The LoHud Yankees Blog

This from the MLBPA:

Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director, Donald M. Fehr, today issued the following statement in response to questions raised concerning recent reports about the 2003 testing program.

“We are issuing this statement today to respond to two questions that have been raised in the last few days in connection with reports about Alex Rodriguez and the 2003 MLB testing program. First, it has been asked why the results from our 2003 survey tests were not destroyed before they were seized by the government in the spring of 2004. The short answer is that in November, 2003, before that could take place, a grand jury subpoena for program records was issued.

“In mid-November 2003, the 2003 survey test results were tabulated and finalized. The MLBPA first received results on Tuesday, November 11. Those results were finalized on Thursday, November 13, and the players were advised by a memo dated Friday, November 14. Promptly thereafter, the first steps were taken to begin the process of destruction of the testing materials and records, as contemplated by the Basic Agreement. On November 19, however, we learned that the government had issued a subpoena. Upon learning this, we concluded, of course, that it would be improper to proceed with the destruction of the materials.

The fact that such a subpoena issued in November 2003 has been part of the public record for more than two years. See, U.S. v. CDT, 473 F3d at 920 (2006), and 513 F3d at 1090 (2008) (both opinions have now been vacated). Other subpoenas followed, including one for all test results.

“Over the next several months we attempted to negotiate a resolution of the matter with the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California. During that time we pledged to the government attorneys that the materials would not be destroyed. When the government attorneys refused to withdraw its subpoena for all 2003 test results, we decided to ask a judge to determine to what the government was entitled. See, 473 F3d at 944, and 513 F3d at 1118. On the same day we were filing our papers with the court, the government attorneys obtained a search warrant and they began seizing materials the following day. Pursuant to that search warrant which named only 10 individuals, the government seized records for every baseball player tested under our program, in addition to many records related to testing in other sports, and even records for other (non-sport) business entities.

“Later in 2004 three federal district judges in three different judicial districts ruled that the government’s seizures were unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment and ordered the government to return all the materials seized (except for those related to the 10 players listed in the original search warrant). The government appealed and the matter is still pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On December 18, 2008, the case was reargued before an en banc panel of Ninth Circuit judges.

“The second question that has been raised in recent days is whether Gene Orza or any other MLBPA official was engaged in improper “tipping” of players about 2004 tests. As we have said before, there was no improper tipping of players. Any allegations that Gene Orza or any other MLBPA official acted improperly are wrong.”

Jorge Posada on A-Rod’s admission:

“I was surprised. Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever. I’m going to support him any way I can. There’s not much we can say.”

Meanwhile, police spokesmen in New York, Miami, Miami Beach and Coral Gables have no record of Selena Roberts being arrested, stopped or cited. Reporters are asked to leave by rent-a-cops all the time. But that’s not being cited, as Rodriguez claimed on ESPN.

She has denied all of those charges.

The Yankees will have a statement before the night is out. They must be passing this one around to everybody in the room.

A-Rod from 2001-2003: 161.7 games, 52 homers, 131.7 RBI and a .615 slugging percentage.

A-Rod’s other seasons: 149.2 games, 39.2 homers, 119 RBI and a .574 slugging percentage.

(Stats via the Elias Sports Bureau)

Said Rangers owner Tom Hicks: “I feel personally betrayed. I feel deceived by Alex. He assured me that he had far too much respect for his own body to ever do that to himself. … I certainly don’t believe that if he’s now admitting that he started using when he came to the Texas Rangers, why should I believe that it didn’t start before he came to the Texas Rangers?”

Still no response from the Yankees.

Somebody told Alex to use the word “culture” a lot.

It’s also truly hard to believe that any person — never mind a professional athlete — would inject substances into their body for three years without knowing what they were. Yet that is what A-Rod is claiming.

That is simply dangerous to your health.

UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.: Alex now says he has not used since 2004, including blood tests before the 2006 WBC.

