Jason Grimsley naming names in baseball.

[ComicBookFreak]

Most of you have heard the scandal about Jason Grimsley and his distribution of HGH(human growth hormone). What do you guys think? Word is he is going to name names. So who do you think he will name? They say this could encompass as many ass 500 to 1000 players. What now if your favorite player gets named? Is this going to hurt baseball?

And yes, of course, I know someone is going to say Barry Bonds, so i will go ahead and say his name.

CBF

[carbonbased_al]

Originally Posted by ComicBookFreak

And yes, of course, I know someone is going to say Barry Bonds, so i will go ahead and say his name.

CBF

Beat me to it Brent!

[jgros001]

I think it is going to be good for baseball in the long run...short run, all the talk is about steroids instead of the game on the field. I would hazard a guess that a lot of the names will be pitchers (Clemens, maybe). It is hard to guess on pitchers because they are not using it to bulk up.

What did you think about the naming of names? A lot of the players are saying he shouldn't have done that. I say when the feds are knocking it is a whole different story than when writing a book or talking to the media.

[jcruz1027]

It depends on who the 500-1,000 are whether it hurts baseball. The Baltimore Sun is saying that 2005 Orioles were named as being amphetamine users. So if you get a name of a fan favorite like Tejada as being a HGH user, its gonna hurt. If the biggest names are Sammy Sosa & Palmerio then not so bad as fans have always suspected them and they were both on the 2005 Orioles.

[ComicBookFreak]

Originally Posted by carbonbased_al

Beat me to it Brent!

Ahhh but read this Smitty and Grimsley was a former Yankee wasn't he?

[SIZE="3"]Grimsley's lawyer says feds targeted Bonds[/SIZE]
By Joseph A. Reaves and Craig Harris, The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX — The attorney for Jason Grimsley said Wednesday that federal agents tried to pressure the former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher into wearing a listening device to lure other major league players into confidential conversations in an effort to find incriminating evidence against superstar Barry Bonds.
"It was a specific effort to target Bonds," said Edward F. Novak, one of the pre-eminent criminal attorneys in Arizona. "We were told that Jason's cooperation was necessary to their case."

Novak said Grimsley "was outed by the feds" because he refused to cooperate.

Grimsley, 38, left the team in disgrace Tuesday night after federal authorities unsealed a sworn affidavit in which an investigator said the pitcher admitted using steroids, amphetamines, human growth hormone and other illegal performance-enhancing drugs "throughout his career."

According to the affidavit, Grimsley identified "several" former and current major league players who used banned substances.

The names of those players were redacted from the unsealed document, creating an air of suspicion and nervousness throughout baseball.

Mark Lessler, a special agent for criminal investigation with the Internal Revenue Service, which produced the affidavit, said he could neither confirm nor deny whether any Diamondbacks were named.

Novak denied Grimsley volunteered the names of any fellow players and former players. He said, instead, federal agents questioned Grimsley about specific athletes and asked what he knew about their illegal drug habits.

One example, the attorney said, was former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra, who retired in 1996.

"Jason told them he understood Dykstra admitted using steroids and did it in his book," Novak said.

"They asked him specifically about Barry Bonds and Jason said he didn't know Bonds well and didn't know if he did or didn't use drugs."

Novak said investigators then asked Grimsley whether he knew anybody on the San Francisco Giants, Bonds' team, who he might get to confide about the slugger who is now second on the all-time home run list.

Grimsley refused and, according to Novak, told investigators that "baseball players don't go around talking about who is using and who isn't."

Novak said: "There is a lot in the affidavit that my client would dispute."

But one thing Grimsley confirmed was his admission he used illegal drugs for years.

"He has admitted his past steroid use," Novak said. "The substance of that part of the affidavit is accurate."

Commissioner Bud Selig had no specific comments, he said, because this is an ongoing investigation.

MLB Executive Vice President Rob Manfred said: "Major League Baseball now has the strongest steroid testing program in professional sports. Human Growth Hormone, however, is a problem for all sports because there is no universally accepted and validated test — either blood or urine. No governing body in any sport has ever been able to discipline an athlete for the use of HGH."

Federal agents have confronted Grimsley at his Scottsdale home twice in the past two months — once on April19 when they say they caught him accepting a mail delivery of illegal human growth hormone, and once Tuesday, when they spent six hours searching the premises.

In April, 13 agents, 10 from the IRS, two from the FBI and one from the Food and Drug Administration, moved in after the package of HGH was delivered.

Grimsley was home with his wife, three children and several guests. The lead agent rang the doorbell. Grimsley's wife answered and the agent asked if he could speak with Grimsley.

When the pitcher came to the door, the agent identified himself, told Grimsley what was happening and said the search warrant he was carrying could be handled in a low-key fashion if Grimsley agreed to cooperate.

Grimsley did and went with the agents who conducted the two-hour interview that led to the sensational affidavit.

Novak insisted Wednesday that Grimsley was coerced into going with agents to avoid being embarrassed in front of his friends and family.

"They specifically told him, don't call a lawyer," Novak said. "They let him know that if he didn't cooperate they basically would terrorize his family and come in with guns drawn and lights flashing."

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, which has been leading an investigation into illegal drug use focusing Bonds and the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, denied Novak's claims.

"We continue to investigate allegations of illegal activities concerning steroids, amphetamines, and other performance enhancing drugs, and related violations of law, and we will diligently follow the evidence," spokesman Luke Macaulay said. "We believe that this search and the investigative procedures involved were conducted in an entirely appropriate and legal fashion."

After cooperating with the investigation in April, Grimsley hired Novak and refused to work with the agents. That refusal, the attorney said, led to the six-hour raid Tuesday.

