MLBPA Not Planning To Release Anonymous Medical Records

Selig Looking To Avoid Leaks In MLB’s Steroid Investigation

The MLBPA “rebuffed a request” from the staff of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell to submit anonymous medical records in his MLB steroids probe, according to sources cited by Ronald Blum of the AP. The move was made “because players fear Mitchell’s staff would use information in them — such as age, height, weight and blood type — to connect the records to specific players” (AP, 5/10). MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said that any public disclosure of facts during the investigation “will harm it” as “too many issues are extremely sensitive.” Selig: “If I wanted to muzzle people and make believe this didn’t happen, there would have been no investigation.” When asked why leaks bothered him, Selig said, “Because we have an investigation ongoing. You cannot have an investigation and have people commenting on it” (USA TODAY, 5/11).

POSTSEASON: MLBPA COO Gene Orza and MLB VP/PR Rich Levin said that the two sides “are negotiating format changes to the Division Series and League Championship Series that will create more open dates in case inclement weather forces postponements.” With the World Series beginning Tuesday, October 23, “four days later than the usual Saturday start, there are more dates for the first two series” (USA TODAY, 5/11).

ALCOHOL PLANS: Selig said that he has “no plans to enact an alcohol ban in baseball clubhouses in light of the death” of Cardinals P Josh Hancock. Selig: “I really do think it’s a local matter, but it’s something I will discuss with the clubs” (USA TODAY, 5/11). CNBC’s Darren Rovell reports Nielsen Monitor-Plus found that “out of all the companies that spend money advertising on baseball broadcasts, the top seven have to do with either drinking or driving” (CNBC.com, 5/10). The Mariners have not announced a decision on alcohol in the Safeco Field clubhouses, but alcohol will only be served on charter flights “until the plane is three hours from Seattle” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 5/11). The Rockies have stopped providing draft beer in the home and visitor clubhouses at Coors Field (DENVER POST, 5/11). White Sox GM Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen said that they “weren’t leaning” the direction of banning alcohol in the clubhouse or on charter flights (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/11).