“I don’t want this Alex thing to be a target. I have some issues with it. It’s interesting how the book (publication) date got moved up now. I get tired of answering these questions. I don’t understand why someone would write a book like this anyway. You know what, some people may not care to hear that, but I don’t understand it.

“Just going into someone’s life. I have three small kids and there are things in my life that I probably wish I could have a re-do on. I wouldn’t want those dragged through the mud and I’m sure you wouldn’t, either.

“I think sometimes, things are written about that none of us are proud of There are things in my life I’m not proud of that I’ve done. I wouldn’t want my kids to have to deal with that. I tell my kids that daddy makes mistakes, I do. And I apologize for them. I say, ‘Daddy’s not perfect.’

“From the excerpts that I have read, there are negative things about his lifestyle. I’m a firm believer that what we do off the field is our personal life. Some people aren’t going to agree with my faith. Some people aren’t going to agree with all the things I do with my life. But I don’t necessarily know why it has to be in a book. It’s something I’ve never understood, whether it’s a book about Alex or other people. Whether it’s a book about a president or a book about whoever. I just don’t understand it. Maybe that’s a short-sighting on my part, but I don’t understand.

“My parents always taught me that talk about the good. Be positive. That might be, you know, that might be me being somewhat short-sighted. But my Mom and Dad always taught me and I love them to death.”

If a tipping conspiracy were in place, one would expect that Rodriguez and rival middle infielders in games he played to have hit better in low-leverage situations than in high-leverage ones. Using a fairly loose definition of high leverage as a L.I. above 1.5 and low leverage as below 0.7, the data provide a resounding answer: either no tipping was going on or it was pathetically ineffective.

Major League Baseball is expanding its investigation of Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez by adding the pitch-tipping allegation spelled out in Selena Roberts' new book A-Rod to the agenda, people familiar with the inquiry told SI.com. ...

MLB's burden of proof in a case like that would have to be extremely high to take action; they'd need either Rodriguez to admit to the charges, or for someone else intimately involved to swear to it. It would seem futile to go over video of the games and try to match up alleged tips and pitches, especially since ex-Rangers teammates have come forward to say they didn't notice any tipping, and they were there.

Major League Baseball is investigating the accuracy of statements by Alex Rodriguez about his use of performance-enhancing drugs, according to people within baseball who were briefed on the matter.

Investigators have contacted several of Rodriguez’s associates to determine whether he used performance-enhancing drugs for a longer time than he has admitted, the people said.

"We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the Commissioner to continually improve the testing process.

We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was. Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex—like all of us—is a human being not immune to fault.

We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never more true than in times of adversity. Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season."

Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director, Donald M. Fehr, today issued the following statement in response to questions raised concerning recent reports about the 2003 testing program.

"We are issuing this statement today to respond to two questions that have been raised in the last few days in connection with reports about Alex Rodriguez and the 2003 MLB testing program. First, it has been asked why the results from our 2003 survey tests were not destroyed before they were seized by the government in the spring of 2004. The short answer is that in November, 2003, before that could take place, a grand jury subpoena for program records was issued.

In mid-November 2003, the 2003 survey test results were tabulated and finalized. The MLBPA first received results on Tuesday, November 11. Those results were finalized on Thursday, November 13, and the players were advised by a memo dated Friday, November 14. Promptly thereafter, the first steps were taken to begin the process of destruction of the testing materials and records, as contemplated by the Basic Agreement. On November 19, however, we learned that the government had issued a subpoena. Upon learning this, we concluded, of course, that it would be improper to proceed with the destruction of the materials.

The fact that such a subpoena issued in November 2003 has been part of the public record for more than two years. See, U.S. v. CDT, 473 F3d at 920 (2006), and 513 F3d at 1090 (2008) (both opinions have now been vacated). Other subpoenas followed, including one for all test results.

