Will We Learn Who Jason Grimsley Named?

Jason Grimsley rattled the baseball world last year when he was caught by feds with a shipment of HGH at his house. Grimsley subsequently named several major leaguers who he said were using steroids, performance-enhancers, and amphetamines. We know that insignificant names such as David Segui were on the list, but there were also rumors that Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada, Andy Pettitte, Brian Roberts, and Jay Gibbons may have been on the list as well. Later today, we will find out if those names will be released.

U.S. Magistrate Edward Voss heard 70 minutes of oral arguments Thursday on a motion by the Associated Press to release the names, which have been redacted, or blacked out, from a court document in the case.

Attorneys for the government and the Major League Baseball Players Association urged Voss to keep the names secret.
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Peter Kozinets, a freedom of information specialist with the Phoenix office of the international law firm Steptoe and Johnson, argued that the names should be released because the players named are public figures, because the public has a compelling interest in the integrity of a high-profile sport played for the most part in publicly financed stadiums and because documents such as the Novitsky affidavit are crucial to the public's right to monitor the work of government investigators and judges.

Kozinets also argued that the names should be released because the government had forfeited its right to secrecy by sharing an uncensored version of Novitsky's affidavit with former Sen. George Mitchell, who is leading Major League Baseball's more than yearlong investigation into illegal drugs.

Of course MLB wants to protect the players, while the media wants to know who was on the list. Count me in the latter; I think we have the right to know who was named. This thing should make waves in the baseball world. Emphasis on should -- regardless of all names that can appear on this list, there is only one that will matter most to fans -- Barry Bonds -- and his name isn't rumored to be on there.

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