Melvin: Howe was outstanding teammate, By: Bob McManaman

April 29, 2006, The Arizona Republic

SAN FRANCISCO - News of Steve Howe's death Friday quickly made its way around the Diamondbacks clubhouse and it struck manager Bob Melvin especially hard.

The two were teammates on the Yankees during Melvin's final season in the majors in 1994, and the battery mates formed a close friendship in a short amount of time.

"I just found out about it," Melvin said. "You know, 'Howeser' had some issues and everybody knows about those, but not everybody who hasn't played with him knows what kind of a teammate he was.

"You talk to people who played with him and they're very fond of Steve Howe and how he handled himself in the bullpen and how'd he talk to the younger players. All the things you heard about Steve were the drug issues, but there was a great teammate there as well."

Say Hey to steroids

Hall of Famer Willie Mays said if steroids and performance-enhancing drugs were readily available during the prime of his career, he would have been tempted to use them.

"I would say I probably would've been right there," Mays told Bob Costas in an interview to be broadcast Tuesday night on HBO.

Costas prefaced Mays' remarks by saying former Phillies great Mike Schmidt would have taken steroids "because you want to do anything you can to win."

"I think Mike was right," the former Giants superstar, who turns 75 this week, told Costas. "Because that was just nature. If you, you're taking something, 'Hey, let me try this, see how it is.' . . . If it feels good, you may try it again."

Costas asked Mays whether he could name a player that was ever as good as Mays.

"I can't. You name one and I'll tell you no," Mays said. "Just name one. Anybody."

Costas mentioned Barry Bonds, Mays' godson.

"No," Mays said. "Barry couldn't throw with me. He might not be able to run with me. Let's give him hitting since he hit 73 (home runs in 2001). Don't think I can hit 73 home runs. I give him that, but what else?"

Short hops

Left-hander Terry Mulholland, who has missed the past 16 games with inflammation in his elbow, will throw off the mound Monday in Phoenix and could begin a short rehabilitation assignment in the minors before being activated.

• The Giants traded right-hander Tyler Walker to the Devil Rays on Friday for minor league right-hander Carlos Hines, who is to report to Triple-A Fresno. Walker was designated for assignment on Sunday.

• Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti and pitcher Matt Morris were fined undisclosed amounts for their roles in a recent series against the Rockies that involved several hit batsmen. Rockies reliever Jose Mesa was suspended four games.