Over the next several months we attempted to negotiate a resolution of the matter with the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California. During that time we pledged to the government attorneys that the materials would not be destroyed. When the government attorneys refused to withdraw its subpoena for all 2003 test results, we decided to ask a judge to determine to what the government was entitled. See, 473 F3d at 944, and 513 F3d at 1118. On the same day we were filing our papers with the court, the government attorneys obtained a search warrant and they began seizing materials the following day. Pursuant to that search warrant which named only 10 individuals, the government seized records for every baseball player tested under our program, in addition to many records related to testing in other sports, and even records for other (non-sport) business entities.

Later in 2004 three federal district judges in three different judicial districts ruled that the government’s seizures were unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment and ordered the government to return all the materials seized (except for those related to the 10 players listed in the original search warrant). The government appealed and the matter is still pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On December 18, 2008, the case was reargued before an en banc panel of Ninth Circuit judges.

The second question that has been raised in recent days is whether Gene Orza or any other MLBPA official was engaged in improper “tipping” of players about 2004 tests. As we have said before, there was no improper tipping of players. Any allegations that Gene Orza or any other MLBPA official acted improperly are wrong."

"I know he's going through a rough time right now, and I think his apology said it all," Teixeira said. "He's disappointed in himself, he made a mistake and we're all going to move on ... I'm just going to open up my arms, give him a big hug, tell him I love him and we're going to get through this." ...

"I've been around long enough to not really be shocked by anything," he said. "This is a sport that's had some troubles, there's no doubt. I'm not going to judge anybody.

"I've never touched steroids or any of those kinds of things -- it's something I feel very strongly about -- but at the same time I've made mistakes, I'm not perfect, no one's perfect."

"I hate it, the whole steroid thing, and I know it's wrong," Hunter said by phone. "But it takes courage to come out and say, 'I did it,' like A-Rod did.

"He nipped everything in the bud when he came out and told the truth. I know he was sincere. I know him, and I like him. He is the type of guy who couldn't have this hanging over his head. He's taking all the heat now, and that's not easy for anyone, but he's a strong guy.

"To me, it's like when you're a parent, and your kid does something stupid, like all our kids do. You punish them, let them know what they did wrong and why, then it's back on track. I hope that's how it will be for A-Rod."

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am saddened by the revelations concerning Alex Rodriguez’s use of performance-enhancing substances. While Alex deserves credit for publicly confronting the issue, there is no valid excuse for using such substances and those who use them have shamed the game.

“What Alex did was wrong and he will have to live with the damage he has done to his name and reputation. His actions are also a reminder to everyone in baseball—under our current drug program, if you are caught using steroids and/or amphetamines, you will be punished. Since 2005, every player who has tested positive for steroids has been suspended for as much as 50 games. Eradicating performance-enhancing substances from the game of baseball has been my first priority over the past decade and it is important to remember that these recent revelations relate to pre-program activity.”

"I was not expecting that," Girardi said. "I think all of us always thought of Alex not taking anything, and I was a little bit shocked, but I was happy with the way he's approached this, dealt with it so far.

"I really felt in his heart he was truly sorry yesterday, because Alex is not a guy of a lot of emotions and you could see the tears in his eyes." ...

"I would probably be worried if he had never been through a controversy before," Girardi said. "If he had never been booed in stadiums, if he was the one that everyone always pulled for, but Alex, everywhere he goes, there's resentment or people that don't like him for whatever reason.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been in this situation with Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi,” Cashman said. “There’s going to be a lot of negatives that come with this. There’s also going to be positives in terms of having some light shed on things. The circumstances are what they are. We’ll deal with it.” ...

“This will be a long process,” Cashman said. “It was a long way for Jason Giambi. I don’t know if it ever really went away. Maybe it wasn’t as loud. It was very loud and then it got softer, but there were always rumblings about it. There always will be.

“Ultimately, Alex has the responsibility for it,” Cashman said. “He will have to deal with it in many forms throughout his career and even post-career. That’s why yesterday was such an important step for him to acknowledge whatever mistakes have been made in the past.”