Anything Baseball Thread

[SHANIANUTS!]

...after the Red swept the Astros and Cards back to back and won tonight and took over 1st place I am beginning to like their chances this years... the stadium in Cinci was rocking tonight just like in 1990 when they went wire-to-wire in 1st place throughout the season...

[Troll]

The Reds are playing well right now.

[canoilers]

Originally Posted by SHANIANUTS!

...after the Red swept the Astros and Cards back to back and won tonight and took over 1st place I am beginning to like their chances this years... the stadium in Cinci was rocking tonight just like in 1990 when they went wire-to-wire in 1st place throughout the season...

Gotta love them small markets eh, they have the best fans ever. Its nice to see heart like that, I hope they can keep it up for the rest of the season.

[SHANIANUTS!]

It is not even half over and anything can happen and usually does..you can just take it a day at a time but prospects are looking up for their chances..I have been consistently amazed at how well they are playing all aspects of their games lately..

[Troll]

Rangers lost this afternoon by a walk off 3 run home run by David Ortiz.

[SHANIANUTS!]

...after their Chicago Cubs series I seriously question what they can get done this year....

[canoilers]

Its a long way until October, don't worry about things yet.

[SHANIANUTS!]

Cincinnati always makes me worry!

[Troll]

Rangers came back and pounded the Red Sox in game 2 of the doubleheader.

[Troll]

Fans can still be part of game after final out
Major League Baseball licenses team logos for caskets, urns

CHICAGO - Die-hard baseball fans will soon have a way to be close to their favorite teams in the afterlife.

Eternal Image Inc., which makes customized caskets and urns, said on Friday it has signed a multiyear licensing agreement with Major League Baseball that allows the company to reproduce the names and logos of all 30 league teams on a new line of caskets and urns.

“Fans incorporate baseball in nearly every aspect of life,” Eternal Image Chief Executive Clint Mytych said. The caskets could appeal to “a market that is just waiting for a way to make team loyalty a final statement of a great passion in their lives," he said.

The urns and caskets will go on sale next year at prices from about $600 to $3,500, Mytych said.

“Our clubs receive these requests with some frequency. We have really passionate fans,” Major League Baseball spokeswoman Susan Goodenow said, adding that the deal gives the sport’s governing body control of the tastefulness of the product.

Sports licensing accounted for an estimated $14.5 billion in retail sales last year in the United States, up 1.9 percent from 2004, according to the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association.

The idea of sports teams’ logos and colors on caskets is not new as fans of Argentina’s most popular soccer team, Boca Juniors, can buy their own coffins decorated in team colors and symbols for $650 to $800, a small fortune for many of its working-class followers.

One of Boca’s soccer field chants says: “The day I die, I want my coffin painted blue and gold, like my heart.”

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13506180/

[SHANIANUTS!]

This sounds like the guy who was buried with a 1000 White Castle hamburgers.

[Troll]

Those Tigers are still playing great.

[Troll]

Gammons in ICU after surgery for brain aneurysm

Longtime ESPN Baseball analyst Peter Gammons is out of surgery and resting in intensive care after undergoing an operation to treat an aneurysm in his brain Tuesday. Gammons suffered the aneurysm Tuesday morning near his home on Cape Cod, Mass. He was airlifted to a Boston hospital, where the surgery was performed.

Gammons, 61, is probably the best-known baseball writer of his generation, first with the Boston Globe, beginning in 1969, then for Sports Illustrated, before joining ESPN in 1990.

He was honored with J.G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing during the 2005 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y. He was selected in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

He started his career as a reporter for the Boston Globe in 1969 and wrote a very popular weekly Sunday baseball column for many years. He has also worked for Sports Illustrated covering the National Hockey League, college basketball and Major League Baseball (1976-78, 1986-90).

In 1986, upon his return to Sports Illustrated as a senior writer following a second stay at the Globe, he wrote numerous stories covering some of baseball's most important news events, as well as authoring "Inside Baseball," Sports Illustrated's weekly baseball notebook.

Gammons primarily serves as a studio analyst for ESPN's Baseball Tonight, but he also does regular spots for SportsCenter, ESPNEWS and ESPN Radio and contributes to ESPN The Magazine. He is a columnist and writes a popular Weblog for ESPN.com.

Gammons is also the author of "Beyond the Sixth Game", a look at free agency.

Born April 9, 1945, Gammons is a native of Boston, raised in nearby Groton, Mass. He attended the University of North Carolina and is married to his wife, Gloria.

