Link to the Mitchell Report

Here is the link to the MLB Mitchell Report.

We are shaking our head at the depth of the steroid-corruption in organized baseball.  Incredible.

Comments

[drew]

clemens' denial assaults the credibility of his trainer. note that it doesn't mention grimsley or canseco, two players who implicated him. his legacy has gone up in flames.

[Jimmy McNulty]

Drew said..."i realize we have deeper concerns, but this is about saving baseball from becoming like boxing or wwe wrestling."

...and to add to your list, the NFL. Hopefully we can keep MLB from developing the type of PED problem that is going on in the NFL - but no one seems to care about.

[Lester Freamon]

The thing that irks me the most is how much of a pass the NFL gets on PED use. I realize that the NFL started testing for steriods some 20 years ago, but the NFL was at the point MLB is now at that time. It just goes to show how far ahead the PED curve the NFL is as compared to MLB. HGH is now the big thing going on in the NFL and MLB, but I'm sure that HGH use has been rampant in the NFL for years and years. In fact, NFL players have probably already moved on to the next big thing that MLB players, by and large, haven't even caught on to yet.

I just wish PEDs weren't portrayed as just a Baseball problem when I'm sure that they are an even much bigger problem in the NFL.

[uncontrolled substance]

First of all, I love this blog. Thanks Dr. Gaffney!

I have to say, I'm a little concerned about Mitchell's current involvement with the Red Sox (he's currently a director in the Front Office). The list names plenty of division rivals (Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays) and seemingly goes into greater detail about estranged former Red Sox Roger Clemens than any other named player. Nor does it implicate any current Red Sox. I don't mean to speculate or float conspiracies (and I'm not a Yankee fan), but I question whether this report was conducted by a truly independent party without a vested interest.

Also, I wonder if the investigations turned up names of other professional athletes? Would the NFL or NHL have any interest in knowing whether its athletes are similarly complicated?

[uncontrolled substance]

Er, I meant implicated.

[Brian]

One has to wonder what MLB got for its money. Granted, there are names, both stars and "who is that", but the investigation steered clear of ongoing legal investigations - presumably omitting many other names. So it's hard not to conclude that a large percentage of MLB players were using PED's. Now they have some knowledge, but the horse long ago left through the (wide) open barn door.

I had previously commented (somewhat tongue in cheek) that it would be surprising to see players from some of the bottom dwelling teams on the list. As a casual fan, it was surprising how many "who-dat" names are on the list. It seems that with time Canseco's claims of the pervasiveness of PED's are being proven correct.

We're left now with an approximate 20 year period ('88-now) where most players and their achievements have to be treated as dubious. Yet they still pocketed millions of dollars with a wink and a nod from management since small ball doesn't turn the turnstiles like big flies do. All of which makes it a bit difficult to have a serious discussion with your 12 year old son about "long term consequences".

[John]

Laurie Bennett over at Muckety.com has an interesting interactive relationship map of many of the players involved in the Mitchell report.
You can read it here...

http://news.muckety.com/2007/12/14/steroid-report-centers-on-radomski-and-mcnamee/246

Here is the top of the story... but you have to see the map to get the "Big Picture"

Two major informants play central roles in the searing report on steroid use in baseball, released yesterday by former Sen. George Mitchell.

Kirk Radomski, a former Mets clubhouse attendant, and Brian McNamee, a former strength trainer for the Yankees and Blue Jays, provided much of the information linking players to drug use. The document named 89 players, including superstars Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco and Jason Giambi.

[drew]

to everyone who says that the NFL is a bigger problem.. i agree totally. sure, it would've been nice if they had turned up names in football. but that wasn't in the scope of this investigation. mitchell used information from albany, signature, and balco. that's it.

remember that steroid bust a month or so ago? where they said it could reveal HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of names? not just pro players but olympians, suppliers, even young players. the nfl will get it's day. it's just that no one has assaulted a treasured record like mcgwire and bonds did. there will have to be another catalyst. look at this article from SN - http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2007/10/top-high-school.html
there's no way this can continue without intervention.

[delco doc]

Thanks Dr G for this weblog. Well done.
I think eveyone's missing the big story. Pharmacies in Latin America are PED depots; Anglos got caught purchasing in the U.S., while Latinos got away scot-free.

[Cedric Daniels]

Drew, I agree. But, NFL records are falling too - just no one cares.