Awards Wrap-up

Hey everyone, I am officially a college graduate, woohoo! I'm still in disbelief, not that I actually graduated from college, but that the Miami Dolphins actually won a game this season. Though if not for a Matt Stover missed field goal, the Dolphins losing season would still be in tact.

Oh well, I know I haven't really written a true post since Thanksgiving, so hopefully I can make up for most of it. This will finally be the awards wrap-up I've been meaning to get to for awhile, if I have the time, I'll analyze the transactions made since Thanksgiving. But first, the Silver Sluggers:

National League

C- Russell Martin (Los Angeles Dodgers)
1B- Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers)
2B- Chase Utley (Philadelphia Phillies)
3B- David Wright (New York Mets)
SS- Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies)
OF- Carlos Beltran (New York Mets)
OF- Carlos Lee (Houston Astros)
OF- Matt Holiday (Colorado Rockies)
P- Micah Owings (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Russell Martin is a clear and obvious choice for the catcher spot. His 540 ABs, 87 runs, 158 hits, 19 homers, 253 total bases, 67 walks, 21 stolen bases, and a .293 average are all tops among National League catchers. His slugging percentage is .469. If it wasn't for Brian McCann's 92 RBIs (to Martin's 87) and Miguel Olivo's 4 triples (to Martin's 3), Martin would be leading in every single offensive category for catchers in the NL. McCann is second, and carried a .452 slugging percentage.

Prince Fielder is definately the Silver Slugger at first base, but clearly not the best hitter (Albert Pujols). Fielder put up very gaudy power numbers in only his second year in the league with 50 homers, 119 RBIs, and a .618 slugging percentage. Pujols hit .327 with 32 homers and 103 RBIs; he carried a .568 slugging percentage. Fielder will fortunately end up being nothing like his father (a fat mess), and a perennial MVP contender. Just, he can never be Albert Pujols.

In the NL at second base, there is Chase Utley, then there is everyone that wishes they were Chase Utley. I guess Brandon Phillips isn't too far off but after Phillips there is a huge drop-off. Keep in mind Utley lost roughly 100 at bats due to injury and his numbers are amazing for anyone let alone a second baseman: .332 AVG, 22 homers, and 103 RBIs (.566 SLG). Forget Jimmy Rollins, this guy should have been MVP over him (though not quite as deserving as Matt Holiday).

Sorry David, while I'd say your the second-best all-around third baseman in baseball (A-Rod), this award didn't belong to you either, though you were a close second. Miguel Cabrera of the Marlins (now Tigers) deserved it more. Miggy's .320 average, 34 homers, 119 RBIs and .565 slugging percentage exceeded Wright's 30 homers, 119 RBIs and his .546 slugging percentage (but not Wright's .325 average). It's close and both are extremely talented, but I think it should have went to Cabrera. Chipper Jones of the Altanta Braves wasn't too far off either (.337 AVG, 29 homers, 102 RBIs, and a .604 slugging percentage). Well you still got a lot to worry about Wright, this will probably be Ryan Braun's award next year.

Jimmy Rollins was a good choice here. Though Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins is a close second. Rollins hit .296 with 30 homers and 94 RBIs (.531 SLG) while Ramirez hit .332 with 29 homers and 81 RBIs (.562 SLG). Rollins had the first 20-20-20-20 season ever (doubles, triples, homers and steals). Gotta give credit where it's due.

With the outfielders Lee and Holliday are clear-cut, but Beltran; not so much. It's unfortunate but no where even near consideration was someone who truly deserved the Silver Slugger: Brad Hawpe of the Colorado Rockies. But he's no monster like Holliday so he'll never be noticed. Hawpe had a dynamite season hitting .291 with 29 homers, 116 RBI, and a .539 slugging percentage. Beltran hit .276 with 33 homers, 112 RBIs and a .525 slugging percentage. It's really too bad Hawpe was in Holliday's shadow all year.

Micah Owings is the only pitcher I've tracked down on mlb.tv games just to see him hit. In 60 at bats Owings hit .333 with 4 homers and 15 RBI, good for a .683 slugging percentage. That's right, that slugging percentage is the highest in the majors, for any regular! Granted he only plays every five days but still. He's the only pitcher to exceed 10 RBIs and the next highest slugging pitcher was Dontrelle Willis of the Marlins at.508 (still impressive). That includes a game on August 16th against the Atlanta Braves where Owings went 4 for 5 with two homers and six RBIs. Unbelievable.

Fast Forward a few days....

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Now for the AL

American League

C- Jorge Posada (New York Yankees)
1B- Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
2B- Placido Polanco (Detroit Tigers)
3B- Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees)
SS- Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)
OF- Vladimir Guerrero (Los Angeles Angels)
OF- Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)
OF- Magglio Ordonez (Detroit Tigers)
DH- David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox)

Jorge Posada, can't argue with that at all. All his stats are either first or second (Victor Martinez) amongst catchers. He hit .338 with 2o homers and 90 RBIs with a .543 SLUG, while Martinez hit .301 with 25 homers and 114 RBIs with a .505 SLUG. In a career year, even though Martinez isn't too far off, you can't take this away from Posada.

Ahh, now here's a nice ending for the comeback player of the year in the American League. Still this is no charity case, Carlos Pena blew away everyone in the AL. He hit .282 with 46 homers and 121 RBIs. Mark Teixeira might have given him a run for his money had he stayed in the AL with the Texas Rangers but he went to the Braves near the deadline. Not bad for a guy who hit a third as many RBIs this season as he had over the past six.

