Gonzalez questions executive’s motives
Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez reacted angrily Thursday after the Diamondbacks’ top executive told a newspaper there have been “whispers” about whether the five-time All-Star used performance-enhancing drugs.
Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick did not accuse his team’s most popular player of cheating. But he mentioned Gonzalez’s name in a rambling interview with The Arizona Republic about steroids in baseball, which prompted Gonzalez to call a news conference two hours before the Diamondbacks hosted San Francisco.
“Just to have your name thrown in it – I’ve had phone calls from 7:30 this morning till right now,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t want to be in this situation. I don’t think any of my teammates do.
“He’s trying to protect the game of baseball in his own way,” Gonzalez said, referring to Kendrick. “It’s unfortunate that I almost have to sit here today to defend myself for no reason.”
In the interview, Kendrick said, “I’ll be blunt with you and say there have been certainly whispers about Luis Gonzalez. Because he’s such a high-profile guy and you can make a case of his numbers five years ago versus his numbers today and therefore he must have been doing something. Well, he’s also five years older.”
Gonzalez hit 57 homers in 2001, the year the Diamondbacks won the World Series. He hasn’t hit more than 28 in a season since.
Selig sends warning
In an open letter to fans, commissioner Bud Selig said he will not tolerate the use of human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.
Selig’s letter was to appear in several publications today and on MLB.com. Though he didn’t name Jason Grimsley, the commissioner said he was disappointed and angered by a player’s admission that he used HGH, and the player’s statements that other major leaguers use the banned substance.
On June 6, federal agents raided Grimsley’s Arizona home following his admission that he had used HGH, steroids and amphetamines. The pitcher also reportedly named several players who he said were using HGH, undetectable with baseball’s drug test. The reliever was released by the Diamondbacks the following day and given a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball on Monday.
Guillen calls for vengeance
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said the next time one of his players is hit intentionally by an opposing pitcher, he wants his pitchers to retaliate.
Texas right-hander Vicente Padilla hit A.J. Pierzynski on the right arm in his first two at-bats of Wednesday night’s 8-0 Chicago loss, raising a red welt on the arm of the catcher.
Rookie right-hander Sean Tracey threw inside to Texas’ Hank Blalock in the seventh in an apparent attempt at retaliation, but failed to plunk him.
TV cameras caught Guillen in the dugout throwing a water bottle to the ground in disgust as Tracey faced only the one batter. Later in the inning, Guillen was seen in the dugout yelling at Tracey, who pulled the collar of his jersey over his head.
Johnson, Torre suspended
New York Yankees pitcher Randy Johnson was suspended five games by the commissioner’s office for intentionally throwing at Cleveland’s Eduardo Perez on Wednesday night.
Johnson is expected to appeal the penalty, allowing him to make his next scheduled start Monday in Philadelphia.
New York manager Joe Torre was suspended for one game. There is no appeal process available for Torre, who will serve his suspension tonight.
Trade winds blow
Minnesota traded infielder Juan Castro back to Cincinnati for minor league outfielder Brandon Roberts.
Elsewhere, Boston sent righty David Riske to the Chicago White Sox for lefty Javier Lopez in a trade of relievers.
Coaches receive ax
John Wetteland was removed as Washington’s bullpen coach and offered another job with the organization because of what manager Frank Robinson said were “philosophy differences.”
Robinson said he asked Wetteland several times to get the team’s relievers to focus more and cut down on practical jokes, such as lighting firecrackers.
Meanwhile, Dave Magadan was fired as the San Diego Padres’ hitting coach and replaced by Merv Rettenmund, who held the job from 1991-99.