When the San Francisco Chronicle broke the news of Paul Byrd's connection with HGH on the even of Sunday's pivotal Game 7 of the ALCS, a lot of people questioned the timing. Byrd himself questioned George Mitchell's allegiances to the Red Sox, and New York Times columnist Selena Roberts opined that Mitchell's investigation might not be on the up and up since it has yet to dig up dirt on the Red Sox.What everyone either failed to realize or refused to believe, however, is that Mitchell had nothing to do with the Chronicle's article. Finding himself in the middle of a firestorm of fabricated controversy, he felt the need to respond to his critics, essentially admitting he's clueless, not conniving. From FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
Other Indians found the timing suspicious: Why was this story coming out now? To them, it was a significant distraction, hours before the biggest game of their lives.Conspiracy theorists will accept or dismiss Mitchell's statement at their leisure, but it's worth pointing out exactly who wrote the article in question: Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, authors of the Barry Bonds expose Game of Shadows. It's not a stretch to think that their previous research as well as their dedication to protecting their sources has granted them more connections and insider-knowledge than Mitchell, and it's not surprising that their newspaper decided to hold the story until the moment Byrd's team was at the center of the sporting world. If the timing seems peculiar, it shouldn't: it's simply good business.
On Monday, Mitchell found it necessary to release a statement from his New York office formally denying that he leaked the information on Byrd.
"Neither I nor any member of my investigative staff had anything whatsoever to do with the publication of the allegations about Mr. Byrd," the statement said. "We had no prior knowledge of those allegations, and we first learned of them, along with the rest of the public, through news accounts."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-23-2007 @ 8:21AM
Kyle said...
Does not matter did not cost the Indians the game. ITs just a Cleveland thing to blow it. Hafner can not hit anything the Our ACE Chokes. CC wants that big contract but he did nothing to earn it in the ACLS. Someone better remind his agent of that when the time comes
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10-23-2007 @ 9:00AM
rln2433 said...
The guys who broke the story have been the most dogged and determined pair of reporters I have seen in some time. They had the story and chose to sit on it. Why I don't know but I have a hard time believing that there is some conspiracy here. The story broke after Byrd has already had an impact on the series.
As a Sox fan I say congrats to the Tribe on a great season and a hell of a series.
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10-23-2007 @ 9:51AM
PeteJayhawk said...
I wonder if Byrd learned about HGH in his "conversations [he's] had with atheist ballplayers", or if it was revealed to him by Jesus.
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10-23-2007 @ 5:08PM
Coach Bobo said...
"What everyone either failed to realize or refused to believe, however, is that Mitchell had nothing to do with the Chronicle's article."
Interesting thought. Did you say this because you've investigated this? Or maybe made a few phone calls to some straight shooters? Or did you say this simply because Mitchell had a press conference and said as much?
Mitchell has been up the ass of MLB baseball, and I commend him. He seems to be front and center in nearly everything that has to do with the investigation. Suddenly, the Byrd story - a random, single-player story - breaks the day the Sox are down 3-1, and facing elimination. Considering that Mitchell literally has a stake in the Sox, and is suddenly clueless, why not feel a bit skeptical? Oh, and the most damning evidence? He's a politician. Can you say slimy?
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