Not a good shot in the arm
Game is paying a price with steroids, economy
Baseball is getting creepy again, isn't it?
After the Mitchell Report hit the streets last winter, we knew there were 104 major leaguers who came up positive in the 2003 random, unpunishable test. So the fact that there might be significant names on the list should not come as a surprise.
It would stand to reason that most players - even those 104 on the list - would no longer test positive, but the steroids story doesn't seem to go away, and it is just part of a nasty stretch of bad feeling surrounding baseball. It's not only that the biggest names in the game - Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and now Alex Rodriguez - are embroiled in the steroid issue; there's a growing resentment between the agents and players and the owners.
Contract negotiations have gotten angry, nasty at times. When we asked Players Association executive director Donald Fehr whether there has been collusion to hold down player salaries this offseason, he wouldn't comment except to say the union is always on the lookout for such signs.
A prominent agent said, "I don't have the data, but I would say that there have been more one-year deals and one-year deals with options and incentives than we've ever seen in one offseason."
A prominent general manager agreed, saying, "There's no doubt - without knowing what the numbers are - that more players have signed one-year deals than ever before."
This has brought about more resentment.
The poor economy led teams to scale back on signing free agents to long-term deals, though there seemed to be more long-term deals at discount rates thrown at players who are nearing free agency - such as the Dustin Pedroias and Kevin Youkilises.
"Players who normally get three years are getting one; players who got four years would normally have received five," said another agent.
We have certainly heard stories about teams "low-balling" their players. John Smoltz speaks openly about the Braves, a team for which he pitched 20 seasons, and the sad way in which he and they parted ways. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has been in grueling and rather difficult negotiations with Manny Ramírez, having made three offers the former Red Sox star has scoffed at. McCourt is bewildered at how a player can turn down $25 million for one year in these economic times.
Owners are getting more resentful at agents, mainly Scott Boras. And agents are getting more resentful of owners, wondering whether collusion has indeed reared its head.
"Was there an attempt to hold down salaries and limit the size of contracts? Absolutely," said an agent. "The owners have accomplished everything they set out to do."
The agent meant that the owners wanted a correction in the marketplace and they got one.
And beyond all of this, there has been a lot of unscrupulous leaking of important information.
Was it players who leaked the information on A-Rod's positive test? If so, why? Why would they rat out one of their own? There's also the charge that Gene Orza, chief operating officer of the players' union, tipped off players that they were going to be tested for steroids. Orza and Fehr deny it, but there's finger pointing on that front as well.
Commissioner Bud Selig has come down hard on A-Rod, saying that anyone who used steroids shamed the game.
Who can you believe anymore? Jose Canseco has become the most believable voice on the issue. He said that in the steroid era, about 80 percent of players experimented with them. The fact that only 104 tested positive in 2003 may not come close to illustrating the magnitude of the problem. How many players knew they were going to be tested and got themselves clean in time?
One tough aspect of this is that the slow dripping of names creates a monsoon of news cycles every so often. One owner has reached the point where he throws up his hands and asks, why not get it all out?
"It might be for the best," said the owner. "Get it all out in the open. I truly believe steroids are no longer part of the game. I think we're doing well presently and going forward, but the past is killing us.
"People aren't happy with baseball right now. We need to change that and make it fun for everyone again. We're all at fault, but we all need to wake up and make baseball all about the game rather than the things around it. It's supposed to be fun."
Right now, it's a little creepy.
Not eyeing brave new whirl
A few questions for Red Sox righthander John Smoltz on old buddy Tom Glavine, who is negotiating a return to the Braves:
Is the same thing happening to Tom right now that happened to you in Atlanta?
JS: "Well, I don't know. He and I come from an era where there's a lot of value to be added to a clubhouse. You certainly have to do it on the field. With what they were trying to do over there, they were staring at a total youth movement, which could have benefited from what we brought. There's a time for everything and there's a time to do it the right way. I think in his previous situation, when Tom left, that was a bitter departure. But he loves Atlanta. He's done a ton for Atlanta. I just think he's in a totally different place than I am."
Did you guys talk about pitching together one more time?
JS: "We both agreed we weren't going to go to spring training to see who made that one spot. That's not the best scenario for both of us. I felt more prepared to do that than he may have. The way it's set up, you have to feel that somebody wants you for what you bring to the table. I don't think he's all geared up for having to make something. When you spend that much time there that he and I have, just be up front with us. We're fine with that. To have things said about you when you depart, it's tough. Very tough."
Do you think you and Tom fell into a certain trap in Atlanta?
JS: "The longer you stay there, the longer you become a prisoner of circumstances. No matter what. You hear, 'I never thought you would leave.' They think you're never going to leave and that you'll accept their terms. I don't see how it works for Tom unless they decide they're not going to get another outfielder and not spend any money anywhere else. But Tom loves it there and that's where he wants to be."
