MLB Has Paid $11M For Mitchell's Steroid Investigation

Mitchell's Steroid Investigation Has Already Cost MLB $11M

MIDSUMMER CLASSIC? In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote July “has a chance to be one of the most unusual and dramatic months in baseball history.”  U.S. Attorney Scott Schools “has to make a decision next month on whether to indict" Giants LF Barry Bonds for perjury in the BALCO case.  MLB Commissioner Bud Selig “was prepared to suspend” Yankees DH Jason Giambi before he agreed to cooperate with Mitchell’s investigation, and it is “almost impossible to believe that he won’t do the same to Bonds if Bonds is indicted.”  It is also “impossible to believe that Selig doesn’t ... tell him that he is the next one” that has to meet with Mitchell (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/24).

HOT PURSUIT: In Tacoma, Darrin Beene wrote of MLB's steroid investigation, “Why are they pursuing this? Giambi’s not going to roll over on anybody, and he has already said, in so many words, that he juiced. And what did baseball do? Nothing. So what’s the point now except to keep bringing up this PR nightmare” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 6/24).  In Philadelphia, Bob Ford wrote MLB “is content to issue a meaningless report (someday) and then declare the war over.”  If Selig “was to take Giambi’s advice, he would offer amnesty, not the threat of punishment, for those who came forward to give fans an honest accounting of what happened. As it is now, the effect of steroids on the game is like the submerged portion of the iceberg” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/24). Sacramento Bee columnist Marcos Breton: “The answer is amnesty. Give it to any and all players to tell the truth. Get it out in the open, lay a foundation for meaningful testing and punishment in the future” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 6/24).  Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent: “Baseball shouldn’t be trying to punish these guys. They should be trying to get them to tell the truth about steroids. It’s far more imperative that the game of baseball clean itself up” (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/24).  With Rangers Owner Tom Hicks last week surmising that former Rangers RF Juan Gonzalez took steroids, the DETROIT FREE PRESS’ Drew Sharp writes, “Where’s the pressure for Hicks’ cooperation? Why isn’t it equally important for ownership’s insight into this investigation as much as the players?” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/25).

DO THE RIGHT THING: A’s 3B Eric Chavez, a former teammate of Giambi’s, said Giambi is “definitely doing the right thing” by meeting with Mitchell.  When asked if Giambi's declaration that he will not discuss other players “had earned him some respect among his peers,” Chavez said, “He’s done the right thing and it’s the right way of going about it” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/23).

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