Cleveland's Byrd defends use of HGH
Right before last night's Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park, Indians righthander Paul Byrd, the starter and winner in Game 4, confirmed a report in the San Francisco Chronicle that he bought nearly $25,000 of human growth hormone from 2002-05 from a Florida anti-aging clinic.
Byrd said he had a tumor of the pituitary gland sapping his hormone levels and said a doctor legally prescribed the HGH. The doctor turned out to be a Florida dentist who wrote two of the prescriptions and was later disbarred for fraud and incompetence.
"I'm a little disappointed with the timing of this," Byrd said prior to the Indians' 11-2 loss. "This story could have been brought out a few days ago. I had nothing to hide, said I had nothing to hide, said no comment, and go ahead and run it.
"I didn't want this to affect my team when they take the field tonight. I've had a talk with my teammates. They understand where I'm coming from."
The affable Byrd said he did nothing wrong in taking the hormone, which he often had sent to the clubhouses during the seasons.
Byrd, a devout Christian who frowns upon steroid use in his new book and in his public speaking appearances, told reporters outside the visitors' clubhouse he is against the use of any drug for a competitive advantage.
On that stance, Byrd will be questioned.
Hormone levels decrease as you get older, according to several medical journals. A boost to normal hormone levels would provide many benefits, including increased strength and less time needed to recover after workouts.
During the years he is said to have taken HGH, it was not a banned substance in Major League Baseball. In fact, it wasn't declared a banned substance until January 2005. Does this take Byrd off the hook for possible punishment?
"I have never taken any hormone or any drug that was not prescribed to me by a doctor and that is the key to this," Byrd said. "I have a reputation. I speak at different places. I speak to kids. I speak to churches. I do not want the fans of Cleveland . . . I do not want honest, caring people to think that I cheated, because I didn't."
When athletes are linked with HGH and steroids, their reputations take a hit, no matter their explanation. And Byrd will be no different.
"I have actually had shipments come to clubhouses and have actually, for a small period of time, stored them in the refrigerator in the clubhouse, so I feel like it makes things legitimate on my intentions and things from my end," Byrd said.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro was grilled about Byrd's use of HGH. Shapiro said he could not comment on anything medical concerning a pituitary issue. Shapiro said his contact with Byrd on this issue began Friday, when Byrd approached him about it. Shapiro thinks there are a lot of parties involved in this issue, but claimed his only contact has been with Byrd, not Major League Baseball.
His reaction to the story?
"Surprised but supported," said Shapiro. "He's a guy I've known for 14 years, on and off. Most of the local guys know this guy has been a stellar person on and off the field, personally and professionally. I'm supportive and accepting of the fact I don't know everything going on."
Asked whether he was still taking HGH, Byrd said, "That's a private matter right now. I do still have a pituitary issue. I have a pituitary tumor. I don't know exactly what that means yet. I'm still learning about that. It's something I will have to get tested for for a while now and that changes a lot of things."
Byrd was vague on when the tumor was found.
"Well, again, it's a time-sensitive issue that I feel like I need to . . . Let's just say in the recent past I found out."
Byrd insisted the use of HGH never affected his performance. He is not one of these guys who was suddenly throwing 95 miles per hour after throwing 85 his whole career.
"My fastball has always stayed the same," he said. "I have never done anything that's disrespected the game and I think that's important to bring out to people that care about this situation. Again, I'm disappointed with the timing."
Byrd said he has no idea what the future holds in terms of this revelation, but, "I am going to get tested. I'm happy that I've been working with Major League Baseball. I think that's another thing that shows that I haven't tried to do anything behind anybody's back."
Byrd fessed up, but didn't fess up all the way. He said he'll have more answers in the future, but now this mess is likely in the hands of lawyers, so the words will likely be less free flowing from here on out.
What bothers Byrd the most, and he is very sincere, he hopes that he hasn't let anyone down.
"I don't want to show up at the stadium and people think I've cheated," Byrd said. "You know, I love this game. I respect this game. I've loved it since I was a little boy.
"I've always wanted to be in the World Series and I'm one game away from that, and now I'm dealing with my medical history on a night when I should be talking about Jake Westbrook and the Cleveland Indians. So there's a little bit of disappointment in that for me."
A little disappointment for everyone. Names keep trickling out. Some are surprising, some aren't. Given Byrd's reputation, few could have seen this one coming.
