Paul Hagen | Steroids dealer gives clubbies a bad name

UNTIL KIRK RADOMSKI came along, you probably never thought much about baseball's clubhouse men. And that's all right.

They put in long hours doing work that isn't very glamorous. That's all right, too.

What isn't all right is the fact that a former Mets clubhouse attendant being involved in selling steroids to players is being used to slime a group of people who, for the most part, are just doing their jobs.

ESPN: The Magazine recently ran a cover story with a provocative headline - "The Secret Keepers" - using Radomski as a jumping-off point for an innuendo-filled article that also managed to demean them as "gofers and lickspittles." An ESPN.com column casually referred to them as jockstrap picker-uppers and glorified gofers, among other terms of endearment.

Time out.

Yes, clubhouse attendants have almost unparalleled access to players. The suggestion that this proximity inevitably leads to criminal behavior, of course, is ludicrous. While Radomski may have parlayed his connections into a business that now has him facing 25 years in jail and up to $500,000 in fines, working for the team was hardly mandatory to make those connections. BALCO founder Victor Conte never did, but easily found a market for his products. Greg Anderson, personal trainer for Barry Bonds who's now doing time for refusal to testify against the slugger, met Bonds in a gym.

Yes, clubhouse attendants have a front-row seat to the human frailties of superstar athletes. If a player has a drinking problem, is going through marital problems, is a jerk, is arrested or gets into a fight with a teammate, the clubhouse worker probably knows about it. And keeps his mouth shut. There was a time when discretion was considered an honorable trait.

Yes, clubhouse attendants pick up dirty clothes off the floor, will run out for food if a player asks or do any number of personal favors for players. And as long as they're doing nothing illegal or immoral, what exactly is the problem?

Many people who work around the clubhouse have been on the job for years. Adam Bodzin, from Cherry Hill, didn't last. He was a Phillies bat boy 10 years ago. Now he's a doctor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Sean Bowers still works in the Phillies' clubhouse. He recently graduated from Holy Family University after winning the Major League Baseball Equipment Managers Association's top scholarship grant 4 years in a row.

So if you do think of baseball's clubhouse men, please think of them instead of Radomski.

-- There's a growing sense that the last-place Rangers could move designated hitter Mark Teixeira before the trading deadline. "We're not in a position where we can't at least listen to what's out there," admitted general manager Jon Daniels.

-- Twins centerfielder Torii Hunter said during the playoffs last year that, while he'd love to remain in Minnesota, if he ever became a free agent, "The first place I'd try to sign with would be Ron Washington's team." A few weeks later, Washington was hired as the Rangers' manager. And Hunter, who can be a free agent at the end of the season, lives less than an hour from the Rangers' stadium. Hmm.

Around the bases

-- Japanese stars who could get a look from major league teams this winter: centerfielder

Kosuke Fukodome

(.320-9-35 through 44 games with the Chunichi Dragons) and pitcher

Hiroki Kuroda

(4-2, 2.72 in eight starts for the Hirsoshima Carp).

-- Taking in a game together at San Francisco's AT&T Park Wednesday were Giants Hall of Famer Willie Mays and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

-- Mets third baseman David Wright says it's really too early to talk about, but he probably would participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby this year if asked. He had 20 homers at the break last season, finished second to Ryan Howard in the derby and then hit six the rest of the year.

CHEERS: For the Kansas City Royals. The team's charter flight home from Denver last Sunday night developed engine problems and had to be canceled. Traveling secretary Jeff Davenport scrambled and found a Frontier Airlines commercial flight with enough available seats for the players and staff.

The only problem was that the passengers already on board endured an hour-and-a-half wait while the players arrived and their luggage and equipment were transferred. So first baseman Mike Sweeney got on the public-address system to personally thank the paying customers for their patience. Then a sheet of paper was passed around and all were invited to sign up for any game at Kaufmann Stadium they'd like to see free this season.

JEERS: To the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The team has taken no action since the St. Petersburg Times reported allegations that rookie outfielder Elijah Dukes had threatened to kill his estranged wife, NiShea Gilbert, and their children.

While Rays president Matt Silverman said the organization was "disappointed" and "troubled" and took the charges "very seriously," he also indicated no disciplinary action is planned. "Right now we're just monitoring the situation and our focus is on helping Elijah through what is a difficult time in his life," he added.

Sorry, that's not good enough. Granted, the Rays are limited because Gilbert has declined to press charges. But, at a minimum, they should continue to pay Dukes while he undergoes counseling. Otherwise, the appearance is that, once again, a team is making domestic violence - he allegedly left a threatening voicemail as well as a text message containing a picture of a handgun - less of a priority than winning games.

0.17: Percent chance that a fan will catch a foul ball at a major league game, according to the Indianapolis Star. That's a one-in-563 chance.

69: Straight starts without allowing an unearned run for Boston's Curt Schilling, a major league record, before the streak was broken against the Yankees on Wednesday.

1,000: Career strikeouts for Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, who turns 27 on July 21. The only others to reach that milestone at 26 or younger: Kerry Wood, Pedro Martinez, Dwight Gooden and Roger Clemens.

Randy Johnson is expected to miss his start against the Astros tonight because of tendinitis in his left forearm. But the Diamondbacks say it's only a minor injury and that the Big Unit should take his next turn, Wednesday against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, as scheduled.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, on why he had pitching coach Rick Kranitz go out to settle down Scott Olsen after the starter walked Chase Utley and then yelled at him Wednesday night: "You can't let the hamster come off the wheel."

BULLPEN GOSSIP OF THE WEEK: The Padres rebuffed inquiries from teams, including the Phillies, about reliever Scott Linebrink in spring training. Now general manager Kevin Towers says he needs to add a productive bat to his lineup, but still isn't inclined to trade any of his major league pitchers to get it. "If it means moving someone from our Triple A bullpen, we might be able to do something," he added. One possibility: righthander Andrew Brown, who has a 1.99 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings for the Portland Beavers.

MYSTERY OF THE WEEK: Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez has had two MRIs in the last month. Neither showed any structural damage, so there's still no explanation why the lefthander's velocity is down about 10 mph since the start of the season. He was scheduled for yet another MRI yesterday.

COMEBACK OF THE WEEK: The White Sox scored 18 runs in their first three games after Jim Thome (strained rib-cage muscle) came off the disabled list. They had been averaging 3.8 runs in their first 38 games. Can one batter make that much difference?

"Without a doubt," hitting coach Greg Walker said. "Hitting's contagious. Some will disagree with me, but the game is so much mental that you get a big boy in there like that ... He's a special player and our guys know it."

Agreed first baseman Paul Konerko: "It's something you can't even put your finger on, but it helps in so many different ways. He does so many things you don't see in the numbers. You have to watch it every day to see it."

Indians righthander

Fausto Carmona

was 1-10 last season. That included a three-game trial as closer during which he gave up a walkoff hit in each game, including a pair of homers. He had a 5.42 earned run average. The only reason he made the team was that

Cliff Lee

opened the season on the disabled list.

So, of course, the 23-year-old has been the Tribe's best starter. He's 5-1, 2.77.

Meanwhile, remember onetime uberprospect Andy Marte? The can't-miss kid the Indians gave up outfielder Coco Crisp to get? He's now sitting on the bench.

That's baseball.

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