UPDATE, 6:16 p.m.: Alex is attacking Selena Roberts now, saying she tried to break into his house. If that is true, that is crossing the line. Peter Gammons did not follow up on that.

UPDATE, 6:18 p.m.: Alex says he wants to help kids and that honesty is the only way. He says he’s tired of being stupid.

UPDATE, 6:19 p.m.: Alex is disappointed in himself, he says. The “culture in Texas” is mentioned again.

UPDATE, 6:24 p.m.: Alex praised Andy Pettitte. “The truth will set you free,” he said. “I’m just proud to be here sharing my story.”

Gammons just asked two questions about his message to children. Really?

Alex said the PED usage was, “an aberration.”

UPDATE, 6:26 p.m.: Selena Roberts released a statement saying Alex’s charges were “absurd.” Given that police records can be checked, we’ll see who is telling the truth. Alex claimed she was cited by police and was escorted off the Miami by campus by police. That can all be verified.

UPDATE, 6:38 p.m.: OK, back at it. A-Rod is making his case for the Hall of Fame.

UPDATE, 6:39 p.m.: Alex went after Jose Canseco, saying he was 100 percent false.

UPDATE, 6:42 p.m.: “I have great certainty that I will overcome this.”

Alex is attacking Roberts again. “She has been stalking me for the last three or four years.”

Gammons again does not follow up to ask what he means.

UPDATE, 6:45 p.m.: Alex says he has not read Torre’s book. He now says everybody makes fun of him in the clubhouse. “It’s a great compliment to me.”

UPDATE, 6:47 p.m.: “I got caught up in the ‘Everbody is doing it’ era,” he says.

There was another question about what he would tell kids.

UPDATE, 6:49 p.m.: The interview is over. Alex’s camp made a good choice in Gammons. It wasn’t exactly Frost/Nixon.

People who support and like A-Rod will believe he came clean. Those who don’t like Alex will find the interview specious. He’s a polarizing figure.

Everything else aside, he admitted he took PEDs for three years. That’s a long time. He also lied about it for six years. That’s a long time, too. Some will believe he’s telling the truth now, some will not. He’s the only one who knows for sure.

ESPN’s Peter Gammons asked Alex Rodriguez directly whether he used PEDs from 2001-03.

“That’s pretty accurate, yes,” he said.

What does that mean? Does that mean more than three years or less? The Yankees will want to know the exact timing given that Rodriguez came to New York in 2004. I don’t believe they have grounds to void his contract, but the club will want to know whether Rodriguez used PEDs while he was in their employ.

The Yankees have not yet commented on Rodriguez’s admission. There is likely to be something later on today.

Rodriguez also denied knowing what substances he took. This is the same player who literally brings his own food to the clubhouse every day. So for three years, he injected drugs into his body without knowing what they were?

There are still some holes in this story. How did Rodriguez get the drugs? How long exactly did he use them and was he tipped off about upcoming tests by the MLBPA?

If what he said is true this time, Rodriguez stopped using right around the time MLB instituted drug testing. He has not tested positive since and was subjected to Olympic-style testing in 2006 when he participated in the World Baseball Classic. That same level of testing is in place for the upcoming WBC.

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Shameless plugs: I’ll be on SNY’s The Wheelhouse at 5:30 p.m. today My segment will be around 5:45 p.m. I’m also scheduled for ESPN’s First Take tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

In an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Alex Rodriguez has admitted to using steroids for a three-year period starting in 2001.

“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day,” he said.

Rodriguez denied using PEDs since, including his time with the Yankees.

“It was such a loosey-goosey era. I’m guilty for a lot of things. I’m guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions,” Rodriguez said. “And to be quite honest, I don’t know exactly what substance I was guilty of using.”

SI.com reported that Rodriguez tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone.

“And I did take a banned substance and, you know, for that I’m very sorry and deeply regretful. And although it was the culture back then and Major League Baseball overall was very — I just feel that —You know, I’m just sorry. I’m sorry for that time. I’m sorry to fans. I’m sorry for my fans in Texas. It wasn’t until then that I ever thought about substance of any kind, and since then I’ve proved to myself and to everyone that I don’t need any of that,” he said.

