Privacy, Part II

[cubfan33]

In a day more or less without real baseball games, I've spent the
day on the phone dealing with setting up interviews and dealing with
how teams might comply with HIPAA regulations. I'm not going to go
into the details of the ins and outs of the regulations here because
I'm not an attorney and frankly, it bores me. I've managed to figure
out that the regulation will not affect UTK in any way other than I
won't be able to get "official" statements from teams. So what? All
my unofficial team sources, insiders, players, etc will still get
the information to me and to other sources so its a non-issue. As
one reader put it "I think its just MLB's anti marketing at work
again. "How can we alienate fans this week? Lets cut off injury
news! They really don't care about that anyway even if all evidence
is to the contrary!" I couldn't agree more, Rajah. If one of my
inside sources wants to slip me a copy of the big binder that MLB
keeps its rules in (just the section on the DL please), I can make
it worth your while.

BARRY BONDS will be on with Bob Costas tonight on HBO. I'll watch it
with the rest of you, but much of the interview was talked about
today. In my discussions with several people, Barry IS being honest
and saying he's not using steroids. In fact, the question "are you
using steroids?" may be worded incorrectly. The question should
be "Are you taking any substance intended to enhance your
performance, reduce recovery time, or otherwise alter body
chemistry?" Creatine is legal and available. Steroids are illegal
and available. HGH is the next big one - if you don't think its
available, just search for it on Google. If you want to be really
scared, google "Buy Steroids."

The big injury news of the day is all out of Texas. SHANE REYNOLDS
was placed on the DL early this morning with "right leg weakness."
Leg weakness, I said? That's back problems if I've ever heard it.
Boom. I should have flashed it, but Shane Reynolds didn't really
seem spongeworthy. Reynolds underwent back surgery today and is done
for the season. Notably, he underwent virtually the same surgery
that KEVIN BROWN did earlier this week. There were differences, all
very technical, but these *are* comparable injuries, surgeries, and
in all likelihood, recoveries. The Astros can afford to lose a
pitcher more than most teams because they are flat loaded in the
minors. KIRK SAARLOOS was just called up to Triple A New Orleans and
looks likely to hit Clutch City soon. I'm also keeping my eye on
RODRIGO ROSARIO (a great pitcher, even if I can't say his name
without slipping into my bad Antonio Banderas accent) and PETE MUNRO.

Now for the Newberg Report ... oops, sometimes it just seems like
that with all the injuries the Rangers have going. (But you SHOULD
check out www.newbergreport.com for the best Rangers news anywhere.)
RAFFY PALMEIRO underwent an MRI on his ankle today and a decision
will be made before tomorrow's game as to whether he will go on the
DL. The team, according to sources, is leaning towards DLing him
since they are on a nine game run in NL parks and Raffy would have
to play the field.

HANK BLALOCK's fractured elbow is about as good as a fracture can
be. Its right at the tip and is very, very similar to the injury
that CHIPPER JONES had a couple years ago. Chipper was able to play
through the injury and have it taken care of in the offseason. This
is what Blalock will try to do. He'll hit off a tee later this week
and see how it feels.

RUSTY GREER is eligible to come off the DL, but he underwent an MRI
on his back to determine if and when this would happen. CARL EVERETT
was also supposed to be running up the Rangers radiology bill today
with an MRI of his own. FRANK CATALANOTTO is resuming baseball
activities and may go to Tulsa or OKC for a rehab stint. Tom Hicks
has a sprained wallet ...

I'll sneak this one in. Rob Neyer had a great article on it today,
but according to my sources, there ARE six names on the contraction
list and Rob got five of six.

SANDY ALOMAR's shoulder pain is the result of an impingement that
was known. Rest and anti-inflammatories should be enough to get him
back to his version of 100%. Isn't Alomar the perfect celebrity
spokesman for Celebrex?

Many questions today on KEVIN APPIER. The Angels deny that he's
injured and that herky-jerky motion is always a worry, but our
sources side with the Angels. Appier isn't hurt, he's just not
pitching well.