Placido Polanco is an interesting call. I like the pick because of his .341 average but not because of his 9 homers and 67 RBIs. I think Robinson Cano of the Yankees deserved it more. Cano hit .306 with 19 homers and 97 RBIs good for a .488 slugging percentage. He also led 2nd basemen in at-bats. Polanco was more than justified in winning the gold glove, not really the Silver Slugger.

I don't really need to talk about Alex Rodriguez. No one can top hitting .314 with 54 homers and 156 RBIs (.645 SLUG). Mike Lowell of the Red Sox (.324, 21 homers, 120 RBIs, and a .501 SLG) is a distant second.

Here's a unique situation, Derek Jeter actually deserves this award. He hit .322, 12 homers, 73 RBIS, and a .452 slugging percentage. He also led all AL shortstops in at-bats and games played (as you may have noticed, season longevity earns major points in my book). Carlos Guillen of the Tigers had a great year too (.296, 21 homers, 102 RBIs, .502 SLG) but Jeter deserved it this year.

Vlad and Maggs were no questions, Ichiro was a bit questionable. He did play in a ridiculous 161 games and had 678 at-bats though and hit .351. But he only had 6 homers and 68 RBIs. Ehh, he should get his props for average and longevity, and no one out there really blows you away. Though if I had to choose, Nick Markakis's .300 avg, 23 homers and 112 RBIs would be up there. Still, I like the overall outfield picks.

I personally think a DH Silver Slugger is a bit redundant but it's really David Ortiz, then everyone else. I still wish there wasn't a DH but oh well.

Okay, and for the other awards....

MVP

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (AL)
Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)

A-Rod deserves this hands down, no questions asked. Now Jimmy Rollins, thats another story. Matt Holliday owned (.344 avg, 36 homers and 137 RBIs) while Rollins had a great year but not close to Holliday's numbers (.296 avg, 30 homers and 94 RBIs). Both players meant immense amounts to their teams, but I still think the Phillies could have hung around without Rollins. The Rockies would be nowhere without Holliday (and Kaz Matsui of course).

CY Young

C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland Indians (AL)
Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres (NL)

Sabathia had an outstanding year (19-7, 3.21 ERA, 209 strikeouts and 4 complete games in 241 innings). But his batterymate, Fausto Carmona had an equally outstanding year (19-8, 3.06 ERA, 137 strikeouts and 2 complete games in 215 innings). As did Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27 ERA, 194 strikeouts and 1 complete game in 200.2 innings). It pains me how much superior the AL is to the NL, uggh... But anyway it's a toss-up, I take Sabathia on his track record. Jake Peavy is the only pitcher in the NL who had an ERA under 3 and 19 wins. That is rather sad for a weak NL one pitcher with a sub 3 ERA? Maybe they'll be a change in power soon, yeah, soon like in maybe 5 years soon...

Rookie of the Year

Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox (AL)
Ryan Braun, San Diego Padres (NL)

Pedroia is a no-brainer. He hit .317, the highest average ever by a rookie second baseman. Not bad for someone who was hitting .182 on May 1st. He led all Major League rookies in doubles with 39 and was second in on-base percentage (.380) and third in runs (86). Dynomite! Delmon Young of the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays and Brian Bannister (shudder...) of the Kansas City Royals were a distant second and third. But in the NL, Braun had a monster year in only 113 games by hitting 34 homers and slugged .634 (an NL rookie record). He just edged out Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies who hit .291 with 24 homers and 99 RBIs and had an insane year in the field. His .987 fielding percentage and 5.39 zone rating led Major League shortstops, and Tulowitzki committed only 11 errors in 155 games. In retrospect, I like the Braun pick now.

Manager of the Year

Eric Wedge, Cleveland Indians (AL)
Bob Melvin, Arizona Diamondbacks (NL)

I don't really know how to judge non-New York managers so here's what mlb.com says about them:

The Baseball Writers' Association of America named the 39-year-old Wedge his league's top skipper after he guided the Tribe to a 96-66 regular-season record and its first AL Central title in six years. He's the first Indians manager to win the award.

Bob Melvin may downplay the role he played in getting the D-backs to a National League-best 90 wins and the playoffs this past season, but it doesn't appear that postseason awards voters are buying it. Melvin was named NL Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Wednesday, the second such award he has captured. Last month, he won a similar award from The Sporting News, which was voted on by his fellow managers.

Delivery Man of the Year Award

Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox (AL)

Papelbon posted a 1.85 ERA, converting 37 of 40 save opportunities in the regular season. In 58 1/3 innings, he allowed just 30 hits while striking out 84 in becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to notch 30 saves two times. Though his numbers were awesome, Joe Nathan (the pride of Stony Brook University) of the Minnesota Twins and J.J. Putz were also lights out. Nathan had a 1.88 ERA, 37 saves, and 77 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. Putz though, this is just ridiculous. He posted a 1.38 ERA, 40 saves, and 82 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. Papelbon only pitched 58.1 innings. Papelbon might be up there with Mariano Rivera one day as a top all-time closer, but I'm not so sure we'll ever see another year like Putz had for awhile. It's gotta go to Putz.

Hank Aaron Award (the best hitter in each league)

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (AL)
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Breweres (NL)

You just simply can't say enough about Alex Rodriguez. Let me just post his numbers one more time. .314 AVG, 54 homers, 156 RBIs, 583 at-bats, 183 hits, 31 doubles, 376 total bases, and a .422 on-base percentage. Prince Fielder had a great second year by hitting .288 with 50 homers, 119 RBIs, and a .618 slugging percentage. But I wish the MLB would look past the power numbers. The best pure hitter in the NL this season was Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .332, 22 homers, 103 RBIs, .429 OBP, 58 strikeouts, and 99 walks in 565 at-bats. Not that the power numbers aren't there of course, but only 58 strikeouts with less than 100 walks but still still over a .400 OBP....that's very, very impressive. It should have been Pujols in the NL.


