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Selig Says No Decision Made on Bonds
- Commissioner Bud Selig is proceeding cautiously before deciding whether baseball should launch an investigation into allegations that Barry Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs for at least five seasons.
Selig dismissed a report Thursday in the New York Daily News, citing an unidentified baseball official, that the commissioner had already decided to investigate Bonds.
"It's just something I'd rather not discuss right now," Selig said before the World Baseball Classic game between Mexico and the United States in Anaheim, Calif. "I'll make the decision based on all the factors that are involved and go from there, and do what I think is in the best interest of everybody involved."
Bonds, who broke Mark McGwire's single-season record with 73 home runs in 2001, is accused in an upcoming book of using steroids, human growth hormone, insulin and other drugs for at least five seasons beginning after the 1998 season. Baseball did not have a joint drug agreement with the union banning steroids and other performance-enhancing substances until September 2002.
"Game of Shadows," which is out March 23, is based on a two-year investigation. The book includes an extensive summary on the authors' sources, including court documents, affidavits filed by BALCO investigators, documents written by federal agents, grand jury testimony, audio recordings and interviews with more than 200 people.
Selig said any decision regarding Bonds would not hinge on whether the prosecutors investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative charge the slugger with perjury for his testimony to a federal grand jury in December 2003.
"What happens to the grand jury and the federal government and Barry Bonds, nature will have to take its course," Selig said. "Whatever decisions I make will be on what I believe is clearly necessary and what is in the best interest of the sport, and I'm not going to let any other factors play a role."
Bonds, who has never failed a drug test given by baseball, has previously denied using steroids.
Speaking earlier in the day at the Giants' spring training complex in Arizona, he said neither he nor his representatives had been contacted by the commissioner's office about an investigation. He declined to answer other questions on the topic.
Selig also said he would respond to a letter from Rep. Cliff Stearns (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., asking about his role in policing steroid use from 1998-02 and a supposed conversation he had with Bonds in 2004.
Selig disagreed with criticisms that he is not taking the allegations against Bonds seriously. Bonds enters this season with 708 home runs, seven shy of passing Babe Ruth for second place and 48 away from breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755.
"I can't imagine anybody sitting there and coming up with that conclusion. But as all of you know who cover me on a regular basis, I'm generally very cautious," Selig said. "We have to do it right. I can't let other factors enter into it. Whatever is done is going to have to be done very thoroughly and right."
Bonds took batting practice with some of his San Francisco teammates at Scottsdale Stadium, while other members of the team traveled to Surprise for an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers. There was a chance he would leave the Giants to join the U.S. team for the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, but the Americans were eliminated with a 2-1 loss to Mexico on Thursday night.
Bonds admitted his legs felt "heavy" Wednesday when he went 2-for-2 with a homer and played only two innings in left field against Milwaukee. He homered and had four plate appearances as a designated hitter the previous day, when he also did an extensive leg workout after the game.
But he said he'd be ready to play a full game if the season was starting, but is taking it slow because it's only spring training.
"I don't think I ever played a nine-inning game any year before," Bonds said. "I never need to play a nine-inning game. I'm ready to play a nine-inning game now. You saw in the world classic guys are playing nine innings already. We're capable of playing nine innings. Do you want to? No, not in spring training when you can take advantage of the rest period."
Bonds, who played only 14 games last season after undergoing three operations on his right knee, has played just twice in the field this spring — four innings last Sunday and two innings Wednesday.
He said he's had only normal soreness in his legs but no swelling in the surgically repaired knee and feels "great." Bonds is 7-for-9 with three home runs in his first four games.
"You can have a great spring and a crappy season. You can have a bad spring and a great season," he said. "I don't evaluate spring training."
- Commissioner Bud Selig is proceeding cautiously before deciding whether baseball should launch an investigation into allegations that Barry Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs for at least five seasons.
Selig dismissed a report Thursday in the New York Daily News, citing an unidentified baseball official, that the commissioner had already decided to investigate Bonds.
"It's just something I'd rather not discuss right now," Selig said before the World Baseball Classic game between Mexico and the United States in Anaheim, Calif. "I'll make the decision based on all the factors that are involved and go from there, and do what I think is in the best interest of everybody involved."
Bonds, who broke Mark McGwire's single-season record with 73 home runs in 2001, is accused in an upcoming book of using steroids, human growth hormone, insulin and other drugs for at least five seasons beginning after the 1998 season. Baseball did not have a joint drug agreement with the union banning steroids and other performance-enhancing substances until September 2002.
"Game of Shadows," which is out March 23, is based on a two-year investigation. The book includes an extensive summary on the authors' sources, including court documents, affidavits filed by BALCO investigators, documents written by federal agents, grand jury testimony, audio recordings and interviews with more than 200 people.
Selig said any decision regarding Bonds would not hinge on whether the prosecutors investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative charge the slugger with perjury for his testimony to a federal grand jury in December 2003.
"What happens to the grand jury and the federal government and Barry Bonds, nature will have to take its course," Selig said. "Whatever decisions I make will be on what I believe is clearly necessary and what is in the best interest of the sport, and I'm not going to let any other factors play a role."
Bonds, who has never failed a drug test given by baseball, has previously denied using steroids.
Speaking earlier in the day at the Giants' spring training complex in Arizona, he said neither he nor his representatives had been contacted by the commissioner's office about an investigation. He declined to answer other questions on the topic.
Selig also said he would respond to a letter from Rep. Cliff Stearns (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., asking about his role in policing steroid use from 1998-02 and a supposed conversation he had with Bonds in 2004.
Selig disagreed with criticisms that he is not taking the allegations against Bonds seriously. Bonds enters this season with 708 home runs, seven shy of passing Babe Ruth for second place and 48 away from breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755.
"I can't imagine anybody sitting there and coming up with that conclusion. But as all of you know who cover me on a regular basis, I'm generally very cautious," Selig said. "We have to do it right. I can't let other factors enter into it. Whatever is done is going to have to be done very thoroughly and right."
Bonds took batting practice with some of his San Francisco teammates at Scottsdale Stadium, while other members of the team traveled to Surprise for an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers. There was a chance he would leave the Giants to join the U.S. team for the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, but the Americans were eliminated with a 2-1 loss to Mexico on Thursday night.
Bonds admitted his legs felt "heavy" Wednesday when he went 2-for-2 with a homer and played only two innings in left field against Milwaukee. He homered and had four plate appearances as a designated hitter the previous day, when he also did an extensive leg workout after the game.
But he said he'd be ready to play a full game if the season was starting, but is taking it slow because it's only spring training.
"I don't think I ever played a nine-inning game any year before," Bonds said. "I never need to play a nine-inning game. I'm ready to play a nine-inning game now. You saw in the world classic guys are playing nine innings already. We're capable of playing nine innings. Do you want to? No, not in spring training when you can take advantage of the rest period."
Bonds, who played only 14 games last season after undergoing three operations on his right knee, has played just twice in the field this spring — four innings last Sunday and two innings Wednesday.
He said he's had only normal soreness in his legs but no swelling in the surgically repaired knee and feels "great." Bonds is 7-for-9 with three home runs in his first four games.
"You can have a great spring and a crappy season. You can have a bad spring and a great season," he said. "I don't evaluate spring training."