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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Can’t take focus off steroids

Ben Walker Associated Press

It happens every spring, at least these days. Pitchers and catchers report to camps, and talk shifts from bats and balls to steroids and syringes.

From Florida to Arizona, the recent disclosures about Alex Rodriguez are topic No. 1.

“Guys that are playing right now, guys that haven’t done anything, the younger guys coming up, we have to deal with that cloud,” major league home run champion Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies said Friday. “Everyone who is playing in the present day has to deal with that cloud.

“That’s more of the frustrating thing about it. The game is under this cloud,” he said at the World Series champions’ camp in Clearwater, Fla. “It’s just a dark cloud because of the steroid use.”

With spring training starting this week, there are plenty of on-field questions. Among them: Can Chris Carpenter put his injuries behind him? Will Dontrelle Willis regain his control?

After shifting to Plan B – as in Boston, instead of Atlanta – John Smoltz provided an early answer about his status. The star right-hander said he doesn’t expect to pitch in a game before June, about 12 months after having shoulder surgery.

“My timetable’s a lot faster than most,” the former Atlanta star said at Red Sox camp in Fort Myers, Fla. “I told them their biggest challenge for me is to tame me down because I’m a full-bore guy and I love to compete.”

Exhibition games begin Feb. 25. Just a reminder to Manny Ramirez, in case he decides to rejoin the Los Angeles Dodgers: They now train in Glendale, Ariz., instead of Vero Beach, Fla.

But before stats count, the suspicions will mount.

“I think anybody now who performs well or does anything well, people are going to definitely assume that they’re doing something,” New York Yankees newcomer CC Sabathia said in Tampa, Fla.

Sabathia said he was surprised the Rodriguez scandal caused so much commotion.

“I didn’t think it was going to be that huge of a deal. I mean, I just said it was unfortunate that it had to come out in the way it did,” he said.

Another high-priced New York pitcher, A.J. Burnett, said he ran into Rodriguez in the Bahamas a couple of weeks ago. Burnett already has a plan on how he’ll try to make the slugger comfortable.

“Just going to mess with him every day, you know, prank him every day. I’m going to be mean to him,” Burnett said.

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella remembered his days in Seattle as Rodriguez’s manager.

“I was saddened. Alex, we brought up as a young pup. Got him up there at age 18, gave him a taste and brought him up a second time and he became an All-Star. Wonderful young man. It’s a shame it’s happened to him. I’ve been really, really close with him,” he said.

“I think the statement that he made getting that huge, huge contract with the Texas Rangers probably put pressure on him to be superhuman. And it turned out to be a big mistake. I hope he’s learned from this and I’m sure he has and he can go on and continue his career and do the great job he’s done.”