Alright everyone, sorry I haven't posted in awhile I've been extremely busy. As for the Mitchell Report, it's nothing but a witch hunt. That's not to say that I don't throughly enjoy it and not think it is necessary. It's become clear that releasing this document, at least for the near future, is only to keep people who used performance enhancers out of the Hall of Fame (Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmiero, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens). So far, it's serving its purpose. I guess we shall see as Bud Selig is taking the document on a "case by case" basis.

My next post will be an update on the impact moves and signings. I won't be able to catch all of them but I'll get most of them.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

The Mitchell Report

Hey everyone, enjoying x-mas shopping and studying for finals? Haha. I graduate on Sunday yay! So I would like to say that most likely my next post will be Sunday night but I can't guarantee anything because I'll probably be going out to dinner.

But anyway, I don't anticipate anything major like the Mitchell Report happening between now and then. Don't worry, I'll wrap up everything I've missed since the last post as well with awards wrap-ups like I promised. With school over and winter coming, I'll try to have my posts be more consistent, like I said, I'm shooting for a new post every Sunday.

This little piece right here I just copied and pasted from espn.com. For all of you who don't want to read the whole 409-page Mitchell report but want a basic comprehensive list of players and the who, what, when, why, and how of it here you go.

Also linked, is the actual Mitchell Report on pdf file. Enjoy my fellow readers, and happy holidays.

Information Learned During this Investigation Concerning BALCO and Major League Baseball (9 players/3 active in MLB in 2007)
From the report: "I requested interviews of all the major league players who had been publicly implicated in the BALCO case."
Name	Report/Reaction	In Report | Read it
Armando Rios	Conte told the [IRS] agents that he had sold "the cream" and "the clear," and advised on their use, to dozens of elite athletes, including several players in Major League Baseball whom he named in the interview: Barry Bonds; Jason Giambi; Jeremy Giambi; Armando Rios; and Gary Sheffield.	Page 116
Marvin Benard	According to [Giants manager Dusty] Baker, Benard admitted he had used steroids previously but said that he had stopped. Baker did not report Benard's admission to anyone in Giants management or the Commissioner's Office.	Page 127
Barry Bonds	Harvey Shields was Bonds's personal trainer between 2000 and 2004 and continued to provide training services to Bonds as a Giants employee from 2004 through 2006. He said in an interview that Greg Anderson provided Bonds with a cream to use on his elbow, which Shields said he believed was an over-the-counter "arthritis cream." Shields also said that Anderson provided Bonds with a clear liquid that Bonds ingested by placing drops under his tongue. Shields did not know where Anderson obtained the clear liquid. When asked how many times he and Bonds had taken the "clear," Shields would say only "more than once."	Page 128
Bobby Estalella	Estalella's apparent use of performance enhancing substances was noticed by club officials. After the 2003 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers considered signing Estalella as a free agent. During a three-day meeting of Dodgers officials in late October 2003, assessments were made of many players, including the possible use of steroids by some players. Ellen Harrigan, an administrator in the Dodgers' scouting department, kept detailed notes of the discussion. Among the comments she recorded was an observation by one of the participants that Estalella was a "poster boy for the chemicals."	Page 130
Jason Giambi	Giambi said that he injected himself with approximately "one cc" (cubic centimeter) of Deca-Durabolin each week for the remainder of the 2001 season, always administering the drug to himself and always at home. He purchased an additional supply of Deca-Durabolin from the same source before the 2002 season, and he followed the same weekly regimen of use of that substance throughout the 2002 season.	Page 131
Jeremy Giambi	[Former minor leaguer Ethan] Stein said that during one of those conversations in 1996, Giambi admitted that both he and his brother used steroids and told Stein that he could get him steroids. Stein responded that he was not interested. When Stein later saw Giambi during spring training in 1997, his physique had changed dramatically. He noticed increased muscular development, as well as hair loss and back acne.	Page 133
Benito Santiago	At the end of the 2003 season, Mike Murphy, a Giants clubhouse attendant, was cleaning out Santiago's locker when he found a sealed package of syringes. Murphy brought the syringes to the training room, handed them to [Victor] Conte, and told Conte that he had found them in Santiago's locker. Conte responded that he "would take care of it."	Page 134
Gary Sheffield	In September 2003, when federal agents executed a search warrant on Greg Anderson's condominium, they cited a February 2003 FedEx receipt from Gary Sheffield to BALCO as evidence of probable cause to conduct the search. In his 2007 book entitled Inside Power, Sheffield acknowledged he had received a bill from BALCO for what he called "vitamins" and claimed he did not know whether the "cream" he acknowledged using during his grand jury testimony had contained steroids.	Page 136
Randy Velarde	Randy Velarde admitted to us, through his lawyer, that he had used performance enhancing substances he obtained from Greg Anderson. According to his lawyer, if interviewed, Velarde would have told us he received the "cream" and the "clear" from Anderson in a transaction that occurred in a parking lot during spring training in 2003.	Page 137

