Rodriguez ‘cooperative’ in interview
Alex Rodriguez had a two-hour meeting with Major League Baseball officials Sunday. How much he told them about steroids is a secret – at least so far.
The commissioner’s office released a statement saying Rodriguez was “cooperative” in an interview with officials from baseball’s Department of Investigations and Labor Relations Department. No further details were revealed, and the statement said MLB would have no additional comment at this time.
MLB sought to interview the New York Yankees slugger about his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 with Texas.
Rodriguez had two lawyers, Jay Reisinger and James E. Sharp, with him at the meeting in Tampa, Fla. Also present were union general counsel Michael Weiner, MLB vice president of investigations Dan Mullin, MLB executive vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred, and senior vice president and general counsel for labor Dan Halem, according to a person familiar with the meeting.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss details.
MLB wanted to speak with Rodriguez about security issues involving a trainer from the Dominican Republic and the cousin the three-time MVP said injected him with a banned substance called “boli.”
After being lifted from Sunday’s game against the Reds for a pinch runner in the fifth inning, Rodriguez spoke with reporters but declined to discuss when or if the meeting would take place.
Rodriguez did say he planned to be in Jupiter by Sunday night to join the Dominican Republic team for World Baseball Classic preparations.
M’s perfect in Cactus League
Josh Hamilton tripled, felt a twinge in his ankle and called it a day before the second inning of the Texas Rangers’ 13-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Surprise, Ariz.
Hamilton hit a towering drive off the left-field wall for a triple in the bottom of the first. He jogged out to center field between innings but retreated to the dugout before the inning started, departing with tightness in his right Achilles tendon.
Chris Woodward and Chris Shelton homered for the Mariners, who are unbeaten in their first four Cactus League games. Seattle finished with 15 hits and five walks against seven Rangers pitchers.
Mariners starter Brandon Morrow was supposed to go two innings but left after facing three batters without recording an out in the second. He gave up two runs and three hits with three walks.
Bonds trial may wait 6 months
A decision by federal prosecutors to appeal a key ruling in the Barry Bonds perjury trial could delay the trial for six months or more, a setback for the defense, legal analysts said.
Defense lawyers had the momentum going into trial, the advantage of a judge willing to throw out evidence that prosecutors said was key to their case and the refusal of a critical witness to testify against Bonds. Jury selection had been scheduled to start today.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, a highly regarded Bill Clinton appointee, could even leave the case if President Barack Obama elevated her to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Illston is widely considered to be a candidate for the higher court, which currently has one vacancy and may be expanded.