Do you think he'd pitch elsewhere?
JS: "I think if he waited he'd be able to go someplace during the season if a pitcher went down. He's still a special pitcher. He can go into Atlanta and be a very quality starter for them in that No. 5 spot. You're talking about a 300-plus-game winner."
At 49, Boyd wants to turn fantasy into reality
Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd has long felt the game of baseball was taken away from him far too soon. He was 31 years old when he threw his last pitch for the Texas Rangers in 1991.
But now, at age 49, Boyd believes his shoulder is stronger than ever. He says his velocity is up in the low 90s and the 12-6 curveball and changeup have returned. He wants a chance to show a major league team he can still pitch.
"I have nothing to lose, and all a major league team has to lose is 15 minutes," said Boyd. "Give me 15 minutes and I'll show I can still pitch. That's all I want."
It's always been Boyd's dream to carry on the legacy of Satchel Paige and pitch into his 60s. Two weeks ago, at the Red Sox fantasy camp, Boyd started throwing in earnest again and was pleased with the results.
"After surgery in '87, it took me 10 years to feel good," he said. "I wasn't on the field, started gaining weight. All of a sudden, my arm has healed. The arm strength is there and it's there consistently. The more I throw, the better it feels."
Former Red Sox catcher Mike Stanley, who caught Boyd at the camp, said, "He looks no different to me now than when I caught him in Texas. He still has the same passion. I don't know if he was getting to 90 because we didn't have a gun, but he still had the same stuff. The same tight slider, curve, fastball."
"Satchel being my idol and knowing he didn't come into the game until he was in his early 40s, that's always been in the back of my mind," said Boyd. "Now, I've been given back the fastball I once had. I want to play.
"I spoke to some people about it. If I was given an opportunity, I'd love to work my way back. I think it would be good for the game. It shows me baseball is a forgiving game."
Etc.
2. Adam Dunn, Nationals outfielder: Most teams were offering Dunn a one-year deal in the $3 million-$5 million range, and that just wasn't going to get it done. The Nationals, because of Jim Bowden's past relationship with Dunn in Cincinnati, sealed the deal with a two-year, $20 million contract. It's a $3 million pay cut, but in this market, Dunn was fortunate to get an eight-figure contract. The Nationals were very serious about Mark Teixeira and were one of the few teams that had the money to spend. Dunn, meanwhile, did a good job resisting the seven-figure offers. He didn't want to sign with a team that lost 102 games last season, but really had nothing close to that offer.
3. Miguel Tejada, Astros shortstop: Legal experts believe Tejada won't be going to prison after admitting he lied to Congress about his steroid use, but that hasn't stopped the Astros from exploring shortstop options. One name on the list is Oakland's Bobby Crosby, a former Rookie of the Year. The A's are serious about bringing free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera into the fold. They would use Crosby as their super-sub if that should occur, but there is likely to be a market for him.
4. Nick Swisher, Yankees outfielder/first baseman: He could end up with the Braves, who are looking for outfield help. The Braves have around $7 million to spend, so if they do not re-sign Tom Glavine and get another outfielder, they could deal for Swisher.
5. Jake Peavy, Padres pitcher: He's now the leading contender to be the midseason prize. There could be an interesting competition then between NL Central rivals Chicago and Milwaukee, both of whom have saved up money for a big-time starter.
6. Jorge Posada, Yankees catcher: The Yankees are going to take it slow with his surgically repaired shoulder, but the de facto leader of this team is in phenomenal shape and is expected to be ready to assume catching duties by the time the season starts. The Yankees protected themselves in case there's a delay with Posada with Jose Molina, who did the bulk of the catching last season, and Kevin Cash.
7. Ken Griffey, free agent outfielder: The Mariners are likely to add him shortly, and it will be a good move. They are desperately trying to change the culture in Seattle with a team of good guys who care about winning. Griffey epitomizes that, and he'd bring some excitement back to the city.
8. Manny Ramírez, free agent outfielder: If he is not on any lists of players who tested positive for an illegal substance, might he emerge as the greatest player of his generation? Think about it. Barry Bonds, tainted; Alex Rodriguez, tainted; Roger Clemens, tainted. Ramírez? The big blemish on his legacy will be that he quit on the Red Sox, but in an era when steroids and cheating were the major crimes, Ramírez may be in the clear.
9. Bob Tewksbury, Red Sox psychologist: He finally got some credit recently when Clay Buchholz cited him for turning around his frame of mind. Tewksbury is a pretty valuable guy for the Sox because he's a psychologist and he obviously knows pitching.
10. Frank Viola: The Indians hired the former Sox lefthander as a pitching instructor in spring training. Viola played with Indians manager Eric Wedge with the Sox in 1992. Viola, who is also dabbling in broadcasting, is expected to spend most of his time working with Cleveland's plethora of lefty starters.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com 
