Ankiel's story seems like fiction
Cards' pitcher-turned-slugger says HGH was part of his medication
Instead, Ankiel invoked doctor-patient privilege. Seems that if he were taking HGH or other performance-enhancing drugs under a doctor's advice, he would detail everything to eliminate any claims that he was using drugs to cheat in baseball.
Ankiel also couldn't give an adequate reason why he didn't get his post-surgery prescriptions at an actual pharmacy -- the way most of us do -- instead of a mail-order house.
(AP)
He danced around the issue, though he expressed surprise at being named in a New York Daily News story published Friday linking him to Signature Pharmacy, a shady warehouse under investigation for illegally distributing prescription medication. The Daily News reported Ankiel got eight shipments of HGH in 2004 from Signature, which is based in his hometown of Jupiter, Fla.
Ankiel never denied that but hid behind a veil of secrecy -- treating his Tommy John surgery as if it were some sort of sensitive, personal matter.
''I respect the integrity of the game,'' he told reporters Friday in Phoenix, ''and I'm on the same playing level everyone else is on.''
HGH was among the performance-enhancing drugs banned by Major League Baseball under its get-tough policy instituted in 2005, but there's no reliable test for HGH, so it's believed to be the drug of choice among baseball's diehard cheats.
Later Friday, SI.com reported Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Troy Glaus -- MVP of the 2002 World Series for the Los Angeles Angels -- also has been linked to the pharmacy. Glaus was coming off rotator-cuff surgery when he got multiple shipments of nandrolone and testosterone from Signature.
So just how level is this playing field Ankiel is talking about?
None of this will cost the Cards a thing in their race with the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. Ankiel had been the Cards' much-needed feel-good story of 2007 -- the discarded pitcher who resurfaced as a power-hitting outfielder.
When the Daily News story broke, Ankiel was on an amazing tear, with nine home runs and 29 RBI since his minor-league call-up Aug. 9
In typical Cardinals fashion -- remember the Mark McGwire mess years ago -- they are standing by their stained man.
''We know that he was under the care of licensed physicians in Florida for injury and the surgery he had,'' general manager Walt Jocketty said. ''The medication and prescriptions he received were legal and [written] by licensed physicians. There were no violations of MLB rules. There were no violations of any laws.''
Distractions haven't hurt the Cards up to now -- and in their world, this barely rates.
But the probe into Signature Pharmacy could prove to be as explosive as the BALCO investigation that led to MLB's drug-testing program in the first place. The commissioner's office already has promised to investigate Ankiel and Glaus.
The question certainly being asked in every clubhouse is easy to figure: Who's next?
Peavy went 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 14 walks and a .157 opponent batting average in August. He entered the weekend leading the NL in wins (16) and ERA (2.43). And Peavy isn't just thriving thanks to pitcher-friendly Petco Park. His road ERA is a league-best 2.09.
Padres manager Bud Black was ripped for starting Peavy on three days of rest Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks after the right-hander allowed eight runs -- one more earned run than his previous eight starts combined. But with the season series tied entering that matchup between the NL West rivals, Black needed a win to settle any possible tiebreaker in the division.
Peavy now gets five days of rest before his next start Tuesday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles -- a stretch that begins 20 games in 20 days to close the season. And Peavy remains on schedule to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the regular-season finale if the game still means something to the Padres.
But the Braves have faded from contention, entering the weekend having gone 15-18 since Aug. 1. After a record 14 consecutive division titles, the Braves are staring at the strong possibility of missing the postseason for a second straight season.
Finances forced that deal, so Littlefield had little choice. What raised red flags were his curious deals this season, notably acquiring shortstop Cesar Izturis from the Cubs, then failing to move incumbent Jack Wilson and also acquiring overpriced pitcher Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants at the non-waiver trade deadline.
When slugger Gary Sheffield went on the disabled list -- shortly after the Tigers cut future Cub Craig Monroe -- Timo Perez was the unheralded name to fill some big shoes. The former White Sox player delivered consistently through Sheffield's stay on the DL, entering the weekend having hit safely in seven of nine games since being promoted from Class AAA Toledo. During that stretch, Perez, 32, hit .462 (12-for-26) with four doubles and three RBI. On Wednesday, he helped beat the Sox, driving in the winning run with an 11th-inning single. Earlier in the game, he robbed Jim Thome of extra bases with a highlight-reel catch at the left-field wall.
