Baseball’s black cloud rained down Thursday, and several Colorado Rockies were caught up in the storm of drug use.
Relief pitcher Matt Herges, a central figure in the Rockies’ run to the 2007 National League pennant, was the lone active member of the team to be named in the Mitchell report. Herges was linked to the purchase of human growth hormone in 2004 and 2005, according to former Mets clubhouse attendant and convicted steroids dealer Kirk Radomski, the main source for Mitchell’s report.
Current first-base coach Glenallen Hill also is linked to Radomski, who produced a check from Hill from 2001 that Radomski said was for two kits of human growth hormone. At that time, Hill was nearing the end of his 13-year major-league career. Hill told investigators he purchased steroids from Radomski but never used them, according to the report.
Herges and Hill are among 53 players implicated in the report based on the testimony of Radomski.
The report also named 10 former players with connections to the Rockies: starting pitcher Denny Neagle, relievers Darren Holmes, Ron Villone and Kent Mercker, second baseman Mike Lansing, catchers Gary Bennett, Gregg Zaun and Bobby Estalella and outfielders Larry Bigbie and Jack Cust.
Only Neagle and Estalella, according to information in the Mitchell report, used performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Rockies.
In response to the Mitchell report, the Rockies released a prepared statement, which read in part: “We were very disappointed to learn of the depth and breadth of the findings of Senator George Mitchell’s report on the alleged illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances in baseball, including references to alleged use by former members of our team, as well as, one current player and one current member of our coaching staff. Our organization remains committed to eliminating the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances from the game.”
Herges, a 37-year-old right-hander, re-signed with the Rockies as a free agent, signing a one-year deal worth $2.25 million.
According to the report, citing interviews with Radomski and former Dodgers minor-league trainer Todd Seyler, Herges was involved with steroid use in 1999 with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate and purchased human growth hormone as late as 2005 when he was already an established major-leaguer.
He could not be reached for comment, and Rockies officials did not return calls seeking comment. Herges’ agent, Danny Horwits, said Herges “was not going to issue a statement at this time.”
Before a Sept. 13 game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Herges was asked about drug use in baseball. He stressed the importance of ridding the game of performance-enhancing drugs when asked about the possibility of players approving a blood test for HGH.
“The whole thing is an eyesore. (HGH) is something none of us wants in the game,” Herges said then. “I do think we need to do whatever takes to eliminate all the doubt and all the garbage. If we are talking about a urine test, I think that would be agreed upon overnight. But a blood test is so intrusive. That’s a next level kind of step.”
Herges could face disciplinary action and possibly suspension. Although Mitchell said punishment was inappropriate in all but the most “egregious cases,” commissioner Bud Selig said decisions on any disciplinary action would come “swiftly” on a case-by-case basis. Since Herges reportedly purchased HGH in 2004-05 — after MLB put its drug policies into place in 2003 — he might fall in the “egregious” category.
According to the report, Radomski said he engaged in “five or six transactions” with Neagle from 2000 to 2004 involving human growth hormone and anabolic steroids. Radomski also produced a check from Dan “Chico” McGinn, the Rockies’ former clubhouse manager, for the amount of $1,600 that Radomski said was for the purchase of performance-enhancing drugs. Neagle played for the Rockies from 2001 to 2003.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
Rockies’ response
Club statement regarding Sen. George Mitchell’s report
“Obviously, we were very disappointed to learn of the depth and breadth of the findings of Senator George Mitchell’s report on the alleged illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances in baseball, including references to alleged use by former members of our team, as well as, one current player and one current member of our coaching staff.
As an organization, we have fully supported the investigation initiated by Commissioner Bud Selig and conducted by Senator Mitchell. Our organization remains committed to eliminating the use of ster-oids and other performance-enhancing substances from the game. We have and will continue to fully support the adoption and implementation of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player’s Association Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. We will continue to work to educate our players about the dangers of steroids and other performance enhancing substances and strongly encourage all players to avoid their use.
We believe that baseball and its various entities must work cooperatively and in a sustained effort to remove and keep ster-oids and other performance enhancing drugs out of the game. Like other organizations throughout the League, we will review the results of the investigation, study those findings and recommendations and continue our ongoing efforts to eliminate the use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances from the game of baseball.