Information Regarding Purchases or Use of Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball (62 players/23 active in MLB in 2007)
From the report: "The following discussion is organized in roughly chronological order. Records do not exist to document every transaction described by witnesses. [Kirk] Radomski stated that, with one exception noted below, the payments he received from professional baseball players were for performance enhancing substances, as opposed to personal training or other services, and this assertion was confirmed by those players who agreed to speak with us about their dealings with him."
Name	Report/Reaction	In Report | Read it
Lenny Dykstra	Since approximately 2000, the Commissioner's Office has been aware that Dykstra used anabolic steroids during his playing career. At that time, senior vice president for security Kevin M. Hallinan, his deputy Martin Maguire, and then-executive vice president for baseball operations Sandy Alderson met with Dykstra and his doctor in an attempt to increase their understanding of steroids. Hallinan said that Dykstra admitted to using steroids, saying that he used them to "keep his weight up" during the season. According to Hallinan, Dykstra said using steroids eliminated the need for him to work out during the season.	Page 149
David Segui	In 1994, while Segui was playing for the Mets, he and Radomski became friends. According to Radomski, Segui admitted to him that he used steroids during that season. Radomski recalled that either at the very end of Segui's time with the Mets (1995) or shortly thereafter, Segui showed him a bottle of anabolic steroids he had received from Mexico (these were veterinary steroids, according to Radomski). In a subsequent meeting, Radomski gave Segui without charge a bottle of Deca-Durabolin and told Segui to try it.	Page 150
Larry Bigbie	Radomski retrieved from his banks three checks written by Bigbie. ... The second, dated March 5, 2005, in the amount of $1,200, was for human growth hormone. This check is shown below. The third check, dated May 6, 2005, in the amount of $1,300, with a memo stating "Supplements," was for two kits of human growth hormone. Bigbie believes this check was most likely for an amount outstanding from an earlier purchase for performance enhancing substances.	Page 152
Brian Roberts	According to Bigbie, however, in 2004 Roberts admitted to him that he had injected himself once or twice with steroids in 2003. Until this admission, Bigbie had never suspected Roberts of using steroids.	Page 158
Jack Cust	At the beginning of the 2003 season, Cust and Larry Bigbie were both playing for Baltimore's class AAA affiliate in Ottawa. Bigbie's locker was next to Cust's. Cust eventually asked Bigbie if he had ever tried steroids. Bigbie acknowledged he had, and Cust said that he, too, had tried steroids. Cust told Bigbie that he had a source who could procure anything he wanted, but Bigbie informed him he already had a friend who could supply him.	Page 159
Tim Laker	Laker and David Segui were teammates on the 1995 Montreal Expos. According to Radomski, Segui introduced him to Laker. Although Radomski could recall only one or two cash transactions with Laker in the late 1990s involving Deca-Durabolin and testosterone, Laker acknowledged a total of four transactions during our interview of him.	Page 159
Josias Manzanillo	Radomski said that he did not sell any steroids to Manzanillo and that his only substance-related involvement with Manzanillo was when he injected him with steroids in the clubhouse. Radomski stated that he remembered the event clearly because it was the only time he ever injected a player with steroids.	Page 161
Todd Hundley	Radomski stated that, beginning in 1996, he sold Deca-Durabolin and testosterone to Hundley on three or four occasions. At the beginning of that year, Radomski told Hundley that if he used steroids, he would hit 40 home runs. Hundley hit 41 home runs in 1996, having never hit more than 16 in any prior year. After the season, Radomski said, Hundley took him out to dinner.	Page 163
Mark Carreon	Radomski said that he provided Carreon with Dianabol pills toward the end of his tenure with the Giants (Carreon was with San Francisco from 1994 through the middle of the 1996 season). He believes that Carreon paid by check. According to Radomski, Carreon told him that the "ball was jumping off his bat" and that he could hit farther because of the anabolic steroids he used.	Page 163
Hal Morris	Radomski said that he sold Deca-Durabolin and testosterone to Morris in late 1999 when Morris was with the Reds. Morris paid by check. Morris's name, with an address we have confirmed was his, is listed in the address book seized by federal agents from Radomski's residence.	Page 164
Matt Franco	Radomski said he met Franco when he played for the Mets and that he came to know Franco "very well." Radomski said that he sold Franco steroids on one occasion in 2000 after Franco called him to place the order. This call occurred, according to Radomski, after Radomski ran into Franco at an event. ... Franco denied ever purchasing or using any performance enhancing substance. Franco also denied that he ever met, knew, or talked with Radomski, asserting that he had never even heard of Radomski before the publicity over Radomski's guilty plea.	Page 165
Rondell White	According to Radomski, White started buying performance enhancing substances from him in 2000. White bought both human growth hormone and Deca-Durabolin. In our first interview, before he had access to all the checks his banks were able to supply, Radomski estimated he had engaged in "six to ten" transactions with White, some paid for with cash, others paid by check. Subsequently, Radomski was able to produce seven checks that he deposited drawn on White's checking account.	Page 165
