Gregg Zaun is a catcher who has played with seven teams in Major LeagueBaseball since 1995, the Baltimore Orioles (parts of 2 seasons), Florida Marlins (parts of3 seasons), Texas Rangers (1 season), Kansas City Royals (2 seasons), Houston Astros (parts of 2 seasons), Colorado Rockies (part of 1 season) and, most recently, the Toronto Blue Jays(4 seasons).Radomski believed that Jason Grimsley referred Zaun to him when they both played for the Royals in 2001. Someone else (Radomski could not remember who) called and98 See supra at 106-08.399 Redacted Affidavit of I.R.S. Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, sworn to on May 31, 2006,ordered steroids for Zaun. Although Radomski never spoke to Zaun about the transaction,Radomski received a check from Zaun for the steroids. Radomski produced that check, a copyof which is included in the Appendix and is shown below.Radomski confirmed the payment was for Deca-Durabolin and Winstrol. He also stated that he sent the drugs to Zaun at the Kansas City Royals clubhouse. The address for the Royals ballparkwas found in Radomski’s address book. statement that he sold steroids to Zaun is not the only allegation ofuse by Zaun. As discussed earlier in this report, in September 2002 Luis Perez, a bullpen catcher the Montreal Expos, was arrested for possession of a pound of marijuana. In January 2003,he was interviewed by investigators from the Commissioner’s Office.400 Perez told those nvestigators that he had personally supplied anabolic steroids to Zaun and seven other major league ball players.Tony Muser, Kansas City’s former manager, recounted an incident in which Zaun denied steroid use. According to Muser, while he was managing the Royals he once discusseddangers of performance enhancing substance use with Zaun while the two were sitting on the400 See supra at 99-101.bench before a game. Specifically, Muser told Zaun the story of how Don Rowe, a pitching coach for Muser in the minor leagues, had used steroids and developed serious health problemsas a consequence. Muser explained to Zaun that he was not accusing him of steroid use, and Zaun denied any such use.In order to provide Zaun with information about these allegations and to give  him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined

From the interview:

NP: Have you ever used a performance-enhancing substance that is now on MLB's banned list?
GZ: I have never violated MLB's drug policy or failed any drug tests.

I think that translates to "Yes (before they were banned)"

So, Bauxites, in the wake of the Clemens-McNamee fiasco, are you buying this?

Yes. Er, no. Maybe. Honestly? I soooo do not care about the individual excuses or explanations, even quasi-legitimate ones like this.

I think the real harm to the game comes in the hundreds of thousands of grade-schoolers out there right now who might well have become huge baseball fans who are now less likely to (I won't say "won't ever") because the sport has essentially positioned itself to be taken as seriously as the ECW or some other caped wrestling hoo-hah. That's truly sad.

No, I am NOT advocating "Bud was right" in ignoring/carpet-sweeping all this for years. Cheaters should be punished. But in front of the United States Senate and House??? Give me a flippin' break. The number of "Daddy used to root for that bad man who is lying to Congress" conversations that are taking place right now, developing a generation of "I won't be fooled like daddy was" kids-not-fans ... that should (and I'm sure does) scare the living crap out of Baseball's Old Boys.

Mick, I am concur with your position.

A question for the panel: remind me again why the NFL gets a pass when it comes to scrutiny over steroids?

My one pet theory is that there are no vaunted statistics in the sport. This year, the records for passing TDs and receiving TDs were broken. I think the record for rushing TDs was broken within the last couple of years. I'm not sure I could recite who has had a 2000-yard rushing season (akin to hitting 60 homeruns, I would think). I don't think anyone really cares about NFL records, though. It's all about the rings, baby. Or maybe not even. It's all about the betting, baby. Greyhounds. Jai Alai. NFL. All peas in a pod.

On the other hand, breaking Roger Maris's record is a big deal (and just think of the grief Maris endured having the temerity to break Ruth's record). Surpassing Maris's high-water mark several times is a big deal. Breaking Hank Aaron's record is a big deal.

jeff,

Not to nitpick because your post has some good points, but Zaun`s career earnings will jump to over 14 million dollars after this season.  Hopefully that`s not a guy who`s losing sleep over his future income potential.  I don`t care how much breakfast he likes to buy!

I simply can't believe Zaun.  Sorry man.  You've had 2 months now to get your story straight and find out if there was any smoking gun evidence (which is what Clemens should have done) - otherwise you wouldn't have waited this long to come out and deny.  I really wish he would have admitted this and attributed it to his substance abuse problems or w/e and admit he made a mistake.  Instead, in the months before this came out, he did everything he could to go after Bud Selig and Mitchell to try to denounce these reports and this "witch hunt".

