Caminiti's death puts steroids back in spotlight

By Jack O'Connell of The Hartford Courant

BOSTON — If Ken Caminiti’s death in the Bronx of an apparent drug overdose isn’t enough of a wake-up call to players who believe there’s a better world through chemistry, nothing will convince those who reconstructed themselves with anabolic steroids of the dangers that come from altering the chemical balance of their bodies.

The results of an autopsy of Caminiti won’t be known officially until later this week, but already rumors have spread through the New York City Police Department that the 1996 National League MVP overdosed after a night of drug abuse. The steroids users in the majors may not be all that shaken by Caminiti’s death considering that he had a history of cocaine, amphetamine, painkiller and alcohol abuse. But when a gifted player and a popular teammate leaves three girls fatherless at the age of 41, some attention must be paid.

It surprised people at Yankee Stadium last week that a moment of silence was observed for Caminiti before Game 1 of the ALCS because Caminiti had no connection with the Yankees or Red Sox.

Someone mentioned to me that it did not seem in keeping with principal owner George Steinbrenner’s red-white-and-blue attitude toward pregame ceremonies. Steinbrenner, however, has shown sensitivity in the past to former substance abusers and even signed Steve Howe, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, among others.

Nevertheless, Major League Baseball gave an indication that the commissioner’s office wanted to put a spotlight on the steroids issue to which Caminiti’s memory will forever be linked by making the call on the Caminiti observance. Caminiti was the first player to admit publicly that he took steroids in an article by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci two years ago. Caminiti’s assertion that at least half the players in the majors were on steroids was laughed at. The claim could not be proved, but Caminiti opened the can of worms that so many players, backed by their union, wanted to remain closed.

It is too late for that now as an investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) is ongoing. Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield’s admission of using a cream from BALCO that contained steroids took the story further. Whatever the BALCO investigation turns out, the players involved won’t suffer repercussions because they were doing nothing illegal as far as baseball was concerned because there was no policy against anabolic steroids until a weak version was pushed through during the 2002 collective bargaining agreement.

Major League Baseball Players’ Association officials continue to see the steroids issue as a bargaining chip in labor negotiations and contractually do not have to deal with the issue before talks reopen in 2007. In the meantime, the game suffers from finger pointing and innuendo. Peer pressure still rules. When Caminiti’s confessional came out, he was called a “snitch” by some players and even one manager, Dusty Baker, then with the Giants, even though Caminiti did not name any other users.

Caminiti had his demons, and steroids was among them. He was convinced that they would turn him into a Superman. Winning the MVP Award vindicated that in his mind. It is why players dabble in steroids and ignore the consequences. Muscular young men seldom think about what life will be like for them when they get old. Caminiti will never know that, either.

Astros center fielder Carlos Beltran, the most attractive of potential free agents this coming off-season, is putting on quite an audition in the NLCS. With Scott Boras as his agent, Beltran is not expected to give Houston any kind of discount and will jump into the market with both feet.

Unlike previous situations where some of his client’s suitors were figments of an active imagination, Boras could have a real auction going on over Beltran. The Cubs are said to be determined to corral Beltran with money saved by not re-upping left fielder Moises Alou and perhaps by trading right fielder Sammy Sosa, which is virtually impossible because of his salary. The Yankees also have great interest with the prospects of moving Bernie Williams to DH full-time. Matters can be complicated there with the uncertainty of Jason Giambi’s physical condition after an essentially lost season. There is also talk that the Red Sox might join the Beltran sweepstakes, although that would require trading incumbent center fielder Johnny Damon. The Red Sox don’t have a good track record recently of handling such contingency moves. The Phillies have also been searching for a center fielder the past several years.

Another possible center field solution for the Yankees would be bringing back Alfonso Soriano, who likely would be willing to move off second base for them only. The Rangers are interested in pursuing Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel, whose option was not picked up by the Indians, and moving Michael Young back to second, which would make Soriano expendable. ...

Had they advanced to the ALCS, the Twins had planned to activate rookie catcher Joe Mauer and use him as a DH and pinch hitter. Mauer’s debut season was reduced to 35 games because of knee surgery, and a bullpen session last week did not go well. Mauer would not have been able to catch in the ALCS, but that he experienced pain in a light workout is not a good sign.