Pitcher denies willful use of banned drugs

By wire services
Published May 4, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS - Suspended Twins reliever Juan Rincon said he was "devastated" to hear he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and insisted Tuesday he would never intentionally jeopardize his career.

Penalized 10 days Monday for the violation, the right-hander, one of baseball's best setup men, asked the players' union to file a grievance over the ban. Paperwork was submitted Tuesday, union chief operating officer Gene Orza said.

Wearing his pregame warmup uniform and standing next to general manager Terry Ryan, Rincon took no questions after reading a prepared statement.

Rincon seemed to indicate he didn't knowingly take a banned substance.

PITCHING GURU ADMITS STEROID USE: Former pitcher and noted instructor Tom House said he used steroids during his career and said performance-enhancing drugs were widespread in the 1960s and '70s, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

House said he and several teammates used amphetamines, human growth hormone and "whatever steroid" they could find to keep up with the competition.

ROCKER MADNESS: Left-hander John Rocker, attempting a comeback with the independent league Long Island Ducks, had a testy exchange with a fan as he walked off after a rough outing. As Rocker left the field, Dave Macken of Atlantic City yelled, "It's a long way from Atlanta." Rocker replied, "I'm still a millionaire" and followed with a profanity, Macken told the Press of Atlantic City. Macken said the two then exchanged profanities.

STATE TAKES ON ANGELS: California's Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee voted 9-0 to approve a bill that would require the Angels to disclose on tickets, ads and other promotional material that they are based in Anaheim, about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

BRAVES: Third baseman Chipper Jones wasn't in the lineup for the seventh straight game, and the team acknowledged his ailing left foot might be more than a bone bruise.

CUBS: Right-hander Kerry Wood, who went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his pitching shoulder, expects to be ready after three weeks of rest.

DODGERS: Former Devil Rays left-hander Wilson Alvarez, out all season with shoulder tendinitis, was activated from the 15-day disabled list.

PHILLIES: First baseman Jim Thome and centerfielder Kenny Lofton went on the 15-day disabled list. First baseman Ryan Howard and outfielder Marlon Byrd were recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

RED SOX: Rightfielder Trot Nixon dropped his appeal and started serving a two-game suspension stemming from the April 15 scuffle with the Devil Rays.

TWINS: The team's proposed $478-million ballpark passed its first public vote as Hennepin County commissioners decided 4-3 to seek the state legislature's permission to raise the local sales tax by 0.15 percent.

WHITE SOX: Infielder Willie Harris went on the bereavement list. The team would not comment on the reason.

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:58:13]