Time to Wake up

By John McMullen

The other shoe is about to drop.

When federal investigators searched Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley’s house on Tuesday, it signaled that the clock is ticking on MajorLeague Baseball.

Thirteen different agents searched Grimsley’s house for nearly six hours.

To get a judge’s permission for the search, investigators who were involved in the BALCO case noted that Grimsley actually cooperated in the investigation but withdrew his assistance in April.

Before Grimsley turned into "Johnny Sack" he allegedly made "extensive statements" about illegal drug use, "for the purpose of performance enhancement," according to the affidavit.

IRS Agent Jeff Novitsky told a federal judge the investigators were looking for "any and all records showing contact or relationship with any and all amateur or professional athletes, athletic coaches or athletic trainers" with regard to illicit drug use and purchases.

According to Novitsky, Grimsley broke "the code" and named other players he believed were using. The names of those players were blacked out in the court records but you can be sure that there is a lot of nervous people around baseball today.

"I have no comment about that and no idea about that," Grimsley told the Arizona Republic on Tuesday, hours before the Diamondbacks took the field against our Phillies.

After Arizona’s 10-1 loss to the Fightin's, D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said news on the investigation may have affected the team. And Melvin was likely right but it affected both teams. In fact, it probably affected 30 teams.

Grimsley is a journeyman who has played in Philadelphia, Cleveland, California, the New York Yankees, Kansas City, Baltimore and Arizona.

He has been all over baseball and participated in illegal drug use at all of those stops. Perhaps more importantly, he has seen illegal drug use by others at every stop.

Grimsley stated that amphetamine use was so prevalent in baseball that it was placed in coffee and marked "leaded" or "unleaded."

Do you really think MLB and the league's players association didn't know that?

Of course, Grimsley never failed a league administered drug test until 2003 despite admission of using amphetamines, steroids and human growth hormone.

This scandal reaches to the very top.

I'm not here to say Bud Selig or Donald Fehr sold or encouraged the use of any illegal drug. But, let's all be honest for a minute. They certainly knew it was going on and by ignoring and enabling it -- encouraged its continued place in a game they profess to love.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Grimsley will be on the unemployment line very soon and, in a sport virtually devoid of competent pitching, he will not find another job.

But, blackballing will not work this time -- You can bet when this is all is said and done, hundreds will be exposed.

If it makes you feel better -- go right ahead and keep mocking Barry Bonds or Jose Canseco or Rafael Palmeiro for being "cheaters".

Keep throwing syringes and keep thinking your team and your favorites are beyond reproach.

Just understand, you are about to be disappointed very, very soon.

-You can reach John McMullen at jmcmullen1@comcast.net or john@phillysportsline.com