Who Cares About the Mitchell Report pt.2

As I stated in the first part of this continuing series, this report doesn’t really do anything other than provide some names, names which are based (not entirely, but mostly) on the accusations of convicts and bargaining criminals.  Although, I must say that the report, in itself, is a very detailed text which actually gives it some more credibility than what many of us thought, before its release.

FOX Sports runs through the biggest names, here and gives a pretty good summary of the report.  Roger Clemens is definitely the biggest loser today, as the information about his steroid use is fairly specific and well documented.  People worry about Pettitte, but his mention in the report seemed to signal an apprehension towards using steroids and then having to resort to them to help heal his arm.  He’s safe, simply because fans love the guy and his actions won’t get looked at negatively. 

What I found most interesting was that the GM’s and insiders working with the clubs KNEW who was taking steroids, if steroids were a problem issue for a player, and whether or not steroids essentially “created” the player’s success.  One of the more damning things I read was about Eric Gagne.  Here’s an excerpt from the report:

When the Boston Red Sox were considering acquiring Gagné, a Red Sox official made specific inquiries about Gagné’s possible use of steroids. In a November 1, 2006 email to a Red Sox scout, general manager Theo Epstein asked, “Have you done any digging on Gagne? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medical?”425 The scout, Mark Delpiano, responded,

Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did . . . Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne . .

That’s some pretty amazing stuff.  It’s funny because you often want to blame the players yet everyone knows what’s going on and nobody is really admonished for it until now.  This is absolutely mind boggling.  I bet the Brewers aren’t too happy right now after they just signed Gagne to that $10 million dollar deal.  Either they didn’t know about Gagne’s history (which is unlikely, you don’t drop that much dough and not question) or they simply think he can perform regardless.

Gagne is not the only one that the club officials knew about, though.  Kevin Brown and Paul Lo Duca were two other figures that were documented as regular steroid users (Lo Duca reportedly ordered steroids for Gagne).  The Dodgers openly (in their meetings) talked about Brown and Lo Duca and their steroid use, and its ultimate effect on their respective bodes.  Look at this:

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.422

Less than two months later, the Dodgers traded Brown to the Yankees.423

Well, well.  Thanks LA!  The Yankees probably had an idea of what was going on, but I just cannot believe how entrenched these clubs were in the information they had relating to their own players and steroid use, yet we always end up blaming the supplier or the user.  This is ridiculous.  LA apparently had a roid haven, as Lo Duca too was talked about (in an almost positive way) during a meeting with Dodgers’ officials:

Steroids aren’t being used anymore on him. Big part of this. Might have some value to trade . . . Florida might have interest.. . . Got off the steroids . . . Took away a lot of hard line drives.. . . Can get comparable value back would consider trading. . . . If you do trade him, will get back on the stuff and try to show you he can have a good year. That’s his makeup. Comes to play. Last year of contract, playing for 05.419

What?  To me, this was the most shocking part of the report.  Not the names, but the internal discussions that occurred regarding the names by these clubs.  It’s funny how they’ve assessed these individuals based on their enhanced performance and when these players begin to decline (injuries, health) as most steroids users tend to do (at a certain point) they ship them off to other teams.

Overall, the report was a nice blurb for the day, but I doubt it will have any lingering effects with players.  There were no “modern” cases brought forth other than Jose Guillen and maybe a few others that we all knew about (Giambi, etc.).  What’s amazing is to see fans on blogs complaining that the report was “disappointing” because it didn’t name more names.  It sums up the report for what it is.  It’s gossip and entertainment news for males and gossip doesn’t normally create substantial change.