Mitchell Denies Knowledge Of, Involvement In Byrd HGH News
MLB steroid investigator U.S. Sen. George Mitchell indicated in a written statement that “he and his investigators had no knowledge of [Indians P Paul Byrd’s] ties” to HGH, according to Michael Schmidt of the N.Y. TIMES. The release of the allegations against Byrd came the day of Indians-Red Sox ALCS Game Seven. Mitchell is on the BOD of the Red Sox, but “does not own a portion of the team, although as a director he has future equity rights if the team is sold.” Law firm DLA Piper, where Mitchell is a partner, received “several calls from angry Indians fans yesterday contending Byrd’s name had been leaked to distract" the Indians (N.Y. TIMES, 10/23). The statement read in part, “My office has been contacted today by people who believe that I leaked to the press allegations of the use of [HGH] by [Byrd]. I am making this statement to correct that mistaken impression. Neither I nor any member of my investigative staff had anything whatsoever to do with the publication of the allegations about Mr. Byrd. We had no prior knowledge of those allegations, and we first learned of them, along with the rest of the public, through news accounts” (USA TODAY 10/23). In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote Red Sox ownership is "protective" of Mitchell. When team officials are asked "what his role entails or whether he has a limited partner stake in the team, tight lips prevail." With Mitchell's report on steroids in baseball expected to be released within two months, Cafardo wrote, "There's always been the conflict-of-interest element because of his affiliation with the Sox. Would it be fair to question whether the Sox will have no names or fewer names named because of this relationship? Mitchell's integrity has never been questioned, but is it fair to ask these questions? Absolutely (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/21).
NO ANGEL: Former Angels GM Bill Stoneman said that during Byrd’s one season with the team in '05 and during contract negotiations, the Angels were “unaware of his use of [HGH] or of his pituitary gland issue.” Stoneman said, “I can tell you categorically I’ve never been made aware of anybody who’s using any of these substances. We never had any good reason to suspect him or anybody” (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 10/23).
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