[Rumors]Boston Herald: Another Big Name Player Failed Test?

Here is the link to espn Morning Show Mike and Mike radio:

http://espnradio.espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikeandmike#

If you go to 3:49 mark on archieve show, Mike Greenberg discussed this rumor and said this player is a bigger name than Raffy.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-steroidrumors&prov=ap&type=lgns
Maybe it is rumor after all

MLB, union try to quash steroid rumors

By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer
August 10, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rumors and names started flying shortly after Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for steroids last week.

Who would be next? More to the point: What big name would be next?

Faced with a swell that was becoming a storm, Major League Baseball and the players' union took what they called an ``unusual step'' -- the sides issued a joint statement Wednesday, with hopes it would quash the rampant speculation.

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``Reports of large numbers of positive tests currently unreported are totally false. Reports of big-name players having the reporting of their test results delayed are totally false,'' it said.

``All drug-testing results are processed in precisely the same manner, and without regard to the identity of any player or to the volume of positives at any given time. These media reports and rumors are totally, and completely inaccurate, and do not deserve further comment,'' it said.

The statement was issued by Rob Manfred, executive vice president for labor relations in the commissioner's office, and Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the union.

On Tuesday, commissioner Bud Selig said a young player -- as in, not a star -- was currently in the steroids system. Once a player is informed he has tested positive, he can appeal before any penalties are announced.

Eight major leaguers have been suspended 10 days for steroid use. Another 81 have been banned under the minor league testing program.

``The steroid issue is not quite as big an issue as some people think,'' Houston star Lance Berkman said. ``This is a hot-button issue now. People are making a mountain out of a molehill.''

Until Palmeiro, the top player penalized was Juan Rincon. He's a valuable reliever for the Minnesota Twins, certainly, but not someone of Palmeiro's stature.

Palmeiro's ban ratcheted up the debate over whether his Hall of Fame credentials would hold up. And, after he pointed his finger and assured a Congressional panel that he had never used steroids, his suspension led to most everyone in the majors becoming a suspect.

``You know, what happened is a shame,'' Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said before Wednesday night's game at Baltimore. After a long pause, he added, ``That's about all I have to say about it.''

Kansas City pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, the Royals' player representative said the bans show the process is working.

``Obviously, the tests are coming up positive. It's not like we've tested everybody and everybody's been clean,'' he said.

``It's going to be a black eye for baseball in the sense that it looks like some athletes aren't true professional athletes,'' he said. ``To take drugs to keep you full of energy the whole year is cheating.''



Updated on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 7:49 pm EDT