I hope he makes a full recovery.

[nds76]

Cubs fans pelt field after Pierzynski HR

CHICAGO (AP) — With the Cubs so close to winning, fans littered Wrigley Field with plastic bottles, cups, and other debris Saturday after A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out, ninth-inning homer to send the White Sox to an 8-6 victory.

The game was delayed nearly five minutes as security and the grounds crew came out to pick up the litter. Most of it fell on the warning track in the outfield, although some items, including a baseball, came out of the stands from behind the Cubs' dugout.

"I guess they can voice their opinions however they want to," Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre said.


"They shouldn't throw anything on the field. It was sad. It was frustrating for us to lose a game and have the fans react like this."

Much of the anger apparently was directed at Cubs closer Ryan Dempster, who retired the first two batters in the ninth with the Cubs leading 6-5. But two straight batters then reached base ahead of Pierzynski's homer.

Shortly after Pierzynski rounded the bases and got in the dugout, items began sailing onto the field. The Cubs are 1-11 in their last 12 homes games.

"It's tough because you never like to see that," Dempster said after blowing his fifth save of the season. "I wish I would have gotten the last out and you never would have seen that. It's tough."

The Cubs, who have lost two straight and four of five to the White Sox this season, dropped to 29-51.

Pierzynski has been in the center of the rivalry all season, first after he was punched by the Cubs' Michael Barrett on May 20, setting off a brawl.

"You don't want to see anyone throw anything on the field," Pierzynski said.

"You understand when your guy hits a home run and they throw the home run ball back. But you don't expect them to throw cups and throw everything else. ... You fear for Jacque (Jones), you fear for Juan Pierre and you fear for the outfielders and you fear for some fans who aren't doing anything and they might have the opportunity to get hurt."

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/sport...orylist=sports

[Troll]

I saw that. The cubs aren't having a good year.

[Troll]

We will see who will be on the all star roster tonight.

[Troll]

Here are the all star roster

American League
Pos. Player Team
1B David Ortiz Boston Red Sox
2B Mark Loretta Boston Red Sox
3B Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees
SS Derek Jeter New York Yankees
C Ivan Rodriguez Detroit Tigers
OF Vladimir Guerrero Los Angeles Angels
OF Manny Ramirez Boston Red Sox
OF Ichiro Suzuki Seattle Mariners
American League pitchers
Pos. Player Team
SP Mark Buerhle Chicago White Sox
SP Jose Contreras Chicago White Sox
SP Roy Halladay Toronto Blue Jays
SP Scott Kazmir Tampa Bay Devil Rays
SP Mark Redman Kansas City Royals
SP Kenny Rogers Detroit Tigers
SP Johan Santana Minnesota Twins
SP Barry Zito Oakland Athletics
RP Bobby Jenks Chicago White Sox
RP Jon Papelbon Boston Red Sox
RP Mariano Rivera New York Yankees
RP B.J. Ryan Toronto Blue Jays
American League reserves
Pos. Player Team
1B Paul Konerko Chicago White Sox
1B Jim Thome Chicago White Sox
2B Robinson Cano1 New York Yankees
2B Jose Lopez Seattle Mariners
3B Troy Glaus Toronto Blue Jays
SS Miguel Tejada Baltimore Orioles
SS Michael Young Texas Rangers
C Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins
OF Jermaine Dye Chicago White Sox
OF Alex Rios1 Toronto Blue Jays
OF Gary Matthews, Jr.2 Texas Rangers
OF Grady Sizemore Cleveland Indians
OF Vernon Wells Toronto Blue Jays

1 Injured, will not participate
2 Named as replacement

National League
Pos. Player Team
1B Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals
2B Chase Utley Philadelphia Phillies
3B David Wright New York Mets
SS Jose Reyes New York Mets
C Paul Lo Duca New York Mets
OF Jason Bay Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Carlos Beltran New York Mets
OF Alfonso Soriano Washington Nationals
National League pitchers
Pos. Player Team
SP Carlos Zambrano Chicago Cubs
SP Bronson Arroyo Cincinnati Reds
SP Brad Penny Los Angeles Dodgers
SP Tom Glavine New York Mets
SP Pedro Martinez New York Mets
SP Chris Carpenter St. Louis Cardinals
SP Jason Schmidt San Francisco Giants
RP Brian Fuentes Colorado Rockies
RP Derrick Turnbow Milwaukee Brewers
RP Tom Gordon Philadelphia Phillies
RP Trevor Hoffmann San Diego Padres
National League reserves
Pos. Player Team
1B Lance Berkman Houston Astros
1B Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies
2B Dan Uggla Florida Marlins
3B Miguel Cabrera Florida Marlins
3B Freddy Sanchez Pittsburgh Pirates
3B Scott Rolen St. Louis Cardinals
SS Edgar Renteria Atlanta Braves
C Brian McCann Atlanta Braves
OF Andruw Jones Atlanta Braves
OF Matt Holliday Colorado Rockies
OF Carlos Lee Milwaukee Brewers

