For the Orioles, a decade of consecutive losing seasons pales in comparison to this.
Of the 86 players named in investigator George Mitchell?s report on performance-enhancing drugs, two ? All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts and veteran outfielder Jay Gibbons ? are current Orioles and 15 are former players.
“Baseball has had its better days,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “What it allows us to do is put it behind us, move forward and make the game better.”
Gibbons, who last week admitted to taking human growth hormone, was presumed to be on the list at the time of his admission. Roberts, though, was a bit more of a surprise.
Roberts, who did not return calls to his Arizona residence, and former Oriole Jack Cust were both implicated by former teammate Larry Bigbie.
Roberts? implication begins at the bottom of page 158 in the 409-page document, claiming: “According to Bigbie, both he and Roberts lived in [former Oriole David] Segui?s house in the Baltimore area during the latter part of [the 2001] season.
When Bigbie and Segui used steroids in the house, Roberts did not participate.
According to Bigbie, however, in 2004 Roberts admitted to him that he had injected himself once or twice with steroids in 2003. Until this admission, Bigbie had never suspected Roberts of using steroids.”
Mitchell wanted to interview Roberts, but the second baseman declined, according to the report.
Tejada was linked to performance-enhancing drugs after Mitchell met with Tejada?s former Oakland A?s teammate Adam Piatt.
Tejada and the former A?s prospect had neighboring lockers in Oakland, and according to the report” “Tejada asked specifically if [Piatt] had any steroids.”
According to Mitchell?s findings: “Piatt had several conversations with Tejada before a transaction occurred. Piatt admitted he had access to steroids and human growth hormone and agreed to obtain them for Tejada.”
Piatt sold Tejada testosterone and human growth hormone, but “emphasized that he did not know whether Tejada actually used the substances,” according to Mitchell.
The report states Tejada signed two checks ? worth $3,100 and $3,200 ? to Piatt.
Roberts? inclusion was the subject of much debate on national broadcasts Thursday because there was no documentation to back up Bigbie?s claims.
“It?s a very delicate dance,” ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack said of Roberts? story. “It?s, ?perhaps he used it once, perhaps he didn?t use it at all.? Is it fair? It?s unfair. There?s a lot of hearsay with allegations.”
ORIOLES IN MITCHELL REPORT
» Current: Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons
» Former: Larry Bigbie, Ricky Bones, Kevin Brown, Howie Clark, Jack Cust, Jason Grimsley, Jerry Hairston, Tim Laker, Gary Matthews Jr., Kent Mercker, Rafael Palmeiro, David Segui, Miguel Tejada,
Todd Williams,
Gregg Zaun
