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Report: Angels won't rule out punishing Matthews
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| Report: Angels won't rule out punishing Matthews
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| Petey Arms |
The Los Angeles Angels are growing frustrated by Gary Matthews Jr.'s refusal to provide information about his alleged purchase of HGH and haven't ruled out disciplining their new $50 million outfielder if he doesn't offer details in the coming weeks, according to a story in Thursday's New York Daily News.
Matthews, who signed a five-year contract with the Angels in the offseason, and other Major League Baseball players reportedly were on a customer list of a Mobile, Ala., pharmacy, one of two raided in February in connection with a nationwide investigation into the illegal sale of steroids.
For now, Angels spokesman Tim Mead said the club "we're not going down that road now" toward punishment, but he didn't hide the fact that club management will press Matthews for information.
"We want as much information as Gary can provide, but he can't or won't tell us anything," Mead said, according to a story in the New York Daily News on Thursday. "There is a sense of frustration here because of the lack of information. Everyone understands this is a legal issue but there is a sense of frustration. We feel like this is hanging over our heads.
"We'd like this resolved by Opening Day."
Matthews has deflected questions since March 1, the day after his alleged involvement was made public, and in the last week he has hired prominent attorney Robert Shapiro.
The nationwide investigation, headed by Albany County, N.Y. District Attorney P. David Soares, has resulted in raids on Applied Pharmacy Services in Mobile and Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Fla. A total of 13 people in Florida, Alabama and New York have been charged with drug-related felonies including criminal diversion of prescription medications and prescriptions, criminal sale of a controlled substance, and insurance fraud.
The prosecution has said it is targeting only suppliers and distributors in the investigation.
On Tuesday, SI.com reported that former star relief pitcher John Rocker, major leaguer David Bell and 1996 Olympic wrestling gold-medalist Kurt Angle all showed up on a client list of Applied Pharmacy.
Rocker, who pitched for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, told ESPN Radio on Wednesday he was directed by doctors to take over-the-counter supplements that would raise his human growth hormone levels -- and that he never purchased HGH with a prescription and denied ever receiving a banned substance.
Bell told SI.com he received the shipment of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) last April but said the drug was prescribed "for a medical condition," which he declined to disclose. Bell is not on a major league roster this season.
Infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. and former slugger Jose Canseco reportedly were also on the Mobile pharmacy's customer list. Former major league pitcher Jason Grimsley and Pittsburgh Steelers doctor Richard A. Rydze reportedly were on the Orlando pharmacy's client list.
A major league source told the Daily News the Angels are expected to take action if Matthews doesn't cooperate, but the source wasn't specific about the type of action that would be taken. The Daily News said the Angels and Major League Baseball do not think Matthews has a legitimate reason to stay silent.
Human growth hormone was not banned by MLB until 2005.
"There's no reason for him not to say something," the source told the Daily News. "If he had a prescription [for HGH] and he took it before it was banned, then he doesn't have to worry about anyone punishing him." |
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| KingOfAllWhites |
Why have guys like Giambi, Sheffield and Bonds then not also been forced to speak by their teams?
The players union willl never let him lose his job because he isnt talking.
The precedent has already been established. |
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| Bubba-vegas |
Quote: Originally posted by Petey Arms
.. haven't ruled out disciplining their new $50 million outfielder |
someone needs to discipline the dipshit(s) that allowed Mathews to sign for 10million a year |
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