Few Rays connections in Mitchell Report

Although there are big names in the Mitchell report released today, no current Rays players were named in the investigation and there appear to be few connections to the Rays organization.

Jose Canseco is mentioned prominantly. Former Rays outfielder Jose Guillen is mentioned in the report to have purchased human growth hormone. Short-time former Rays like John Rocker, Jim Parque, Tim Laker and Adam Piatt are also mentioned in the report.

Piatt, who played parts of four seasons with Oakland before he was released and claimed by the Rays in Aug. 2003 (He played just 14 games with Tampa Bay, hitting .188), plays an interesting role in the report.

He purchased performance-enhancing drugs, including human growth hormone, from Kirk Radomski and used them during the 2002 and 2003 offseasons. Piatt's locker was next to Miguel Tejada's when the two played in Oakland and Piatt told the investigation he introduced the All-Star shortstop to Radomski, from whom Tejada purchased performance enhancing drugs through. Piatt served as an intermediary. Tejada wrote checks of $3,100 and $3,200 directly to Piatt in March, 2003, who paid Radomski.

Pitchers Ryan Franklin and Bart Miadich, who were boths in Rays spring training this past season, as well as Denny Neagle, who signed with the Rays in 2005 but never pitched for them, are mentioned in the report as well.

Comments

[gropeville]

How could there be Rays in connection with steroids? If so, the clowns should get their money back based on their poor performance.

[lockbull]

Eureka! That's why the Rays have stunk for the last 10 years! Not enough 'roids! Too bad Jose Canseco couldn't have held up longer...

[Phil J.]

I agree with Gropeville. If there were any Rays involved they should get a refund. At least we know Casey Fossum was not on steroids. He weighs, what? 125?

[Clarence Urbanski]

As Marc Topkin knows, it was long suspected that Jorge Cantu was a steroid user, which is no small part of the reason the Rays wanted so badly to get rid of him. Jonny Gomes may have dodged a bullet here, too, though Mitchell's report clearly does not envelope the entire league, every organization. Tip of the iceberg, indeed.

[all pumped up bax]

Correctamundo, Clarence. The report states "5 to 7 percent" of the players took roids. What a joke!

[Charley O. Finley]

Ryan Franklin was in Rays camp this past year? Me thinks not.

[Lee]

Was Todd Williams not in Rays camp once or twice as well?