[Troll]

All star game tied 1-1 after 2

[Troll]

National League takes the lead 2-1

[nds76]

Bonds could be indicted this month
Giants slugger investigated by grand jury for perjury and tax evasion

Several baseball sources believe San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds will be indicted in the next two weeks, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said that the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco is considering whether to seek an indictment against Bonds, possibly next week, for perjury and tax evasion.

A grand jury, which has been hearing evidence, is due to expire within the next two weeks, the Daily News added. Attorneys told the newspaper that generally when a grand jury reaches the end of its term, a prosecutor will seek an indictment.

The grand jury will convene in San Francisco on one of the next upcoming Thursdays and might be asked to consider the evidence against Bonds, the Daily News said. Then, at least 12 of the 23 grand jury members must agree that there is "probable cause" that a crime was committed and that Bonds did it.

The grand jury could indict Bonds, or else the U.S. attorney could decide not to seek an indictment at that point or request from a judge an extension to continue the grand jury, the Daily News said.

The Daily News said that among those testifying to the grand jury have included former Bonds physician Arthur Ting, San Francisco Giants trainer Stan Conte (no relation to BALCO founder Victor Conte), and Bonds' former girlfriend Kimberly Bell.

The Daily News said that Bell reportedly told the grand jury that Bonds gave her about $80,000 and told her he used steroids before meeting BALCO officials.

The New York Times reported that Bonds' lawyer, Michael Rains, acknowledged that a longtime friend of Bonds named Steve Hoskins is also a witness against the slugger.

The Times said that Hoskins and Bonds had a falling out over Hoskins' company, Kent Collectibles of San Carlos, Calif. The newspaper reported that in June of 2002, Bonds went to the federal government accusing Hoskins of "basically being a fraud, a chear and a liar," Rains said. Bonds claimed that Hoskins was forging his name on memorabilia items.

Michael Cardoza, Hoskins’s lawyer, denied those allegations to the Times, and said that Hoskins' goal was only to "tell the truth and protect Steve and prove to them that Barry is not a truth-teller.”

Bonds told a grand jury in December 2003 that he did not knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds’ personal trainer asked a federal appeals court on Monday to allow him to leave prison on bail nearly a week after a judge ordered him locked up for refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating the San Francisco Giants slugger.

Greg Anderson, who served three months in prison after pleading guilty last year for his role in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid scandal, was held in contempt of court last week and taken to prison.

At that time, Judge William Alsup denied Anderson’s plea for bail, ruling that granting such a request would defeat the purpose of jailing the trainer to compel him to testify.

On Monday, Anderson’s attorney Mark Geragos asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Alsup’s ruling and set Anderson free.

Geragos argued in the court papers that Anderson shouldn’t have to testify because of numerous leaks of ostensibly secret grand jury testimony to two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, who have also written a book based largely on leaked testimony.

Grand jury testimony is done in secret and usually can’t be publicly released without the consent of the witness.

“The gross, callous and destructive breaches of grand jury secrecy in this case create ample just cause for Mr. Anderson’s refusal to testify,” Anderson’s appeal stated.

Geragos said in the court filing that government lawyers offered Anderson immunity from prosecution to testify, but he declined because “of his belief that his testimony would likely be released to the press.”

Geragos further argued that the agreement Anderson made with prosecutors to plead guilty last year included language that stated he didn’t have to cooperate with the investigation.

Geragos also argued that Anderson shouldn’t have to testify because he was the target of an illegal wiretap.

Prosecutors have a tape recording of Anderson discussing illegal steroids with another person who they say made the recording during a face-to-face meeting. The prosecutors argue they didn’t obtain the tape illegally, but have promised not to use its contents when questioning Anderson.

Alsup hasn’t directly ruled on the matter, but said since the government has vowed not to use the tape, Anderson should still have to testify.

But Geragos said Anderson and his attorneys have never heard the tape nor seen a transcript of the conversation. Geragos didn’t return telephone calls Monday.

