Gary Jr Matthews

Gary Matthews Jr. has to realize that the less he says about his alleged link to human growth hormone shipments, the worse it looks. If we've learned one thing the last few years, it's that choice of words means everything. Jason Giambi apologizes, without even saying what for, and now it's back to business as usual. But Mark McGwire's "I'm not here to talk about the past" performance on Capitol Hill led to a smackdown by Hall of Fame voters.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- His left knee is still sore, but his feelings aren't hurt. One year after signing a five-year, $50-million contract to play center field for the Angels, Gary Matthews Jr. has been pushed to the corner spots by center fielder Torii Hunter, who signed a five-year, $90-million deal with the Angels in November.

Arte Moreno got a powerful endorsement Saturday, when Commissioner Bud Selig said he supported the Angels' owner in his insistence that center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. publicly address allegations that he ordered a shipment of human growth hormone. "Arte and I are absolutely on the same page on this issue," Selig said. "There isn't a scintilla of difference between Arte Moreno's position and mine. To say it as bluntly as I can say it, he's stating my position."

NASHVILLE -- Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. will not be suspended for allegedly ordering human growth hormone, the commissioner's office announced Thursday. Former Angels outfielder Jose Guillen and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons were suspended 15 days for violating baseball's drug policy. Guillen said he would appeal; Gibbons said he would not. The Kansas City Royals signed Guillen to a three-year, $36-million contract earlier Thursday.

The Angels, convinced Gary Matthews Jr., won't be a one-year wonder, signed the free-agent center fielder to a five-year, $50-million contract Wednesday, a move that doesn't address their need for a power hitter but should improve their defense and allow them to keep one of the game's best pitching staffs intact. Matthews, a 32-year-old switch-hitter, was a career .249 hitter with a .324 on-base percentage and .

The Angels are bracing for confrontation with Gary Matthews Jr. and the players' union sooner rather than later, preparing for disciplinary action against the center fielder unless he publicly addresses allegations he received a shipment of human growth hormone. Angels owner Arte Moreno has said he wanted the matter resolved by opening day. "I think it's going to come to a head long before then," said a source familiar with the Angels' thinking.

The baseball season has come and gone since Gary Matthews Jr. was alleged to have ordered a shipment of human growth hormone. Today, the Angels' center fielder is scheduled to discuss that report behind closed doors at baseball's New York headquarters. Paul Byrd, the pitcher formerly with the Angels and currently with the Cleveland Indians, is expected to follow Matthews to the commissioner's office later this month.

Angels General Manager Tony Reagins came away from a 10-minute phone conversation with Gary Matthews Jr. on Thursday confident that the veteran would accept a demotion from center field to the corner outfield spots to clear room for Torii Hunter. "He's a professional," Reagins said of Matthews. "He's thinking about his new role, and like a lot of people who are caught by surprise, he's still digesting it. But the bottom line is he wants to win. He reacted the way I thought he would react.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- His left knee is still sore, but his feelings aren't hurt. One year after signing a five-year, $50-million contract to play center field for the Angels, Gary Matthews Jr. has been pushed to the corner spots by center fielder Torii Hunter, who signed a five-year, $90-million deal with the Angels in November.

Even if he has not failed a drug test, Angels center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. could be suspended for up to 80 games for his alleged involvement in the purchase of human growth hormone. In addition to a 50-game penalty for a first positive test, baseball's drug policy mandates a suspension from 60 to 80 games following a first conviction for "possession or use of any prohibited substance." The clause is triggered when a player is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest.

Angels General Manager Tony Reagins came away from a 10-minute phone conversation with Gary Matthews Jr. on Thursday confident that the veteran would accept a demotion from center field to the corner outfield spots to clear room for Torii Hunter. "He's a professional," Reagins said of Matthews. "He's thinking about his new role, and like a lot of people who are caught by surprise, he's still digesting it. But the bottom line is he wants to win. He reacted the way I thought he would react.

The baseball season has come and gone since Gary Matthews Jr. was alleged to have ordered a shipment of human growth hormone. Today, the Angels' center fielder is scheduled to discuss that report behind closed doors at baseball's New York headquarters. Paul Byrd, the pitcher formerly with the Angels and currently with the Cleveland Indians, is expected to follow Matthews to the commissioner's office later this month.

Baseball officials want to meet with Gary Matthews Jr., seven months after the Angels center fielder was alleged to have been sent a shipment of human growth hormone. Within the last week, as reports have linked Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Jay Gibbons to orders for steroids and human growth hormone, baseball officials have requested meetings with each player. The reports all follow a national investigation into Internet drug trafficking, led by the Albany County (N.Y.) district attorney.

Arte Moreno got a powerful endorsement Saturday, when Commissioner Bud Selig said he supported the Angels' owner in his insistence that center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. publicly address allegations that he ordered a shipment of human growth hormone. "Arte and I are absolutely on the same page on this issue," Selig said. "There isn't a scintilla of difference between Arte Moreno's position and mine. To say it as bluntly as I can say it, he's stating my position."

The Angels are bracing for confrontation with Gary Matthews Jr. and the players' union sooner rather than later, preparing for disciplinary action against the center fielder unless he publicly addresses allegations he received a shipment of human growth hormone. Angels owner Arte Moreno has said he wanted the matter resolved by opening day. "I think it's going to come to a head long before then," said a source familiar with the Angels' thinking.

Even if he has not failed a drug test, Angels center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. could be suspended for up to 80 games for his alleged involvement in the purchase of human growth hormone. In addition to a 50-game penalty for a first positive test, baseball's drug policy mandates a suspension from 60 to 80 games following a first conviction for "possession or use of any prohibited substance." The clause is triggered when a player is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest.

Gary Matthews Jr. launched a high-powered defense Saturday, retaining one of the top criminal defense attorneys and perhaps the most noted crisis management firm in Southern California to represent him amid allegations he received an illegal shipment of human growth hormone. Robert Shapiro, an attorney most famous for his work on O.J.

Gary Matthews Jr. ducked questions about his alleged purchase of performance-enhancing drugs for a second straight day Thursday, a crisis-management strategy that appears to be placing a strain on the relationship between the Angels and their new center fielder.

Angels owner Arte Moreno said Sunday he would not let the uncertain situation surrounding center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. linger into the regular season. "It's going to be resolved by opening day, one way or the other. I promise you that," Moreno said. "I'm not a very happy guy. It should have already been resolved." Moreno, who signed Matthews to a five-year, $50-million contract in November, would not elaborate on the meaning of "one way or the other."

Gary Matthews Jr. has to realize that the less he says about his alleged link to human growth hormone shipments, the worse it looks. If we've learned one thing the last few years, it's that choice of words means everything. Jason Giambi apologizes, without even saying what for, and now it's back to business as usual. But Mark McGwire's "I'm not here to talk about the past" performance on Capitol Hill led to a smackdown by Hall of Fame voters.