Rodriguez has lied repeatedly about his drug usage in recent years. He hit 156 home runs while using performance enhancers, 28 percent of his career total.

While much could change in how drugs users are viewed in years to come, this admission could keep Rodriguez from being elected to the Hall of Fame.

More on this story as it develops.

Hey, actual baseball news!

Back when I wanted to write a spring training preview story, I talked to Brian Cashman. He revealed a few things that are at least somewhat interesting.

· The Yankees will use Joba Chamberlain as their No. 5 starter from the start of the season. There are no plans to pitch him out of the bullpen. “That is why bringing Andy (Pettitte) back was so important,” Cashman said.

Having Chamberlain as the No. 5 will allow the Yankees to easily skip his turn on occasion, thus controlling his innings.

· Cashman said he “absolutely” likes the idea of keeping Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher on the roster. While a trade is possible, there is value in roster flexibility. “Nady can cover us in left and right. Swisher can play first, left, right and center in an emergency. It gives our manager a lot of choices,” Cashman said.

In theory, Joe Girardi can rotate Nady, Swisher, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui in left, right and DH. One guy sits, everybody stays fresh.

· There are high hopes for Melky Cabera to reclaim center field. “Melky played well in winter ball and he has to show the competitiveness to put last season behind him,” Cashman said. “The good ones always find a way.”

Cashman also stressed it was a competition and that Brett Gardner will get a long look. They want Austin Jackson to stay in the minors.

· Cashman is “wide open” to the idea of having veteran free agents come to camp on minor-league deals to try and make the team. No word yet as to who those might be.

We return you now to “Alex Rodriguez: Huge Cheater or Innocent Victim?”

And so it begins as I head down to Tampa for spring training. The good news: Got an upgrade. The bad news: the television in the gate is blaring A-Rod news. There is no escaping it.

So it seems our protagonist has returned from the Bahamas and is huddling with Scott Boras to determine his next step. There would seem to be three options:

1. Admit it, apologize and try to move on. It worked like a charm for Andy Pettitte.

2. Deny it and fight. This didn’t work for Roger Clemens.

3. Refuse direct comment, citing legal reasons. Pretend to be the victim.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez will likely chose the third option. Boras is adept at trying to spin a story with his version of the truth. Given all the tangents and shadows that have dogged baseball’s drug-testing efforts over the years, this won’t be difficult. The MLBPA would be willing partners in this effort.

But that way would be perilous, both for Rodriguez and the Yankees. It would keep the story alive all season and only encourage further investigation. Barry Bonds tried to duck the punches and now he’s on trial. You know there is some publicity seeking Congressman out there just dying to drag Rodriguez before the cameras.

Yankee fans forgave Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte and would do the same for Rodriguez. But not commenting would turn even supporters against him. It would be a tacit admission of guilt without the contrition.

Somebody with a firm voice — Hal Steinbrenner? — needs to tell Rodriguez to act swiftly and surely and allow the Yankees to get on with their season. The question is whether Rodriguez will listen.

The next post will be about baseball, promise.

Nearly 100 college basketball games in the New York area were fixed by gamblers from 1947-50. The NBA was awash in recreational drugs in the 1970s and arenas were half empty. The NFL was little better than professional wrestling when it started, a bunch of goons pounding on each other.

But baseball never really suffered. Sure, the 1919 Black Sox fixed the World Series and Pete Rose bet on games. But those were isolated incidents that were quickly cleaned up. Segregation was a terrible stain on the game, but that was more the fault of society. Even lockouts and strikes were overcome.

Every time somebody tried to kill baseball, the sport got up and was better than ever. More people watched, new stadiums were built and great stars emerged.

Now we have the steroids, the scandal that won’t go away.

Consider this:

Barry Bonds, the greatest home run hitter in history, cheated.