Roger Clemens	Toward the end of the road trip which included the Marlins series, or shortly after the Blue Jays returned home to Toronto, Clemens approached [former Yankees trainer Brian] McNamee and, for the first time, brought up the subject of using steroids. Clemens said that he was not able to inject himself, and he asked for McNamee's help. Later that summer, Clemens asked McNamee to inject him with Winstrol, which Clemens supplied. McNamee knew the substance was Winstrol because the vials Clemens gave him were so labeled. McNamee injected Clemens approximately four times in the buttocks over a several-week period with needles that Clemens provided. Each incident took place in Clemens's apartment at the SkyDome. McNamee never asked Clemens where he obtained the steroids.	Page 166
Andy Pettitte	McNamee traveled to Tampa at Pettitte's request and spent about ten days assisting Pettitte with his rehabilitation. McNamee recalled that he injected Pettitte with human growth hormone that McNamee obtained from Radomski on two to four occasions. Pettitte paid McNamee for the trip and his expenses; there was no separate payment for the human growth hormone.	Page 175
Chuck Knobloch	McNamee said that he acquired human growth hormone from Radomski for Knoblauch in 2001. Beginning during spring training and continuing through the early portion of the season, McNamee injected Knoblauch at least seven to nine times with human growth hormone.	Page 175
Jason Grimsley	In our first interview, conducted before Radomski obtained complete records from his banks, Radomski estimated he had engaged in at least seven or eight sales to Grimsley involving human growth hormone, Deca-Durabolin, and diet pills from 2000 through 2003. Radomski ultimately produced fourteen checks written by Grimsley (including cashier's checks for which Grimsley was the remitter) from June 2, 2001 through July 29, 2005, totaling $35,400.	Page 177, 249
Gregg Zaun	...in September 2002 Luis Perez, a bullpen catcher for the Montreal Expos, was arrested for possession of a pound of marijuana. In January 2003, he was interviewed by investigators from the Commissioner's Office. Perez told those investigators that he had personally supplied anabolic steroids to Zaun and seven other major league ball players.	Page 179
David Justice	Radomski said he made one sale to Justice, which occurred after the 2000 World Series. Justice played for the Yankees that year. Justice paid Radomski by check for two or three kits of human growth hormone. Radomski said that he cashed this check.	Page 181
F.P. Santangelo	Radomski believed that Santangelo was referred to him by David Segui when both played for the Expos between 1995 and 1997. Radomski produced one check from Santangelo dated October 23, 2000 in the amount of $1,400, which Radomski said was payment for a kit of human growth hormone.	Page 182
Glenallen Hill	Radomski said that Hill told him that he was getting human growth hormone in San Francisco and was "not feeling anything." Radomski thereafter sent Hill a "sample bottle" of human growth hormone without charge and told him to try it. Hill tried it and told Radomski that he "felt everything you told me I would feel." ... According to Hill, he never used the anabolic steroids that he bought from Radomski.	Page 183
Mo Vaughn	Radomski recalled that Vaughn had an ankle injury and called him for advice. Radomski told Vaughn that human growth hormone would help his ankle heal faster. Radomski said that thereafter he sold human growth hormone to Vaughn. Radomski also provided Vaughn with a program for the use of the human growth hormone. Radomski said that he delivered the substances to Vaughn personally. Radomski produced three checks deposited into Radomski's accounts and drawn on Vaughn's checking account: two checks for $3,200 each, and one check for $2,200.	Page 186
Denny Neagle	Radomski said that from 2000 to 2004 he engaged in five or six transactions with Neagle involving human growth hormone and anabolic steroids. Neagle always paid by check. At one point, Neagle had another major league player send a check to Radomski because that player owed Neagle money. Radomski stated that he never sold human growth hormone or steroids to the other player.	Page 187
Ron Villone	Villone first purchased human growth hormone from Radomski during the 2004 season. Radomski sent this order to Villone at the Seattle Mariners' clubhouse. For the second transaction, Radomski met Villone during the 2004-05 off-season at a diner where Radomski personally delivered the human growth hormone to him. Villone's third purchase from Radomski took place during the 2005 season. Radomski sent that package to Villone's residence in Seattle.	Page 188
Ryan Franklin	On August 2, 2005, Ryan Franklin was suspended for ten games for a positive test for anabolic steroids that was conducted in May 2005. Upon the announcement of Franklin's suspension, he is reported to have said he had no idea how he tested positive.	Page 190
Chris Donnels	Donnels said that he told Dodgers athletic trainer Matt Wilson that he was considering using performance enhancing substances. Wilson told him to "look it up on the computer" and said "I don't need to hear anything about it."	Page 190
Todd Williams	In 2001, a season in which Williams played in both Major League Baseball and the minor leagues, Radomski stated that he sold Winstrol to Williams once.	Page 194
Phil Hiatt	Radomski first spoke to Hiatt while he was with the Dodgers in 2001. Over the span of several seasons, Radomski sold Hiatt both human growth hormone and Deca-Durabolin. According to Radomski, he sold these performance enhancing substances to Hiatt on two or three occasions.	Page 194
Todd Pratt	Sometime in 2000 or 2001, while he was still with the Mets, Pratt asked to buy anabolic steroids. Radomski made one or two sales of small amounts of steroids to Pratt. Radomski also recalled having a few discussions with Pratt regarding their use.	Page 195
Kevin Young	While Radomski could not remember who introduced him to Young, he did remember that he was asked to bring two kits of human growth hormone to this first meeting. Radomski said that he went to lunch with Young and afterward went up to Young's hotel room where Radomski sold him one or two kits of human growth hormone.	Page 195
