[MVB]

For those of you who don't know what's going on:

"Pitcher Jason Grimsley was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, a day after his home was searched by federal agents following his admission he used human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines.


The raid — and Grimsley's implication of other major league ballplayers — was the latest sign that widespread investigations into drug use by athletes are still active, even in the era of tougher testing.

"Clearly," U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan said, "we're not done."

According to court documents, Grimsley failed a baseball drug test in 2003.

Thirteen federal agents searched his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., for six hours Tuesday, but they would not reveal what they found. Investigators who cracked the BALCO steroid scandal in San Francisco said Grimsley initially cooperated in the probe but withdrew his assistance in April, prompting Tuesday's search.

Authorities tracked a package containing two "kits" of human growth hormone — about a season's supply — that was delivered at Grimsley's house on April 19, court documents released Tuesday showed.

Moments later, agents armed with a warrant offered him an option: Cooperate with their investigation into athletes using performance-enhancing drugs, or submit to an immediate search. Grimsley agreed to be interviewed.

He proceeded to detail his "receipt and use of anabolic steroids, amphetamines and human growth hormone over the last several years," but said he went exclusively with HGH when baseball's testing program began.

Grimsley also identified several other players who he said had used or supplied the drugs, though their names were blacked out from court documents. They included a handful of former teammates and one player he identified as one of his "better friends in baseball," adding that it was common knowledge that "Latin players" were a major source for amphetamines.

He also identified a personal fitness trainer to several major league ballplayers who once referred him to someone that later supplied him with an array of drugs.

The investigation is being run by prosecutors and authorities in San Francisco, where five Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative defendants pleaded guilty to distributing or developing steroids. Ryan said the government's probe will "diligently follow the evidence."


Commissioner Bud Selig had no comment on the specifics of Grimsley's case. Major League Baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred said HGH "is a problem for all sports because there is no universally accepted and validated test."
"No governing body in any sport has ever been able to discipline an athlete for the use of HGH," he said. "

Ah, the commissioner is so helpful....

I've also heard reports (from Grimsley's attorney) that the feds tried to get Grimsley to were a wire and "spy" on Barry Bonds, in an an attempt to get conclusive evidence against the slugger.

What effect will this situation have on baseball? Who do you think the "other players" are? What should be done about Grimsley? What should be done about human growth hormones which aren't picked up by the current steroid tests?

[Lefty Noob]

It's hard to suspend players for something that you can't detect; on the other hand, HGH is dangerous stuff and really needs to be kept out of sports. This will be an interesting situation to watch. Selig had the opportunity to come clean and help the feds out; now it looks like they're going to take matters into their own hands. Hard to predict which and how many players will wind up being affected by all of this, because once they nail the guys on Grimsley's list, who knows who THOSE players will finger, and so on. I'd bet its a significant percentage.

[EmpireWF]

This is going to get ugly soon than later and it's already begun.

The latest news was that the Gov't wanted Grimsley to wear a wire to get some more info on other players and specifically, Barry Bonds. He refused and that's when the Gov't went public with the story...

Also somewhat questionably, a specific trainer is being linked to Grimsley's report. That trainer is a well known associate of Albert Pujols.

This is not going to be pretty with the way everyone will be persecuted in the public eye. MLB is doing nothing to combat or stop this and I blame Selig. He's sitting back and letting the game suffer.

[Trashed]

No matter what a baseball player does people will still watch MLB. They could perform human sacrifices in center field and the stadium would be packed...maybe more so. People dont care if the "game is discredited." Its been discredited 1000 times between strikes, illegal drugs, racism, etc. This is a media based society and if they discredit it too much the sportscasters wont have anything to report on and human filth like mike and the mad dog wont have a show to tell everyone what to think about sports and their players. This steroid thing isnt going to be a cataclysm for baseball because no one cares if they are taking performance enhancing drugs. Oh they like to discuss its because it sports and sports is a fun topic for discussion (hence this board) but people like Barry Bonds only bring more fans in so people can chant "steroids" at him and throw needles. The reality is that Barry Bonds can burn down a childrens cancer hospital and MLB would still have its fan base and wear his jerseys, no one cares no one will. A guarantee from someone who can look into humanity and truly see its ugliness. So dont worry ladies and gents, the AL East will still be between the Red Sox and Yankees in Septmeber. Nothing is gonna change when it comes to Major League Baseball, it never does.

[legend]

It sounds to me that grimsley refused to name names and that's why the feds went public. If they had the names, we would know them right away. And if Grimsley's sorry career is any indication, steroids and HGH don't help too much!

[EmpireWF]

Trashed, I have to disagree with you.

Over the past 5-10 years, youths are not playing the game as much. Now you can blame that on a number of variables but the game as suffered because of all the nonsense in recent years. Say what you want about attendance figures (because they are amazing) but it's not reaching children as it has in the past.

That's going to be a big problem sooner or later.

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

Trashed, I have to disagree with you.

Over the past 5-10 years, youths are not playing the game as much. Now you can blame that on a number of variables but the game as suffered because of all the nonsense in recent years. Say what you want about attendance figures (because they are amazing) but it's not reaching children as it has in the past.

That's going to be a big problem sooner or later.

Well see on that Empire. Those amazing attendance figures pays the salaries of a lot of rotten, selfish criminals. MLB will probably just do what it does best and collectively urinate on the unintelligent american public as usual by holding up steroid testing in Selig's legendary red tape and raising ticket prices ($12 for a bleacher spot at Yankee Stadium...A FRIGGIN' BENCH!!!) and the kids may just get tired of it. Maybe parents can learn from their children in that aspect and families can come closer together. See? I can be positive!

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by Trashed

No matter what a baseball player does people will still watch MLB. They could perform human sacrifices in center field and the stadium would be packed...maybe more so. People dont care if the "game is discredited." Its been discredited 1000 times between strikes, illegal drugs, racism, etc. This is a media based society and if they discredit it too much the sportscasters wont have anything to report on and human filth like mike and the mad dog wont have a show to tell everyone what to think about sports and their players. This steroid thing isnt going to be a cataclysm for baseball because no one cares if they are taking performance enhancing drugs. Oh they like to discuss its because it sports and sports is a fun topic for discussion (hence this board) but people like Barry Bonds only bring more fans in so people can chant "steroids" at him and throw needles. The reality is that Barry Bonds can burn down a childrens cancer hospital and MLB would still have its fan base and wear his jerseys, no one cares no one will. A guarantee from someone who can look into humanity and truly see its ugliness. So dont worry ladies and gents, the AL East will still be between the Red Sox and Yankees in Septmeber. Nothing is gonna change when it comes to Major League Baseball, it never does.

Actually one thing did change. Me being a fan of MLB. Why should I write posts like these and then sit down and watch a baseball game. Thats hyprocrisy! As of June 12, 2006 I am never going to watch another baseball game again. Im done. Bud Selig is like Larry Brown in that he just lets the players run wild and turns a blind eye to steriods ala Vince McMahon. He cant control it, maybe no one can. The only way to stop these drug riddled, self important a**holes is to stop buying MLB products and stop watching the games. That in mind I say adios to major league baseball once and for all. Someone has to take a stand...it might as well be me!