Roger Clemens, the most outstanding pitcher of his generation, cheated.

Mark McGwire, the man who broke the single-season home run record, cheated.

And now Alex Rodriguez, who could have been the best ever, is just another cheater.

At this point, anybody who played the game in the last 15 years is guilty until proven innocent. Nobody gets a pass. Rodriguez is the most physically talented player in decades. If he decided he had to cheat, everybody else has to be a suspect. Don’t forget, there are still 103 names out there just waiting to be leaked.

Mike Mussina went from being bounced out of the rotation to his first 20-win season. Suspect. Mariano Rivera never seems to take a step back. Suspect. Derek Jeter plays every day. Suspect. Joba Chamberlain sure throws hard. Suspect. Two years ago you would bet your house on those guys being clean. Would you bet $20 now? You can’t be sure about any player, not even the supposed good guys. If you are, you’re hopelessly naive.

That is the legacy Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, A-Rod and the rest of them leave. Thanks to their lack of integrity, every player in the sport has become a suspect. If you go the new Stadium this season and watch somebody hit a home run, it’ll be in the back of your mind. How could it not be? Those players who are clean must be furious.

There is no easy solution. But Kenesaw Mountain Landis threw the Black Sox out of the game and Bart Giamatti did the same to Rose. Maybe scorched earth is needed again.

Forget 50 games. One strike and you’re out for life. Scare the determined cheaters by saving samples for re-testing as methods improve. It’s ridiculous that Michael Phelps got three months for a bong hit and A-Rod gets zippo for using Primobolan and testosterone.

It’s hard to believe Rodriguez tried steroids once in 2003, on the advent of formal testing and two years after signing a record-setting deal with Texas. It also stands to reason that he continued using, given that 2003 was his first MVP season. Rodriguez will become the face of the Steroids Era, the symbol of what went wrong in baseball. Brilliant move by Hank Steinbrenner to overrule Brian Cashman in 2007 and allow Rodriguez to return to the team after he opted out. The next nine years should be a real picnic.

Commissioner Bud Selig and MLBPA chief Don Fehr and Gene Orza made this mess by looking the other way for so many years, enabling A-Rod and his cheating peers. Now only they can fix it. Or perhaps the sport needs new leadership.

Baseball has overcome bad times before, but this will be the greatest challenge.

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Now seems like a good time to take the temperature of the people. Vote in the poll over to the right if you would.

I’m off to Tampa in the morning and will be blogging en route.

So … this was a slow week?

Usually the week before spring training begins is for non-roster invitees, minor-league contracts and buying sunscreen. Not so much this time around, though I have to say it certainly made my time here that much more interesting.

The best part, though, is the readers. I very much enjoyed the conversations and debates we had, and now I have a much more intimate understanding of what kind of a community exists here. It’s something special – you all share a passion for something and have found a great way to share it. I was glad to help guide the discussion for a little while.

I also appreciated all your emails. I’ve done my best to keep up with most of them throughout the week, and will try to get to the rest as soon as possible (though, like Pete just did, I’m going on hiatus for seven days starting tonight).

To those who said they enjoyed my postings: Thanks very much. But I’m just a relief pitcher. You guys have a terrific leader in Pete and he’s someone who is, literally, a pioneer with this stuff. He’s the best in the business, no doubt.

I hope all of you will continue to read my columns in The Journal News (you can always find my stuff at www.lohud.com/borden) as well as check in with the FACEOFF blog that I do with Rick Carpiniello (faceoff.lohudblogs.com). I’ll do my best to let you know when we’re debating something Yankees or baseball related, but give us a click in the mornings anyway. Since it’s clear most of you don’t mind stating your opinion, you’ll fit right in.

Thanks again for sticking around with me this week. We had thousands of comments on a couple dozen posts, despite the fact that the first side sessions of the spring are still a few days away. That’s pretty amazing. It’s also just further proof that the greatest part of this gig is you.