Mike Lansing	During the search of Radomski's residence, an undated, partial shipping label was seized with Lansing's name on it and a Colorado address. We have confirmed that Lansing resided at this address when he played with the Rockies. Lansing's name, with an address and two telephone numbers, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents.	Page 196
Cody McKay	McKay's name is listed in the address book seized by federal agents from Radomski's residence, along with a telephone number that is still listed to and used by McKay. McKay's address in the address book is the clubhouse address for the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league team where McKay played in 2003.	Page 197
Kent Mercker	Radomski produced one check from Mercker to Radomski in the amount of $1,600. The check number and date are not legible. ... During the search of Radomski's home, federal agents seized a copy of an Express Mail receipt indicating a shipment to Mercker on October 29, 2002.	Page 198
Adam Piatt	We later interviewed Piatt, who voluntarily admitted his use of performance enhancing substances. He accepted full responsibility for his actions and said that he had learned an important life lesson as a result.	Page 199
Miguel Tejada	Radomski recalled receiving a call from Piatt during which he said he needed extra testosterone because "one of the guys wanted some." In a later conversation, Piatt told Radomski that the testosterone was for his teammate, Miguel Tejada. Radomski never spoke, or sold performance enhancing substances, directly to Tejada.	Page 201
Jason Christiansen	Radomski produced a check dated July 2, 2002 from Christiansen to Radomski in the amount of $1,600. ... Radomski stated that this was payment for one kit of human growth hormone and that this was a one-time transaction.	Page 205
Mike Stanton	Radomski met Stanton around 2001 while he was pitching for the Yankees. Radomski recalled making two sales of human growth hormone to Stanton. The first occurred in 2003, during Stanton's first season with the Mets. Early in that season, Radomski mailed two kits of human growth hormone to Stanton at his residence. Stanton paid Radomski $3,200 by money order.	Page 205
Stephen Randolph	Radomski said that he spoke to Randolph several times about human growth hormone and then told Randolph to do some research before using it. Radomski said that he sold Randolph human growth hormone thereafter, in 2003 or 2004. Randolph's name, with a telephone number, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents. Radomski mailed the package of human growth hormone to the address listed in his address book.	Page 206
Jerry Hairston Jr.	Hairston was referred to Radomski by David Segui, his teammate on the Orioles from 2002 to 2004. Radomski said that he sold human growth hormone to Hairston on two or three occasions during 2003 and 2004. Radomski produced one check from Hairston dated June 16, 2003.	Page 207, 251
Paul LoDuca	Radomski produced copies of three checks from Lo Duca, each in the amount of $3,200. All are included in the Appendix. Radomski said that each check was in payment for two kits of human growth hormone. Lo Duca's name, with an address and telephone number, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents.	Page 208
Adam Riggs	Radomski produced five checks and money orders that he received from Riggs and deposited into his bank accounts. The dates ranged from July 10, 2003 to November 30, 2005. Four checks totaled $1,150; the other check amount was illegible.	Page 211
Bart Miadich	Radomski described Miadich as a frequent purchaser of small quantities of testosterone and Winstrol from 2002 to 2005. Radomski also said that Miadich advised him that he was getting human growth hormone elsewhere. According to Radomski, Miadich called him regularly, including when Miadich was playing in Japan in 2005, when he called to buy performance enhancing substances for use during the upcoming off-season.	Page 212
Fernando Vina	Radomski stated that he sold anabolic steroids or human growth hormone to Vina six to eight times during 2000 to 2005. Radomski produced three checks from Vina. Radomski stated that these checks reflected a March 2003 purchase by Vina of human growth hormone, an April 2003 purchase by Vina of steroids, most likely Winstrol, and a July 2005 purchase by Vina of Deca-Durabolin.	Page 213
Kevin Brown	In the notes of the October 2003 meetings among Dodgers officials, it was reportedly said of Brown: "Kevin Brown -- getting to the age of nagging injuries ... Question what kind of medication he takes ... Effectiveness goes down covering 1st base or running bases. Common in soccer players and are more susceptible if you take meds to increase your muscles -- doesn't increase the attachments. Is he open to adjusting how he takes care of himself? He knows he now needs to do stuff before coming to spring training to be ready. Steroids speculated by GM."	Page 214
Eric Gagne	Although he is not sure when, Radomski recalled that Lo Duca called Radomski and told Radomski that Gagné was with him and wanted to buy human growth hormone. Gagné then came onto the phone and asked Radomski a question about how to get air out of a syringe. This is the only time Radomski spoke to Gagné. Radomski said that Lo Duca thereafter placed orders on Gagné's behalf.	Page 217
Mike Bell	Bell said that he purchased and received one shipment of human growth hormone from Radomski while in the minor leagues during the 2003 off-season. Bell never met Radomski but recalled hearing his name during the two seasons (1998 and 1999) that he spent in the Mets' minor league system. When asked how he came to know that Radomski could obtain performance enhancing substances for him, Bell said that "a lot of people knew him and knew what he did."	Page 219