Novak said Asst. U.S. Attorney Matt Parrella phoned about 9:30 Tuesday morning and told Novak that agents were searching Grimsley's house and "based on what they were finding," the pitcher should reconsider his refusal to cooperate. Parrella requested an 11 a.m. meeting with Grimsley.

Novak tried to contact his client, but Grimsley and his wife were shopping.

When they returned home, they said they found the agents there and the front door broken.

"They told us when no one answered the door and they saw Jason's truck outside they thought he was inside refusing to answer so they knocked down the door," Novak said.

Grimsley told Novak he no longer wanted to cooperate and the attorney relayed that message to Parrella.

"He told us we had until 1 p.m. and if Jason didn't agree to cooperate by then, they'd release the affidavit to MLB and the media," Novak said.

Grimsley continued to refuse and late that afternoon the previously sealed affidavit was released, setting off the latest, and, perhaps, ugliest chapter in a years-long scandal that has tainted the game, ruined careers and disgusted fans.

"This is a black mark on a great game," said Ken Kendrick, managing partner of the Diamondbacks.

Kendrick said Grimsley asked for his release Tuesday night after the affidavit became public and the team granted his request Wednesday morning.

CBF

[jcruz1027]

About the outing of names...I understand why he did it. I mean if it gets him a good deal and he gets to keep the majority of his $865,000 salary for 2006 (which will probably be the last pay check he see's unless he writes a book). And in this age of free agency, you don't have that team loyalty anymore. Its about looking out for yourself.

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by ComicBookFreak

Ahhh but read this Smitty and Grimsley was a former Yankee wasn't he?

[SIZE=3]Grimsley's lawyer says feds targeted Bonds[/SIZE]
By Joseph A. Reaves and Craig Harris, The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX — The attorney for Jason Grimsley said Wednesday that federal agents tried to pressure the former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher into wearing a listening device to lure other major league players into confidential conversations in an effort to find incriminating evidence against superstar Barry Bonds.
"It was a specific effort to target Bonds," said Edward F. Novak, one of the pre-eminent criminal attorneys in Arizona. "We were told that Jason's cooperation was necessary to their case."

Novak said Grimsley "was outed by the feds" because he refused to cooperate.

CBF

dont' see what Mr. Novak's point is. There is nothing illegal, immoral or unethical about "targeting" for investigation those suspected of criminal activity.

Hey, I heard the DEA is "targeting" drug dealers for prosecution.....

[jcruz1027]

I think Novak was trying to save Grimsley some face by saying he was outed by the feds for not cooperating with them to get Bonds.

Grimsley played for the following Yankees during 1999 & 2000 when they won back-to-back WS. The 1993 Phillies coming from worst to first to lose in the WS. He played for the Indians in the 90's who scored 1,000 runs in a season and is the only club in 70 years to do so. Not to mention the Oriole, Angel, Diamonback, Astro, Tiger and Brewer teams.

[mosesbotbol]

This is bad but necessary for baseball. Baseball has to expose the players who took drugs, and set things straight. This whole era of baseball, especially the Players Union, which is the culprit, not the players themselves.

[azherfer]

Word going around is that Albert Pujols is on the radar because he and Grimsley shared the same trainer, who is named for supplying steroids.

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/baseb...mes-179400.php

[ComicBookFreak]

Originally Posted by azherfer

Word going around is that Albert Pujols is on the radar because he and Grimsley shared the same trainer, who is named for supplying steroids.

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/baseb...mes-179400.php

I wouldn't be surprised to see Pujols or Andruw Jones "on the Radar". Or even A-Rod for that matter.

CBF

[gw-smith]

Grimsley's a dickhead - he should keep his mouth shut and take his lumps. Why go and tattle on everyone else and who knows whether he's telling the truth or making this shit up as he goes. I certainly don't take there are a bunch of others in baseball using HGH - but how the hell would he know the names of all these guys. I'm sure the users are being very discreet in this day and age.

[NCRadioMan]

He name name!


NCRM

[floydp]

Something else interesting to think about, I wonder how far all of this would of went if Barry wasn't such an asshole? Maybe since he's so close to the record the powers that be want at least the record to be tainted to save a bit of face after steroid gate is over. You know, close the book on this issue with Sir Barry's fingers still in it? Just a thought.

[azherfer]

Originally Posted by floydp

Something else interesting to think about, I wonder how far all of this would of went if Barry wasn't such an asshole? Maybe since he's so close to the record the powers that be want at least the record to be tainted to save a bit of face after steroid gate is over. You know, close the book on this issue with Sir Barry's fingers still in it? Just a thought.

I have to agree with you. This is all about Barry Bonds. Several years ago, over 100 players got popped and their names were never released. I have heard through some fairly credible sources that the names would have knocked baseball to its knees. I have personal knowledge of one of them and without naming his name, will say he's a multiple Cy Younger and future HOF'er, and not from Texas. Let's be honest, the Sosa-McGwire homerun-athon was allowed to happen because baseball was trying to recover from the strike year. They were juiced and baseball knows it. They were perfectly content to sweep it all under the rug. But along comes the A-hole Barry Bonds, who decides if they can do it, so can I, and along with Barry comes his rep and the 100's of media types who hate the man. I don't personally believe he will ever pass Hank Aaron, and would consider it a tragedy if he did. but I will have to admit some admiration for the man, he stuck this whole ugly episode right in the smarmy, used-car dealer face of Bud Selig and the "all about the money" owners. Sadly, the only way a player can be sufficiently tested for HGH is through blood, and the union will never allow that to happen.

I still watch baseball on TV, but I haven't been to a game since the Dbacks won the WS in 2001. It's my own personal thing, my own little protest. Sure it doesn't hurt their bottom line, but it does improve mine. I'll take Little League ball any day of the week.