There will be a strange phenomenon in spring training this year.
Camps will be full of players who have been named in the Mitchell Report. They will play among players who weren't caught and maybe never will be caught. They will play alongside players who never used. They will play among players who might still be using HGH because there's no test for it.
Many teams will have players wearing an imaginary "M" (for "Mitchell") on their chests. On the Yankees, Andy Pettitte, HGH user, will play alongside Jason Giambi, steroid user. The Orioles will have Brian Roberts at second base, Jay Gibbons in the outfield. The Jays will have Gregg Zaun and Troy Glaus. On and on.
The stigma will fade in time for some lesser players. They will become folded into the landscape, much as the remaining replacement players have been. When you see Ron Mahay or Brendan Donnelly or Kevin Millar or Damien Miller, you don't immediately think of replacement players, do you?
You'll notice them this year, maybe next, but after that, they will have to be pointed out to you as an old "Mitchell guy" or a "steroid guy." Big fish like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire will never escape.
Whether it's an edict from baseball or from their respective owners, it is hard to find a general manager in the league who will say anything on the record about the Mitchell Report.
One National League GM put it bluntly: "I want nothing to do with this issue on the record, but off the record, these guys will have no problem in the clubhouse with the other players. I think the players understand that it was a messed-up time and players made mistakes and these are the guys who will pay the price.
"I do think the high-profile players - Roger Clemens, if he comes back, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds - those guys will be the subject of ridicule by the fans. I'm sure they'll be enduring some things, especially the guys on the big-market teams."
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has indicated he will not comment on anything pertaining to the Mitchell Report, even the parts in which he is cited as having conversations about Donnelly and Eric Gagné using performance-enhancing substances. J.P. Ricciardi in Toronto and Billy Beane in Oakland, two GMs unafraid to speak their minds, issued no comments on all things Mitchell.
The feeling is that the less talk there is, the easier the transition will be for the accused players. Teams are trying to get into the "moving on from this" phase, even with a congressional hearing looming.
"I think transitioning these players is going to be up to the individual clubs and managers and GMs and owners," said commissioner Bud Selig. "If there's some sensitive things that have to be dealt with, it really has to be done at the team level. My focus has to be on the [testing] program, and I believe we have strengthened our program."
Veteran Astros catcher Brad Ausmus agrees there will be no problem for the players in the clubhouse.
"I think in the case of the replacement players way back, they had a lot tougher time blending back into the clubhouse," Ausmus said. "This is totally different. I certainly am not going to demonize a player who was on the Mitchell Report. I feel badly for all of those guys.
"At the very worst, if all the allegations in that report are true, we're not talking about murder here. They aren't bad people. Throughout time, and in different sports, you've always had people trying to beat the system. They didn't do it to hurt anybody else, they did it because they wanted to get stronger and better."
Ausmus said he hasn't talked to Clemens since the Mitchell Report, but he understands it will be those with the great accomplishments who take the heat.
"No question," Ausmus said. "I think Roger and Barry Bonds and anyone who was closer to a record or had a record will bear the brunt of the fans' wrath. They'll take it for everybody else."
As for Clemens, in particular, Ausmus said, "It's just amazing to me how someone's reputation and everything he's worked so hard for can be ruined by the word of one shaky witness. How could that ever stand up in a court of law?"
Asked about Clemens's full-court defense since the allegations, Ausmus said, "If someone said something that was untrue about me, I'd pull out every stop in the book. If that's what Roger's doing, I can't blame him for that."
Outfielder Dave Roberts, who went through the entire Bonds Watch with the Giants, said, "I think the players, the management, and the fans want to get on with this. You're not going to see the players dwell on this."
Answers out of left field
A few questions for 2004 Red Sox playoff hero Dave Roberts, now the Giants' left fielder:
You're moving to left field to accommodate Aaron Rowand, recently signed by the Giants. How do you feel about that?
DR: "First of all, it's going to be hard to replace No. 25 [Barry Bonds], and I hope Giants fans don't expect me to hit home runs like that, but I think it's a good move in that in Aaron we really have one of the premier center fielders in the game, not only defensively, but a guy who can drive in runs and sets a tone with the way he plays the game. I think our team will be stronger and our lineup with be better."
Do you think all of that attention toward Barry and the home run record and steroids took away from your team last year?
DR: "People often say that, but I resist that because the bottom line was when we were on the field playing baseball, we were away from that stuff. That stuff was the farthest thing from our minds. We just went out and played baseball. Unfortunately, we just didn't play it very well. We didn't play good baseball so we deserved to end up where we did."
Do you think the Giants can compete with a tough Arizona team, Colorado's lineup, San Diego's pitching, and an improving Dodgers team?
DR: "I really do. First of all, we have a very good young pitching staff. We have a lot of talented arms. Secondly, we're not done yet. We're still making moves and I'm sure we're going to address some other needs here in the next month before spring training. If we can figure out our first base and third base situation in our lineup - and I think we will - I think we're going to be fine. I don't think people realize the high level of play in the National League West now. This is traditionally a winning franchise and I think we'll do the things to get back to that."
How different is it going to be without Bonds and do you think he'll play again?
DR: "Of course, it will be different because he was an icon here. People came to watch Barry's every at-bat. I've talked to Barry this offseason, but we talked mostly about our families, but I know that he has the desire to play, but whether he has the desire to play with everything going on around him is another matter. I just don't know."
The Great Debate
Do the other Washington senators belong in this game?
Should Congress be spending valuable time and assets holding hearings on Major League Baseball and steroids? We asked commissioner Bud Selig and longtime baseball agent Alan Nero.