Matt Herges	Radomski produced one check from Herges dated November 1, 2005 in the amount of $3,240. ... Radomski said that this check was in payment for two kits of human growth hormone, plus $40 for shipping. A piece of an undated shipping receipt to Herges and a copy of an Express Mail receipt dated November 2, 2005 sent to the same address were seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents.	Page 221
Gary Bennett Jr.	Radomski said that Denny Neagle referred Bennett to him. Neagle and Bennett were teammates in 2001 and 2002 with the Colorado Rockies. Radomski recalled one transaction with Bennett in July 2003 for two kits of human growth hormone. Radomski produced one check from Bennett payable to Kirk Radomski in the amount of $3,200 dated July 13, 2003.	Page 222
Jim Parque	Radomski did not recall who referred Parque to him but said that he made two sales of human growth hormone to him. Radomski said that during the 2003 off-season Parque sent Radomski a bottle of Winstrol to "check out." Radomski determined it was "no good" and discarded it. Radomski produced two checks from Parque. The first was dated October 18, 2003 in the amount of $3,200; the second was dated December 6, 2003 in the amount of $1,600.	Page 223
Brendan Donnelly	Radomski said that Donnelly was referred to him by Adam Riggs. Both Riggs and Donnelly played for the Angels in 2003 and 2004. Radomski recalled that Donnelly called him in 2004 looking for Anavar, an anabolic steroid. Radomski made one sale to Donnelly of Deca-Durabolin for which Donnelly paid $250 to $300.	Page 224
Chad Allen	According to Allen, the 2003 off-season was the only occasion when he used steroids. Allen explained that he did not want his teammates to know that he used steroids, and he did not want to use anything during the season because he "did not want to be on a different playing field from his teammates." He also was concerned about testing positive.	Page 225
Jeff Williams	Radomski said that he sold the steroids Anavar and Dianabol to Williams. Radomski produced one check from Williams dated December 10, 2004 in the amount of $1,820.	Page 227
Howie Clark	According to Radomski, Clark was introduced to him by Larry Bigbie. Radomski said that Clark called him several times before buying anything. Radomski recalled that Clark had done his own research about human growth hormone and had decided to use it. Radomski said that he made four or five sales of human growth hormone to Clark and that Clark paid him by money order or check.	Page 228
Exavier "Nook" Logan	Rondell White, a Tigers teammate, referred Logan to Radomski. Radomski stated that he sold Logan one kit of human growth hormone just before federal agents searched Radomski's house in December 2005. Radomski mailed the package to Logan, who paid by money order.	Page 229
Mike Judd	[Albuquerque Dukes strength and conditioning coach Todd] Seyler observed Lo Duca and Judd inject themselves with either Deca-Durabolin or Winstrol, although Seyler could not remember where they injected themselves or which of the two substances they used.	Page 230
Ricky Stone	Seyler further observed Stone inject himself in the thigh with Deca-Durabolin.	Page 231
Derrick Turnbow	According to statements by Gene Orza, chief operating officer of the Players Association, Turnbow had tested positive [during training camp for the U.S. Olympic baseball team the previous October] as the result of taking androstenedione, which was not a prohibited substance under the Major League Baseball joint drug program at the time. Orza reportedly said: "Derrick Turnbow did not test positive for a steroid. He tested positive for what the [International Olympic Committee] and others regard as a steroid, but the U.S. government does not."	Page 83
Wally Joyner	In an interview for this investigation, Joyner told us that he struggled with the decision whether to try steroids, but eventually he decided to use them. After taking the drugs three times, Joyner decided that he had made a mistake, discarded the rest of the pills, and never tried illegal performance enhancing substances again.	Page 73
Rafael Palmeiro	On August 1, 2005, Major League Baseball announced that Baltimore Orioles first baseman and designated hitter Rafael Palmeiro had violated the league's joint drug program and would be suspended for 10 games. Palmeiro subsequently acknowledged that he had tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, the generic name for Winstrol, but he repeatedly denied that he had ever "intentionally taken steroids."	Page 103
Paxton Crawford	In an article in 2006, a similar story was recounted by Paxton Crawford, a pitcher who was on the roster of the Boston Red Sox in 2000 and 2001. Crawford admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone while with the Red Sox. He described an incident in which syringes he had wrapped in a towel were spilled onto the floor of the Red Sox clubhouse, which he said caused laughter among his teammates.	Page 111
Ryan Jorgensen	In September 2007, Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Jorgenson also was suspended for 50 games based on non-analytic evidence that he had violated the joint program.	Page SR-14
Ricky Bones	In late June 2000, a clubhouse attendant with the Florida Marlins brought a paper bag to the club's athletic trainers that had been found in the locker of Marlins pitcher Ricky Bones. The bag contained over two dozen syringes, six vials of injectable medications -- stanozolol and nandrolone decanoate, two anabolic steroids that are sold under the names Winstrol and Deca-Durabolin, respectively -- and a page of handwritten instructions on how to administer the drugs. Soon thereafter, the athletic trainers returned the bag and its contents to Bones at his request.	Page 92
Ken Caminiti	[Astros director of team travel Barry] Waters did not deliver the vials to Caminiti, but believing incorrectly that there was no policy requiring him to report the incident, he did not report the matter to anyone else with the Astros or to the Commissioner's Office. Caminiti later admitted that he had used steroids during his playing career in a widely read Sports Illustrated article that was published in June 2002.	Page 109

