The Mitchell Report and the Braves

December 13, 2007 – 8:48 pm

So if you have turned on a TV or checked a major news site today you’ve noticed that everyone’s talking about the Mitchell report. Major names mentioned in the report include Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds (no surprise there), and Eric Gagne (among many, many others).

I hear you thinking though - you don’t want to download the report, and you don’t have time to read 409 pages of highly documented conversations, interviews, and surveys. But you want to know how the Braves came out - did we have any major names mentioned? Any legends tainted? Read on - we’ve done the homework for you.

Before we go on - please note that I am not personally accusing any of the following players of any wrongdoing, only repeating a digest of what is contained in the Mitchell Report.

David Justice

Reported to have purchased HGH while with the Yankees between 2000 and 2001. Also claims MLB never discouraged players from using performance enhancing drugs.

Impact: Justice is one of the new players this year on the Hall of Fame ballot. Will these allegations affect how the writers vote for him? Only time will tell.

Gary Sheffield

Sheffield alledgedly received and used “The Cream” and “The Clear” between the 2001 and the 2002 season while training with Barry Bonds. He claims that he did not know they were steroids. Sheffield went on to hit .27 points higher in 2002 with 14 more home runs and almost 50 more RBIs than during the 2001 season.

Denny Neagle

Reported to have purchased HGH while with the Yankees from the team’s main supplier. Also apparently partook while part of the Rockies.

Kent Mercker

Reported to have purchased one set of HGH in 2002 - a check is included. Nothing else is mentioned besides this use - in 2002 he was in Colorado.

John Rocker

No surprise here for me, but Rocker claims his HGH prescriptions and subsequent use were related to shoulder surgery. Maybe this explains his ridiculous fastball, loud mouth, and short-lived career.

Paul Byrd

Byrd purchased more than 1000 vials of HGH for almost $25,000 during his time with the Braves and subsequently. He claimed they were for battling a tumor on his pituitary gland and all his HGH was prescribed. The article referenced says some of his prescriptions came from a dentist whose license was suspended in 2003. The commissioner’s office denied giving him an exemption.

Mike Stanton

Also involved during his time with the Yankees, Stanton apparently ordered kits of HGH and continued his use into his time with the Mets.

Todd Pratt

Became implicated once with the Mets in 1997. He apparently had used Deca-Durabolin prior to his arrival in NY.

Matt Franco

Allegedly involved once with the Mets. Denies ever having used even after being made aware of the allegations against him.

So what’s the verdict? Honestly, most of the allegations come from the main supplier for New York - so while it looks like the Yankees and Mets are ultra-dirty, they’re doubtfully alone. It’s just that Mitchell got to the New York supplier first. If you think that these guys only used steroids when they weren’t with the Braves, you’re likely wrong.

Makes ya wonder, doesn’t it? I’ll leave you to comment and draw your own conclusions. I’m not sure what to think yet, maybe there is more to come.

Remember, comment and you are automatically entered to win the Brian McCann autographed baseball, which I promise has not been injected with steroids.

Colin

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