A day after the Mitchell report rocked baseball, the Rockies stood by reliever Matt Herges. However, general manager Dan O’Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle said today it will be up to Herges to deal with the consequences after he was named in the report as a user of performance-enhancing drugs.
Asked if Herges’ future with the Rockies was in jeopardy, O’Dowd replied, “At this time, what I have to do is stand by the statement the club issued (Thursday).” But O’Dowd then added: “At some point and time, Matt will have to address the issue.”
The Rockies’ prepared statement read, in part: “Obviously, we were very disappointed to learn of the depth and breadth of the findings of Sen. 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 Sen. Mitchell. Our organization remains committed to eliminating the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances from the game.”
Herges, a bullpen stalwart during the Rockies’ run to the World Series, was the only active player on the team to be named in the report issued by Mitchell. 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.
Current first base coach Glenallen Hill is also linked to Radomski, who produced a check from Hill from 2001 that Radomski says 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 that while he purchased steroids from Radomski, he never used them, according to the report.
The Rockies pride themselves as a team of high character. Hurdle, the man who hired Hill, said he didn’t think the allegations against Hill or Herges would change that.
“We are not here to condemn, we are here to help,” Hurdle said. “I think the character they have shown has been a positive for this organization. I think we have to remember the time frame and circumstances of these events. I think all of us have done things that we’ve had to work our way back from.”
However, Hurdle shares O’Dowd’s belief that Herges will have to address the issue.
“I’ve always know him to be a standup guy for us and I expect that he will be a standup guy in the future as he deals with this,” Hurdle said.
The 311-page 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.
Herges, a 37-year-old right-hander, re-joined Rockies as a free agent a few weeks ago, signing a one-year deal worth $2.25 million, walking away from a more lucrative offer by the Tigers. He went 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 35 relief appearances for the Rockies in 2007.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