Alleged Internet Purchases of Performance Enhancing Substances By Players in Major League Baseball (16 players/8 active in MLB in 2007)
From the report: "Since the initial news reports of the raid by New York and Florida law enforcement officials on Signature Pharmacy and several rejuvenation centers, the names of several current and former major league players have appeared in the media as alleged purchasers of performance enhancing substances through these operations."
Name	Report/Reaction	In Report | Read it
Rick Ankiel	In comments to reporters after the story was published, Ankiel initially admitted that he had used human growth hormone while recovering from ligament surgery in 2003, but he then invoked medical privacy laws to decline further comment. Ankiel said that "[a]ll and any medications that I have received in my career has (sic) always been under a doctor's care, a licensed physician."	Page 243
David Bell	According to [a Sports Illustrated] article, Bell reportedly purchased six packages of human chorionic gonadatropin ("HCG") from the pharmacy in April 2005 while he was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. HCG is a hormone that is produced during pregnancy; it is used by steroid abusers to counteract the effects of steroid use on the body's natural production of testosterone.	Page 244
Paul Byrd	In public comments in response to [a San Francisco Chronicle] article, Byrd admitted that he had been taking human growth hormone but said that he had been using it to treat a tumor on his pituitary gland. Byrd reportedly said that he had never taken "any hormone or drug that was not prescribed" to him by a doctor.	Page 245
Jose Canseco	In a later telephone interview with my investigative staff, however, [Canseco lawyer Robert] Saunooke confirmed that Canseco had purchased human growth hormone over the internet on several occasions, both before and after his retirement from baseball. Saunooke said that Canseco had taken a blood test in connection with these purchases.	Page 246
Jay Gibbons	The Commissioner's Office met with Gibbons on September 18, 2007 to discuss the news reports. On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner's Office announced a 15-day suspension of Gibbons for violation of the joint drug program, to take effect at the start of the 2008 season. After the suspension was announced, Gibbons said: "I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bear sole responsibility for my decisions. Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries."	Page 247
Troy Glaus	Glaus reportedly met with officials from the Commissioner's Office in September 2007. On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner's Office announced that there was insufficient evidence of a violation of the joint program in effect at the time of the conduct in question to warrant discipline of Glaus.	Page 248
Jose Guillen	In an article on November 6, 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Seattle Mariners outfielder Jose Guillen purchased human growth hormone, testosterone, and other steroids through the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center in multiple transactions over a three-year period between 2002 and 2004 and possibly also in 2005.	Page 249
Darren Holmes	Holmes reportedly admitted to reporters that he ordered human growth hormone after searching the internet for solutions to his shoulder pain but claimed that he never used it. He also reportedly said that he had not ordered the testosterone that was included in the package, which aroused his suspicion. After discussing whether to use the human growth hormone with his wife, Holmes reportedly said that he "threw the box away and never used it."	Page 251
Gary Matthews Jr.	Several weeks after [a Sports Illustrated] report appeared, Matthews issued a statement in which he said "I have never taken H.G.H., during the 2004 season or any other time. Nobody has accused me of doing so, and no law enforcement agency has said I am a target of any investigation for doing so." In his statement, Matthews did not deny that human growth hormone had been shipped to him, and he declined to answer reporters' questions about that omission.	Page 252
John Rocker	In March 2007, Sports Illustrated reported that, according to the Applied Pharmacy Services database, former pitcher John Rocker received two prescriptions for human growth hormone (somatropin) between April and July 2003. Rocker initially denied the allegations, but his spokesperson later reportedly said that Rocker had been prescribed human growth hormone in connection with shoulder surgery.	Page 254
Scott Schoenweis	On October 1, 2007, ESPN reported on its website that New York Mets pitcher Scott Schoeneweis had received six shipments of steroids from Signature Pharmacy at Comiskey Park while he was playing for the Chicago White Sox in 2003 and 2004. Dr. Ramon Scruggs of the New Hope Health Center (the suspended California physician who also was reported to have issued prescriptions for Troy Glaus) reportedly prescribed the drugs. According to ESPN, Schoeneweis spent $1,160 on steroids, including testosterone and stanozolol. Schoeneweis denied the report.	Page 254
Ismael Valdez	According to [the San Francisco Chronicle], on September 7, 2002, while he was playing with the Mariners, Valdez "used a credit to card to buy nearly $2,500 worth of human growth hormone," which was shipped to him at the Texas Rangers ballpark in Arlington, Texas where Valdez had been playing until he was traded to the Mariners the prior month. Ten days later, Valdez reportedly purchased Novarel, clomiphene, and Arimidex from the center, all of which are used to counteract the effects of steroid abuse.502 The article reported that "Valdez's prescriptions were written by the same dentist who prescribed drugs to [Paul] Byrd, [Jose] Guillen and [retired infielder Matt] Williams."	Page 255
Matt Williams	The [San Francisco Chronicle] reported that Williams admitted that a doctor told him that human growth hormone might help him heal from an ankle injury that he had suffered in 2002. "He said he learned about the Florida center from a health magazine and went through a battery of tests before obtaining a prescription for growth hormone in 2002." Williams reportedly said that he did not know that a dentist had written prescriptions for him. He did not comment on whether he had ordered or used steroids or drugs intended for use by women, as reportedly reflected in the records.	Page 255
Steve Woodard	In a September 7, 2007 article, the New York Daily News reported that Steve Woodard, a former pitcher who played with four different major league clubs over seven seasons ending in 2003 (the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox), received a shipment of steroids and human growth hormone from The Health and Rejuvenation Center, the same Palm Beach Gardens anti-aging center that reportedly supplied St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel. The article did not state when the shipment to Woodard allegedly occurred.	Page 257

Information Provided by a Former Major League Player
Name	Report/Reaction	In Report | Read it
Dan Naulty	During his telephone interview, Naulty admitted to using steroids, on and off, for seven years, and human growth hormone for one year. Naulty used performance enhancing substances while playing in both Major League Baseball and in the minor leagues.	Page 232

Just Keeping Everyone Posted

Hello, hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and caused some Black Friday havoc. Unfortunately I have been very busy with graduation, christmas shopping, and jagabombs! Not really, but I should after coming to the realization the Mets average age will be in the late 30's next season.

But anyway, I was finally able to get my pictures from Cooperstown. Many of them came out like crap but some came out okay, I'll scan those and post them here. I'll get the others from my friend that came with me, I know his came out good.

I graduate December 16th (yay) and my school is pretty much over so from now on Sundays will be when I write my blog posts. This Sunday, I'll be wrapping up the Silver Sluggers, MVPS, recent trades and FA signings.

Apparently, according to Jayson Stark at ESPN.com, the Mitchell Report is being released before Christmas so I'll be writing about that soon.

Take care all, and post damn it!!