Players Grimsley accused made public
Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada were among the players that a former major league pitcher accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a federal agent’s affidavit, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday on its Web site.
The agent for Clemens and Pettitte denied the accusations. Baltimore teammates Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons and Tejada also were implicated in the sworn statement, the Times said. An Orioles spokeswoman said the team had not seen the report and had no comment.
In June, federal agents searched reliever Jason Grimsley’s home in Arizona after the pitcher admitted using human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines. Grimsley was later released by the Arizona Diamondbacks and suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball, and has not played since then.
In a 20-page search warrant affidavit signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, the Times reported, he said Grimsley identified other players who had used drugs. Those names were blacked out when the document was released.
The Times said an anonymous source with access to the document – minus the crossouts – let the newspaper see it, but kept the copy. The Times said a second source who had identified the other players provided additional details about the document.
According to the affidavit, the Times said, Grimsley told investigators Clemens and Pettitte “used athletic performance-enhancing drugs.”
The affidavit also alleged Grimsley told federal agents that Roberts, Gibbons and Tejada “took anabolic steroids.”
Grimsley has complained to friends, the Times said, that federal agents attributed statements to him that he did not make.
Martinez injured rotator cuff
Pedro Martinez is going to be out far longer than this postseason: The New York Mets ace will miss the start of 2007, too – because of an injured pitching shoulder.
Already ruled out of the playoffs because of a bad left leg, the three-time Cy Young Award winner will have right rotator cuff surgery next week and won’t resume throwing off a mound until June, Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Saturday.
Exams Thursday revealed a problem with his other calf – which was announced – and also uncovered the trouble in his rotator cuff – which wasn’t.
Martinez got a second opinion on the shoulder – which matched the initial reading – and opted for the operation rather than trying to rehabilitate the injury.
Minus Martinez, the Mets will have Orlando Hernandez pitch Game 1 of the playoffs and Tom Glavine start Game 2.
Nationals to part with Robinson
Frank Robinson will not return as the Washington Nationals manager in 2007, the team announced, a day before its season will end with a third consecutive last-place finish.
The Hall of Famer was told during the week he wouldn’t be back, but the Nationals didn’t make the news official until a few hours before the game against the Mets.
The 71-year-old Robinson has managed the Expos-Nationals franchise for the past five seasons.
“It’s been a good ride for me,” he said.
•Felipe Alou all but confirmed he will not return to manage the San Francisco Giants for a fifth season in 2007.
Hired after the club’s 2002 World Series season to replace Dusty Baker, Alou is the winningest Latin American manager in major league history, but San Francisco will miss the playoffs for a third straight year.
•Cubs manager Dusty Baker will find out Monday morning whether the organization wants him back, Chicago general manager Jim Hendry said.
Baker’s four-year contract is expiring, and the Cubs were tied with Pittsburgh for the National League’s worst record at 65-95.
Johnson works for coaches
New York’s Randy Johnson threw across the outfield grass in nearly empty Yankee Stadium to bullpen coach Joe Kerrigan as two other coaches looked on. Having passed the first test, the Big Unit said he’ll throw a bullpen session today to prepare his balky back for the playoffs.
“My arm felt good, but tomorrow will be the real barometer on how I feel,” Johnson said. “And then, obviously, if I get through that, how my back feels on Monday.”
Johnson is scheduled to pitch Game 3 of next week’s first-round playoff series against Minnesota or Detroit. Yankees manager Joe Torre also said before the game that Gary Sheffield will be his postseason first baseman, and Jason Giambi will be a designated hitter.
MLB sets attendance record
Major League Baseball broke its season attendance record and was on track to finish with the second-highest per-game average in the sport’s history.
Through Friday night, the 30 major league teams had drawn 74,922,200, just shy of the 74,926,174 fans who attended games in 2005, and the record was broken when Minnesota drew 46,219 against the Chicago White Sox in Saturday’s first game.