Gwynn reasserts drug-use claim
By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2003
Though it didn't make quite the splash of Ken Caminiti's claim that half the majors is on steroids, former San Diego hit machine Tony Gwynn stunned baseball last week when he was quoted as saying that 50 percent of position players regularly use amphetamines.
"People might think there is a steroid problem in baseball, but it's nowhere near the other problem; the other, it's a rampant problem," Gwynn, coach at San Diego State, said.
Amphetamines, known as "greenies," are more powerful than caffeinated beverages, and medical personnel say they pose a health risk for those who take them.
So is there a problem?
San Diego general manager Kevin Towers and manager Bruce Bochy seemed surprised by Gwynn's claims and denied being witnesses, but Gwynn didn't back off his assertions.
"I said what I said," Gwynn said. "I'll stand by what I said. Don't tell me about (Bochy) and Towers. I don't work for them. They're going to say what they have to say. I don't need to come to them. ... The reason I didn't come to them is because it's obvious. I'll stand by what I said. I'm not backing off."
Padres first baseman Ryan Klesko said he thought amphetamine use has decreased in the big leagues.
"I seem to think the use of that type of stuff was more when I was younger, whether it was greenies or diet pills," said Klesko, who came up with the Braves as a rookie in 1992. "Guys don't go around offering (greenies) to people. I don't know how some people would know that. In my opinion, it's gotten a lot better than it has been in the last 10 years."
Better maybe, but if Gwynn is right, far from good.
SEEING RED: After a 6-14 start, Reds general manager Jim Bowden is ready to tear up the roster.
"We're going to keep making moves until we get competitive," Bowden said. "This is embarrassing. We tried to give everybody as much rope as possible, but it didn't happen. We've been beat on all year and we just can't keep losing night after night after night. We're getting our brains beat out and we just can't keep watching what we're seeing at this level."
There's more.
"This has been building up," Bowden said. "We've been horrible from Day 1 and we're not going to watch this all season. We might not be better, but at least we're trying something."
NOT WRIGHT: Right-hander Jamey Wright, signed by Milwaukee this spring, is struggling in the minors (in the bullpen, no less). He has an out clause in his contract if he's not called up to the big leagues by May 1. The way he's pitching, the Brewers likely won't call him up.
HERE'S THE CATCH: Forget the Pirates as this season's Cinderella team in the National League. Any team with pennant hopes has to play good defense, and the Pirates just can't field.
For example, second baseman Pokey Reese, a two-time Gold Glove winner, already has made six errors in 19 games. He made just eight in 119 games last season. As a team, the Pirates have made 24 errors in 20 games. That's not going to cut it.
LONG AND WINDING ROAD: It took 21/2 months, but the Expos finally played a home game in Montreal on Tuesday and drew 36,879, the biggest crowd of any game played that night. The world was put back on its axis the next night when they drew 6,380. By the way, the total attendance for the Expos' 10 games in Puerto Rico was 142,821.
NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Though the New York tabloids are suggesting Yankees manager Joe Torre is on his way out, Torre said his recent dustup with owner George Steinbrenner isn't that big of a deal.
"I never worry about my job security," Torre said. "This is the most security I've ever had in my life. If I worry about my job, I can't do my job."
SORRY: A day after his 97-mph fastball fractured Jeromy Burnitz's left hand, Houston's Billy Wagner called to apologize.
"It just (stinks)," Wagner said. "You never want to hurt anybody. He's such a good player and a good guy."
Burnitz, who will miss 4-6 weeks, accepted Wagner's call without holding a grudge.
"I called over to the clubhouse and he said not to worry about anything," Wagner said. "He said to keep pitching. He's a good dude."
TROUBLE IN LA-LA LAND: Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre was benched for the fourth time in seven games last week because of his .190 batting average. He had a heated exchange with manager Jim Tracy and said, "I don't know what's going on. He told me he wants me to work on my offense. Okay, fine. But how am I going to do that from the bench?"
Tracy said, "I'm not quitting on him. I don't quit on players. I give them ample opportunities to get to where we want them to get. But it does get to a point where it's not so much about what's going on in this office, it's about what's going to take place (on the field). We're paid for results here. I'm paid for results, he's paid for results. Any other person in this clubhouse is paid for results. The word is consistency. ... I'm not going to talk anymore about how young he is. This guy is working on five years (in the majors)."
PROSPECT TROUBLES: Dodgers prospect Hong-Chih Kuo, the Taiwanese left-hander who picked up a $900,000 signing bonus in 1999, just had his second Tommy John-surgery and he's only 21. He has pitched 15 games in three years and won't pitch this season.
Meantime, second baseman Jake Gautreau, selected 14th overall by San Diego in the 2001 draft, is on the DL for the second straight season with ulcerative colitis, a disease that affects the bowel system.
SHORT HOPS: The Cardinals likely won't re-sign lefty Chuck Finley. Primary owner Bill DeWitt Jr. said the Cards already are over budget and don't have the money. Finley, a late-season lift last year, declined the Cardinals offer of salary arbitration in December, meaning they couldn't re-sign the free agent until May 1. ... Seattle's Edgar Martinez, 40, said his body is wearing down and hinted this might be his last season. ... The Indians signed pitcher Jason Bere to eat up innings, and so far he has eaten none. Bere has been on the DL since the start of the season with a sore shoulder, but he could head to the minors next week to begin a rehabilitation assignment. ... By starting 15-3, the Royals have their first winning record in April since 1989. ... If not for the totally anemic Tigers, the Twins would rank last in the American League in runs, homers and on-base percentage. It's eating at manager Ron Gardenhire, who was ejected for the fifth time in his season-and-a-month managing career last week. Former Twins manager Tom Kelly needed 15 seasons to get kicked out of five games.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
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