Selig: "Well, considering I'm going before Congress, I probably should not answer the question directly. What I will say is I think we've strengthened the program. The program is working. We are working with the NFL and UCLA is working hard in coming up with a test for human growth hormone, which is a great source of frustration for me right now. But we're doing all we can on that front to hopefully make sure we will have a test in place at some point in the future. I think everyone in baseball is working together to make certain that we can put this era of baseball behind us with continued efforts to make sure that everyone understands that there's no place for performance-enhancing drugs in our sport. We have joined with the United States Olympic Committee and contributed $3 million to join an anti-doping collaborative. I think we all look forward to the day when we can just focus on baseball and talk baseball."
Nero: "I just think to take congressmen away from their duties in a time where we have so many other issues like health care and the war doesn't make any sense for me. What do you hope to accomplish, except to defame and rip apart the reputations of people? I think you're just persecuting those who might have been involved in the past or have been rumored to be involved. I'm not sure what that solves. We really should be trying to move forward and have the union and Major League Baseball committed toward cleaning it up, which I believe they're already doing."
Etc.
Touching the bases
Apropos of nothing: 1. Always said Doug Mirabelli, who will return to Boston for another season, will make a very good manager when he's done playing; 2. A few years back, the Krafts thought of bringing a National League team to Foxborough. Can we put that thought back into their heads?; 3. "The Jake" will now be "The Prog." Progressive Insurance will pay $3.6 million per year for 16 years for naming rights to the Indians' stadium; 4. I think Barry Bonds will play for the A's; 5. Koby Clemens is being switched from third base to catcher in the Astros organization.
Meet the next Met: Santana?
Two general managers told me they believe the Mets are the front-runners for Johan Santana. The reason? They need him most. Mets GM Omar Minaya has to make a big splash, much as he did when he brought in Pedro Martínez, to make New York fans forget the horrible ending to last season. Pitcher Deolis Guerra
and outfielders Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez are the names most often mentioned as trade possibilities for Santana. Of course, both GMs also pointed out that the Yankees or Red Sox are only a phone call away from getting it done.
Remembering a Buddy
Buddy LeRoux, who died last week, was one of the most misunderstood people on the Boston sports scene. We spent many hours discussing his hopes and dreams in phone conversations and over lunch. His dream was to build a major sports facility for the Red Sox and/or Patriots at Suffolk Downs, property he owned in part. In many ways, LeRoux was ahead of his time, but while he was innovative in his business approach, some things he tried failed, including a chain of nursing homes down the East Coast. He was a dreamer. He held out hope that slot machines would eventually be approved in the state and that Suffolk would flourish, but it didn't happen in his lifetime. He always regretted the coup attempt on Tony C Night, June 6, 1983. "It was one of those things," he told me, "where my lawyers insisted it be done that day and that time. I wish it could have been different." It bothered LeRoux because he had great personal affection for Conigliaro. He was a great story - the Celtics and Red Sox trainer who rose to be part-owner of the Sox. Maybe he rubbed some people the wrong way, but I'll miss him.
Goose was a horse
Veteran sportswriter Gerry Fraley came up with an interesting note on new Hall of Famer Goose Gossage: He had four seasons of 25-plus saves and 100-plus innings. In the last 20 years, only two closers have had a single season of 25-plus saves and 100-plus innings: Doug Jones with Houston in 1992 and Danny Graves with Cincinnati in 1999. It shows you how different Gossage was compared with today's closers.
Bird watching
Seattle continues to be the front-runner for Erik Bedard, though it's baffling to this reporter why the Orioles would want to deal him. The Mariners are willing to give up center field prospect Adam Jones and possibly young shortstop Carlos Triunfel or pitcher Chris Tillman. They have other chips, including catcher Jeff Clement, and would love to make the deal without including Brandon Morrow. Don't count the Reds out, either. They need a No. 1 starter, and if they will part with young center fielder Jay Bruce, they might pull this off.
Can he make it home?
Outfielder Luis Gonzalez really wants to return to his native Florida to finish up his career. Money, however, could be an issue (have you guessed that the Marlins don't pay much?). The Mariners are also interested in him and could use another lefthanded bat in the outfield or at DH.
They like Mike
Before Mike Cameron signed a one-year, $7 million deal (with an option for '09) with the Brewers Friday, there had been a significant market for the former Padres center fielder (Yankees, Cubs, Braves, A's). Cameron will have to serve a 25-game suspension for a second amphetamine transgression, but the Brewers were willing to wait. They already have Mitchell Report-named Eric Gagné and Derrick Turnbow, plus Guillermo Mota, who served a 50-game suspension for steroid use with the Mets last season. With Cameron in center, the Brewers will move Billy Hall to third and Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun moves to left.
If he gets outs, he'll stay in
It's conceivable that Tom Glavine could pitch beyond one more season. The Billerica native, who signed a one-year deal to return to Atlanta, will base his decision on how well he gets hitters out this season. If Glavine still has it, he's not opposed to coming back in the '09 season.
Building him up
According to Sox pitching coach John Farrell, Clay Buchholz is entrenched in the team's strength program - and not the witness protection program. He will be seen in the second week of the rookie development program, which starts this week. "Physical gains have been made throughout the offseason with core and shoulder strength," Farrell reported. "He has also added 7 pounds. He's currently 190 pounds."
Extra bases
The Orioles need a center fielder, shortstop, closer, and mid-rotation starter. They are dangling Brian Roberts, and the Cubs have shown the most interest . . . Happy 44th birthday, Billy Jo Robidoux.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com
