Deadspin's 'Who's the Mystery AL 'Roider?' post from yesterday included the following excerpt from this week's USA Today Sports Weekly:

 

"An American League outfielder on a postseason team tested positive for steroids, according to his agent, but the player is appealing the results."

 

Certainly interesting, but I didn't make much of it until we talked to Baseball Prospectus' Will Carroll on today's Sports Bloggers Live. Will writes a weekly column for BP that Peter Gammons has called an "industry standard," and he also wrote a book called 'The Juice' earlier this year. His response when told of the rumor?

 

Carroll: "I really can't talk about it right now. It should be coming out within the next two weeks."

 

SBL: "Is this a name we're actually going to care about?"

 

Carroll: "Yes."

 

SBL: "Is it a World Series champion?"

 

Carroll: "I really can't talk about it."

 

SBL: "I would hope not, because that might turn those White Sox black... Will, cough once if he's on the White Sox... Cough twice if it's Gary Sheffield."

 

Carroll: "I was involved in the appeals process so I can't comment at all."

 

Here's the full audio interview. The dialogue dictated here takes place between 6:20 and 7:00.

 

If this is true, there's a 1-in-4 chance someone on the White Sox used steroids this season and then contributed to Chicago's first World Series victory since 1917. And there's a 100% chance a player used and then participated in the playoffs. So... Who was it? And what would Selig do if that player was the World Series MVP or the Game 2 hero? Would it be a Black Sox-level fiasco? Say it ain't so, Jermaine!

 

Given what we presume to know -- that the guy is in the AL, made the playoffs, is relatively significant and plays outfield -- the list of possibilities is only 12-deep:

 

? Chicago: Podsednik, Dye, Rowand

 

? Anaheim: Anderson, Guerrero, Finley

 

? New York: Matsui, Sheffield, Williams

 

? Boston: Ramirez, Damon, Nixon

 

As a fan of the game and none of the teams or players involved here (actually, Vlad is rad), I hope none of them are guilty. But if one is, I certainly hope he isn't on the White Sox.

 

http://journals.aol.com/dcsportsguy/mrirre...nt/entries/2162

 

I got the story from Soxtalk.

I just don't see Dye, Rowand, or Podsednik doing roids.

Let's look one by one...

 

Podsednik: No way.

 

Rowand: I dont know that much about him to say anything or reach any conclusion.

 

Dye: Has had a history of injuries and was healthy this year...

 

Anderson: I dont see it, just because I think hes such a good guy, but so was palmeiro

 

Guerrero: No way, the man has been a freak for too long

 

Finley: It sure didnt help.

 

Matsui: This guy is one of the most pure players in my opinion.

 

Sheffield: Sure

 

Williams: No way

 

Ramirez: I dont think he cared enough to do it

 

Damon: Maybe, but I dont think he would

 

Nixon: Possibly as well, but I dont see it.

They said an outfielder on a playoff team... if it were someone on the Astros or White Sox they would have said an outfielder on a World Series team. So I would eliminate all their outfielders.

Most of the members on Soxtalk single out Rowand as the possible roider if it were a White Sock.

It couldn't be Podsednik?! Come on. Manny Alexander, Alex Sanchez and pitchers of all types have been caught.

Until recently Podsednik was a career minor leaguer looking for a break, while he's started trying to swing for homeruns last year and much of this year.

Swinging for the fences? He hit 0 homeruns this past regular season.

Gabe Kapler, anyone?

 

He played in the OF this postseason

How about we just wait out the next two weeks. Kind of reminds me of the "big fish" fiasco awhile ago...maybe it's just me, but I'm sick of this McCarthy-esque witch-hunt that results in a whole lot of nothing.

How about we just wait out the next two weeks. Kind of reminds me of the "big fish" fiasco awhile ago...maybe it's just me, but I'm sick of this McCarthy-esque witch-hunt that results in a whole lot of nothing.

 

 

Yeah, agree. People had Carlos and Miggy suspended in other boards without having one iota of evidence. Let's just wait and see what the hell happens.

How about we just wait out the next two weeks. Kind of reminds me of the "big fish" fiasco awhile ago...maybe it's just me, but I'm sick of this McCarthy-esque witch-hunt that results in a whole lot of nothing.

 

 

Problem with your thinking is the "big fish" rumor only had one guy posting in different message boards.

 

With this rumor we have Will Carroll confirming someone is going to be suspended.

How about we just wait out the next two weeks. Kind of reminds me of the "big fish" fiasco awhile ago...maybe it's just me, but I'm sick of this McCarthy-esque witch-hunt that results in a whole lot of nothing.

 

 

Problem with your thinking is the "big fish" rumor only had one guy posting in different message boards.

 

With this rumor we have Will Carroll confirming someone is going to be suspended.

 

Maybe I'm mistaken but Dan Patrick broke the other one, after he made the "big bird" comment before Palmeiro's suspension his "big fish" remark made everyone finger a Marlins player, combined with Selig's comments of it being a "young star" led everyone to believe that Cabrera was on his way to the suspension list.

 

This isn't to say a respected journalist isn't steaking his credibility on this, but that also isn't to say that it's the word of God here...

I'm thinking it's Rowand, Trot, Jermaine, or Johnny. Jermaine and Johnny have Oakland ties and we all know what baggage that brings with it. Trot and Rowand...they just give me that vibe. Sheffield would be a likely one too, but I dunno. He's been dominant for so long and doesn't have that uber-muscle physique and never had an injury issue and suddenly put together a full season.

Gabe Kapler, anyone?

 

He played in the OF this postseason

 

 

 

He is a body builder...he's always been HUGE though.

That and Kapler was out for the season with an achilles and didn't play in the playoffs.

That and Kapler was out for the season with an achilles and didn't play in the playoffs.

 

Exactly. :lol

I doubt it's him but could you imagine if it ended up being Dye. The World Series MVP busted for steroids but it's prolly gonna end up being some guy like Jeff DaVanon

Yup, prolly some backup OFer

Finley.

 

Sheffield and Damon I'd say probably are involved with the more developed designer non-detectable steroids. I can't see MLB pointing out a Yankee or Red Sock as a roider.

 

Finley is close to 40 and had a ridiculous year last year and then dropped off significantly, a pattern very similar to Palmeiro's. He's my guess.

Finley.

 

Sheffield and Damon I'd say probably are involved with the more developed designer non-detectable steroids. I can't see MLB pointing out a Yankee or Red Sock as a roider.

 

Finley is close to 40 and had a ridiculous year last year and then dropped off significantly, a pattern very similar to Palmeiro's. He's my guess.

How about old age finally caught up to Finley?

Finley.

 

Sheffield and Damon I'd say probably are involved with the more developed designer non-detectable steroids. I can't see MLB pointing out a Yankee or Red Sock as a roider.

 

Finley is close to 40 and had a ridiculous year last year and then dropped off significantly, a pattern very similar to Palmeiro's. He's my guess.

How about old age finally caught up to Finley?

 

That and he's been playing with a f***ed up shoulder for most of the year.

Anderson sounds like it to me.

I'd rather wait till someone gets busted through testing than simply guess and toss around accusations based on vibes, gut feelings, and educated guesses. No need to smear players without the facts, save all your mob-induced, media-fueled rage for the players who are dumb enough not to use HGH.

Swinging for the fences? He hit 0 homeruns this past regular season.

 

I didn't say he was successful. Just that he was trying. That's what I had heard from Sox fans and others who pay more attention to AL Central

Next week my radio station will be having Will Carroll on to discuss the situation....or at least what he can say....