Show Selig expects no bacKlash from report on steroids Dan Connolly The Baltimore Sun No matter which or how many players are implicated in the pending steroid report by former US U.S. Sen George Mitchell baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is not worried that his sports sport's popularity will be affected No Not at all Selig told a group of reporters Saturday night before Game 3 of the World Series If you youw ask me today am I concerned about the winter None zero I have nothing to be concerned about Selig said he still does not have an exact timetable for forthe forthe forthe the reports report's release I said all along I hope for it by the end of the year and I beli ve it will be Selig said But only hell he'll determine that The commissioner however said hes he's not bracing himself for the announcement or for a potential backlash from the public Citing four consecutive years of attendance increases and a gross annual revenue that has exceeded 6 billion he said baseball has never been more popular And it will continue to grow despite what the report says about the sports sport's dark drug past Whatever George Mitchell uncovers he uncovers Selig said And maybe we can learn from it hopefully we can can He would not comment on what punitive measures he will take against those named in the report He added that Mitchell interviewed him earlier this year You bet I was he saidI saidI saidI said I want everybody to tell everything they knew Not because of the gossip or the names but because someday long after I am gone there will be somebody in this position that may learn leam from all of this Both managers altered their lineups for Game 3 Because there is no designated hitter in National League parks first baseman and No 2 hitter Kevin was benched and traditional DH David Ortiz was moved to first base Speedy rookie Jacoby Ellsbury led off for the Red Sox For the left- left handed hitter Cory Sullivan started in center in place of Willy who was hitless in his first seven World Series at Just wanted to mix it up upa a little bit said Manager Clint Hurdle whose team scored two runs in the first two World Series games 0 Sunday nights night's Game 4 pitching has Boston's Jon Lester a cancer survivor against Colorados Colorado's Aaron Cook who in 2004 had surgeries to relieve blood clots in his lungs Both men were in threatening life-threatening danger Its Ws tough enough to get getup getup getup up here Cook said And what weve we've been through just to keep our focus keep our faith an and just realize that baseball is not the most J important thing 0 Coors Field hosted its first World Series game Saturday n night Only three stadiums older than Coors have yet to host a Series game Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Washington and The Ballpark in Arlington Texas Houston Astros retiring second baseman Craig Biggio was presented with the annual Roberto Clemente Award which recognizes outstanding play and community service |