Commission gets ready to name names

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA, Times Staff Writer
Published December 13, 2007

The curtain will be drawn back on baseball's black eye this afternoon in New York when former Sen. George Mitchell releases the findings of his investigation into illegal performance-enhancing drug use around the game.

The culmination of 20 months of private interviews and document chasing will occur today, and baseball expects a tough critique on how steroids, human growth hormone and amphetamines crept into the culture of the game. Though the exact contents of, and the names within, the Mitchell report won't be unveiled until today's 2 p.m. news conference, here is how baseball got to this point.

How did it begin?

On March 30, 2006, commissioner Bud Selig appointed Mitchell, a former Senate majority leader and federal prosecutor who is also a director with the Red Sox and a former director with Walt Disney, to investigate drug use in baseball. Mitchell's commission, with varying degrees of success, chased interviews with people in all phases of the game. High-ranking MLB officials began reviewing the report Tuesday to make sure there wasn't information that would violate the collective bargaining agreement, which contains strict confidentiality stipulations on test results, treatment and other health information.

Why is the report coming out now?

Before the end of the season, it was announced the report would come out between the end of the World Series and the end of the calendar year. It's believed that the timing was premeditated to give the game time to heal, dole out punishments and turn the page before the beginning of spring training in mid February.

How many names will surface?

Published reports say 60-80 former and current players could be linked to performance-enhancing drugs. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the list would include former MVPs and All-Stars. Most are believed to be linked to former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who as part of his plea bargain agreed to lead Mitchell's investigation to dozens of players he said he supplied with steroids, human growth hormone and other stimulants from 1995 to 2005. While many high-profile names have been linked to drug use - Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro among them - this will be the first comprehensive list of alleged dopers.

How can the report prove those implicated were actually doping?

That remains the big question. The players' association refused to cooperate, and only one active player, Yankees 1B Jason Giambi, is known to have been interviewed by Mitchell. (SI.com reported last month that another unnamed active player came forth.) Giambi is believed to have talked only about his own steroid use. But Radomski is believed to have provided the commission with a paper trail of shipments he sent players. That evidence will likely be presented in the form of documents - phone records, mail receipts, canceled checks - and not positive test results.

Why didn't players talk?

The baseball clubhouse is one of the strongest fraternities, bolstered by one of the nation's strongest unions. Even former slugger Jose Canseco, who outed several active players in his book, said he was careful not to name people currently with roles within baseball. Admitted steroid user David Segui said this week he knows a lot but would never give names to Mitchell. Also, initial scuttlebutt among players was that the investigation was created entirely to go after Bonds. Tigers OF and Tampa native Gary Sheffield told USA Today in February that the union advised players not to cooperate and told them it is "just a witch hunt" to get Bonds.

Will players linked be disciplined?

More than likely, but they'll probably face a lesser suspension than for a positive test result. The burden of proof of actual use vs. intended use is different, so players linked to the reports will likely receive closer to the 15-game suspensions Orioles OF Jay Gibbons and Royals OF Jose Guillen received for receiving shipments of HGH. Suspensions might be based on when the alleged violations took place and what MLB's drug policy was at the time. And the report is intended to cover how all facets of the game dealt with the problem, so it will be interesting to see how it spreads blame throughout the ranks, to not only players but coaches, managers, general managers, owners, the players' association and even the commissioner's office.

Will anyone be able to see the report?

Shortly after today's 2 p.m. news conference, the report will be available on mlb.com. Selig, who is not planning to attend Mitchell's news conference in midtown Manhattan, will have his own at 4:30 blocks away at MLB's Park Avenue headquarters.

FAST FACTS

When/where: 2 p.m.; New York

TV/radio: ESPN (starting at 1), CNN; XM Satellite Radio is dedicating one channel to the report. The entire report will be read aloud and played repeatedly on Ch. 176 throughout the day. Ch. 175 will carry breaking news and reaction.

Web: Live video on MLB.com.

[Last modified December 12, 2007, 20:37:44]