The story itself seems way too out there (who gives someone a blank cheque unless you aren't sure who to make it out to?).  As much as I'd like to believe this, and as much as I love Zaun, this seems fake.  Make he is a victim of circumstances, but who knows.

After reading the article today I was all ready to post about how Zaun was just buying time to come up with a plausible explanation and how anyone who was truly innocent would not pass up the first opportunity to prove it...and then I read jeff mcl's post.  Some fine (and equally plausible) points there.

But too much smoke there to deny the fire, and perhaps more importantly...aarrgggh I don't care anymore!  One of the things I've always loved about baseball are the stats and as much as I hate the fact PEDs have permanently destroyed any meaningful comparison of records and eras (and e.r.a.s), the strikes didn't kill my love of the sport, nor will this.

I suggest an arbitration-like poll, the outcome of which all bauxites must accept.  "Should all future mention of PEDs etc in any thread result in the immediate admonishment and or banishment of the poster?" (suggested only slightly tongue-in-cheek). 

Things I do care about....the day pitchers and catchers report should be a national holiday (Nova Scotia still does not have a holiday in February and "Spring Training Day" sounds a hell of a lot better than "Family Day".  Family day!  What kind of f***ed-up Republican holiday is that?)... got tickets to Yankees-Jays in Tampa 3/22 and will definitely not be reporting back on any players who have gotten noticeably larger in the off-season.

The quality of the photocopy isn't an issue.  Zaun isn't claiming this is a frame-up. Just a mis-understanding.

Clemens lawyers might though.

To me his reputed leadership of the team ought to be questioned. I'd like to see a Globe&Mail poll on who's buying his story.

If i were Zaun, i'd be embarrassed to tell such a lame story.  How long did it take him to come up with that?

Either stay quiet, or come clean.  i dont really care, but its insulting to hear such a story.  If it were me, even if that story were true, and i wanted to proclaim my innocence, I'd make up a better story.   Know what i mean?  Seriously Zaun, that is week.

Forgetaboutit. Play ball. I just took 2 T3s for my headache. So book me.

Rios is in camp early. This is a good sign.

I'd like to see some hard evidence that says Zaun is lying. While we all probably agree that this whole thing is bigger than we could probably imagine, there is still going to be some innocent folk wrapped up in it. I haven't seen anything that says Zaun is most definitely not one of these people, and I have never bought into the "He looks big so he must do them" excuse.

"I just came across a presentation from the 2008 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, titled SAFE: Spatial Aggregate Fielding Evaluation. For those that don't want to read it all, scroll to the bottom for player results from 2002-2005"

More and more I am sold on the idea that it is simply impossible to put fielding into stat form. Every single attempt I have ever seen comes up with some absurd conclusions. There probably hasn't been a week in history where Jose Valentine was a better SS than Jack Wilson.  Ken Harvey could barely field at 1B yet comes up first, Torii Hunter was an incredible fielder during these years but comes up behind Willy Mo Pena who is a bad fielder. Chavez is considered by everyone to be an amazing defensive player finishes way, way down the list, and on and on and on.

Well the one part of the story which doesn't make sense (on top of numerous other bits) is that he also received steriods, but didn't do anything about it.  Radmoski claimed he sent the package to the Royals clubhouse addressed to Zaun.  So I wonder what GZ did with them once he found a mysterious package addressed to him with steriods inside of it. 

Did he tell anyone?  No. 

I'm not sure where to put this, but there's some interesting information in the Globe blogs from Blair and McLeod.  Blair includes a link to an audio taped conversation he had with Fasano regarding catching Ryan and McGowan.  I think McGowan's on the verge of becoming a true ace, and Fasano sings his praises as well.

Apparently League looks good, Ryan looks good, Rios has a mohawk, Adams will be getting time in the outfield as the Jays are trying to convert him into a super-sub (about time), Chacin is a little behind, and Travis Snider has a sore elbow and isn't hitting or throwing.

I'm quite optimistic about this team.  If Ryan's healthy and Janssen starts, the Jays will have a lot of starting pitching depth with Litsch, Chacin, Purcey, Banks and Romero all likely to be starting in the high minors.  They also have one of the strongest benches in quite some time, and even the Boston Globe hints that the Jays might be close to challenging the AL East powers.

Globe and Mail link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/baseball

Boston Globe link: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/02/17/slices_of_americana/

Nice to see Andy Pettitte stepping up to the plate today with a plausible reason / excuse and apology.