More questions came in on SCOTT WILLIAMSON. Evidently, some
Cincinnati media have speculated that Williamson is pitching through
pain and is considering retirement. A source close to Williamson
admits he is pitching with pain, but that this has been standard for
him and that the pain is not debilitating or unliveable. The same
sources indicates that Williamson laughs at the idea of retirement.

The curse on the Cards reached out and grabbed JASON ISRINGHAUSEN.
He's got a serious case of tendonitis in his elbow. Our source
indicates that Isringhausen is doing everything to stay on the
mound, including using a substance he bought off a late night TV
informercial. Hey, if it works ...

PAUL SHUEY is on the DL with groin problems. Ouch.

RICKY GUTIERREZ scored the winning run today for the Indians, but
strained his groin in doing so. The Indians are already one of the
thinnest teams in the AL, so any significant missed time would
really hurt. A decision will be made before tomorrow's game, but
they will try to keep him off the DL.

Next report tomorrow ... as always, be sure to come over and check
out Netshrine.com ... its a great place to ask injury questions,
talk about the issues of the day, and learn some of the most trivial
trivia you've ever seen. I'll be over there later myself ...

[moose]

Originally posted by cubfan33
BARRY BONDS will be on with Bob Costas tonight on HBO. I'll watch it
with the rest of you, but much of the interview was talked about
today. In my discussions with several people, Barry IS being honest
and saying he's not using steroids. In fact, the question "are you
using steroids?" may be worded incorrectly. The question should
be "Are you taking any substance intended to enhance your
performance, reduce recovery time, or otherwise alter body
chemistry?" Creatine is legal and available. Steroids are illegal
and available. HGH is the next big one - if you don't think its
available, just search for it on Google. If you want to be really
scared, google "Buy Steroids."

i dont think he's using steroids, but would be very suprised if he isn't using at least creatine.

have your sources suggested he's using hgh?

[Skip]

Re Bonds: And what's the big deal if he's using creatine or something similar? Just like what percent of the players? Against what law?

[moose]

Originally posted by Skip
Re Bonds: And what's the big deal if he's using creatine or something similar? Just like what percent of the players? Against what law?
unabashed nosiness :D

[cubfan33]

I didn't mean to suggest Bonds was using HGH. Watching him on Costas, I was struck with two things:

1. Damn. He's bigger than I thought.
2. He's so cocky and full of himself, he probably ISNT using anything illegal.

Is he downing powershakes, protein, etc? Hell yeah. If you asked me to guess, I'd say everyone except David Wells probably is and heck, Wells probably is too.

Here's as good a place to do this as any:

After discussing this with many sources - players, trainers, front office folks - here's my best guesses. I use a 25 man roster for each; you can extrapolate on your own. Many of these will be skewed because there are probably teams that have a concentration of users around a focal point (team leader A is using making it ok for B,C, and D).

Per team:
24 of 25 are using creatine or similar OTC substances
3 of 25 have used an illegal substance (steroids, HGH, testosterone) at some point.
2 of 25 used the illegal substance under watch of a physician
1 of 25 used the illegal substance on his own

[Sal Maglie]

2 of 25 used the illegal substance under watch of a physician

Is this worded correctly? I know steroids are only illegal if they're bought on the black market without a prescription, and there are many legitimate medical uses for them in instances of injuries. I was wondering about this the other day though, what if Physicians prescribe the steroids to the player for non-injury purposes? Would this get them into any trouble for ethics violations? Or maybe the players use doctors outside the US where the laws aren't as strict? The Physicians in the US could even prescribe steroids to players related to injuries suffered without any questions asked since they aren't banned in baseball.

[cubfan33]

This IS misworded.

A better way to say it would be "players have used some form of steroid or growth factor under the orders and observation of a doctor for purposes other than the approved FDA uses."

Neither are "illegal" in baseball (ie against the rules) nor are they de facto or de jure illegal as controlled substances, since they are prescribed by a doctor. I'm not sure what the precise word is that I was going for there, but illegal is clearly not the best choice. Thanks for catching that, Sal. Close shave on that one ... sorry, couldnt resist.