Leyland speaks out for Bonds
Tigers manager is tired of Giants star taking all the heat over steroid controversy
4-20-06, Associated Press
Barry Bonds' first major league manager believes the San Francisco slugger is being unfairly singled out for his alleged use of steroids.
Jim Leyland, now in his first year as Detroit Tigers skipper, managed Bonds for seven years with the Pittsburgh Pirates before the slugger left as a free agent to join the San Francisco Giants for the 1993 season.
Bonds is at the center of the steroids controversy that has heightened following last month's release of "Game of Shadows," a book by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters detailing Bonds' alleged longtime use of a variety of performance-enhancing drugs.
"I think that's a shame," Leyland said. "Let the guy alone. I guess there weren't rules. I don't know what happened. I don't care what happened. This is a hands down go-after-Barry-Bonds thing."
Bonds, who entered Wednesday's game at Arizona stuck on 708 career home runs, has always denied taking performance-enhancing drugs. But a federal grand jury is investigating whether Bonds committed perjury when he testified in 2003 that he never used steroids.
In addition, commissioner Bud Selig last month appointed former Sen. George Mitchell to lead an investigation of steroid use in baseball in recent years, but Selig has emphasized the probe is not directed only at Bonds.
Leyland would like to see equal questioning of players believed to have taken steroids to boost their performances and not just Bonds, who is struggling to hit because of an elbow injury and to move well because of his surgically repaired right knee.
"He's my friend and he will always be my friend," Leyland said. "I'm certainly not indicating I would defend him. But I get sick of hearing about it. They're single-handedly going after Barry Bonds."
Gerut hearing today
Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield will attend an arbitrator's hearing today on outfielder Jody Gerut's injury grievance.
The Pirates put Gerut on the minor league suspended list last week after he declined to report to Triple-A Indianapolis, citing a right knee injury.
As a result, the Pirates aren't paying him his $875,000 salary and are declining to pay any travel expenses involved with the surgery he plans to have. The team claims Gerut is healthy enough to play and that he said nothing about being hurt until after being demoted late in spring training.
Etc.
Padres OF Terrmel Sledge, who was obtained Jan. 4 in a six-player trade with the Rangers, was demoted to Triple-A Portland due to his poor play, which included a .160 average and several defensive miscues. . . . Royals RHP Zack Greinke, who left the team in spring training on Feb. 25 and went to his home in Florida, has reported to the team's extended spring training in Surprise, Ariz. . . . The Orioles optioned OF Val Majewski to Triple-A Ottawa, placed OF Luis Matos (sore right shoulder) on the 15-day DL and purchased the contract of OF Luis Terrero from the Lynx. . . . The Rangers placed 2B Mark DeRosa (sprained left ankle) on the 15-day DL.
