Baseball Players

Watching Alex Rodriguez's interview Monday with ESPN's Peter Gammons, it was easy to think of the new Fox show, "Lie to Me" and its tagline, "The truth is written all over our faces." Oh, to see the New York Yankees star have his every eye twitch, lip lick and finger tap analyzed and scrutinized by Dr. Cal Lightman, played by Tim Roth, the very convincing truth detector.

Even after the revelation that Alex Rodriguez headed a list of 104 players who failed a steroids test six years ago, the executive director of the players' union called it "unlikely" that his association would follow the recommendation of several players to release the entire list. Now that the confidentiality of the list has been breached, Torii Hunter of the Angels and Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros are among the players calling for all of those who tested positive to be identified.

The government's perjury and obstruction of justice case against Barry Bonds includes plans to call witnesses who will testify that they saw the slugger "being injected" and heard him make statements "admitting his use of steroids," according to court filings Friday in San Francisco. Among its 39 witnesses, the U.S.

He squirmed before his inquisitors. He stared back at them. He would not render judgment upon himself. And so, to the question of whether steroid users were cheaters, this was his answer: "That's not for me to determine." That was not Alex Rodriguez. That was Mark McGwire, testifying before Congress, four years ago. This was Rodriguez, on Tuesday: "That's not for me to decide." As Rodriguez talked a little about his steroid past, there was another McGwire flashback.

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia strides to the plate and begins his ritual. Tap the bat twice on the ground. Circle it overhead. Adjust the gloves. Stand straight, bat upright, awaiting the pitch. A voice interrupts: "And cut!" Pedroia is in a Sony Corp. studio in San Diego, suited up in a spandex bodysuit studded with 55 white sensors.

By saving $150, Victor Conte may have also saved Barry Bonds from prison. Today in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has summoned Greg Anderson, Bonds' former personal trainer, to answer whether he will testify in the home run king's perjury trial that starts next week.

Looking down at the clubhouse carpet, Russell Martin repeatedly nodded his head. "At this point," Martin said, "I'm going to let him work his magic." Umm . . . Who are you? And what did you do with Russell Martin? This couldn't be the same restless kid who did whatever he could to talk his way out of days off last season and played 155 games, could it?

A decision by federal prosecutors to appeal a key ruling in the Barry Bonds perjury trial could delay the trial for six months or more, a setback for the defense, legal analysts said Sunday. Defense lawyers had the momentum going into trial, the advantage of a judge willing to throw out evidence that prosecutors said was key to their case and the refusal of a critical witness to testify against Bonds. Jury selection had been scheduled to start today. U.S.

Manny doesn't do losers. Full seasons in the major leagues: 15. Teams with a losing record: 0. So put the Dodgers down for a winning record this season, but don't put down your deposit for playoff tickets just yet. Manny Ramirez guarantees the Dodgers a potent offense, but a potent offense by itself guarantees the Dodgers nothing. Ramirez can pitch in, but the Dodgers still have to pitch.

"How will Manny do this year? I think Manny will thrive." So said a woman who should know, psychologist Jean Rhodes, speaking by phone from a restaurant near Fenway Park. "Los Angeles, the way it's relaxed out there, the way people give him space, the fans . . . perfect fit." Here in L.A., where he has been charming and superlative and nothing less, we like to think we know Manny Ramirez, like to believe we have a fix on him. But honestly, we don't.