non-guaranteed and terminating the contract. Matthews signed a five-year, $50-million contract last November.
The players' union would almost certainly challenge any action; Matthews has not failed a drug test or been charged with any crime. Selig said he would not discuss what grounds the Angels might have to discipline Matthews...
Selig said he had to limit his comments in light of the ongoing New York investigation in which the names of Matthews and several other players have surfaced. Selig sent three representatives, including baseball's head of security, to meet last week with investigators in the case, and the commissioner said Saturday it is "very premature" to say that no players will be charged.
Heather Orth, the spokeswoman for prosecutor David Soares, the Albany County (N.Y.) district attorney, said investigators still are reviewing evidence and said "there's no way to tell at this point" whether any players might be charged.
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