“We believe the court imposed the proper sanction, beyond that we will respond in court as appropriate,” U.S. attorney spokesman Luke Macaulay said.

The appeals court is not expected to rule until it receives the government’s response, due July 13.

Anderson was initially ordered in March to testify to the grand jury investigating whether Bonds perjured himself when he testified to the original BALCO grand jury in December 2003 that he never knowingly used steroids or other banned performance enhancing drugs.

But Anderson has twice refused to testify when called before the grand jury. He is to be jailed until he changes his mind or until the grand jury’s term expires, which is expected in the next couple of weeks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13816292/

[MiniShaniaTwain]

Wow! How about them Tigers? Coming back from behind in 3 of their last 4 games to win the game! I'm so happy for them! Last night's game was awesome (even though I missed the Grand Slam that put the Tigers ahead of the White Sox!)! And even though I missed today's game (I forgot it was on), it was still great to see the Tigers win again!

[SHANIANUTS!]

How long has it been since they won a World Series?

[MiniShaniaTwain]

Originally Posted by SHANIANUTS!

How long has it been since they won a World Series?

I think it's been over 20 years, if I remember right.

[Troll]

Congrats to the AL for coming back and winning the All star game. Texas has had a few hands in the past few games.

[Troll]

Originally Posted by nds76

Bonds could be indicted this month
Giants slugger investigated by grand jury for perjury and tax evasion

Several baseball sources believe San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds will be indicted in the next two weeks, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said that the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco is considering whether to seek an indictment against Bonds, possibly next week, for perjury and tax evasion.

A grand jury, which has been hearing evidence, is due to expire within the next two weeks, the Daily News added. Attorneys told the newspaper that generally when a grand jury reaches the end of its term, a prosecutor will seek an indictment.

The grand jury will convene in San Francisco on one of the next upcoming Thursdays and might be asked to consider the evidence against Bonds, the Daily News said. Then, at least 12 of the 23 grand jury members must agree that there is "probable cause" that a crime was committed and that Bonds did it.

The grand jury could indict Bonds, or else the U.S. attorney could decide not to seek an indictment at that point or request from a judge an extension to continue the grand jury, the Daily News said.

The Daily News said that among those testifying to the grand jury have included former Bonds physician Arthur Ting, San Francisco Giants trainer Stan Conte (no relation to BALCO founder Victor Conte), and Bonds' former girlfriend Kimberly Bell.

The Daily News said that Bell reportedly told the grand jury that Bonds gave her about $80,000 and told her he used steroids before meeting BALCO officials.

The New York Times reported that Bonds' lawyer, Michael Rains, acknowledged that a longtime friend of Bonds named Steve Hoskins is also a witness against the slugger.

The Times said that Hoskins and Bonds had a falling out over Hoskins' company, Kent Collectibles of San Carlos, Calif. The newspaper reported that in June of 2002, Bonds went to the federal government accusing Hoskins of "basically being a fraud, a chear and a liar," Rains said. Bonds claimed that Hoskins was forging his name on memorabilia items.

Michael Cardoza, Hoskins’s lawyer, denied those allegations to the Times, and said that Hoskins' goal was only to "tell the truth and protect Steve and prove to them that Barry is not a truth-teller.”

Bonds told a grand jury in December 2003 that he did not knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds’ personal trainer asked a federal appeals court on Monday to allow him to leave prison on bail nearly a week after a judge ordered him locked up for refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating the San Francisco Giants slugger.

Greg Anderson, who served three months in prison after pleading guilty last year for his role in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid scandal, was held in contempt of court last week and taken to prison.

At that time, Judge William Alsup denied Anderson’s plea for bail, ruling that granting such a request would defeat the purpose of jailing the trainer to compel him to testify.

On Monday, Anderson’s attorney Mark Geragos asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Alsup’s ruling and set Anderson free.

Geragos argued in the court papers that Anderson shouldn’t have to testify because of numerous leaks of ostensibly secret grand jury testimony to two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, who have also written a book based largely on leaked testimony.

Grand jury testimony is done in secret and usually can’t be publicly released without the consent of the witness.

“The gross, callous and destructive breaches of grand jury secrecy in this case create ample just cause for Mr. Anderson’s refusal to testify,” Anderson’s appeal stated.

Geragos said in the court filing that government lawyers offered Anderson immunity from prosecution to testify, but he declined because “of his belief that his testimony would likely be released to the press.”

Geragos further argued that the agreement Anderson made with prosecutors to plead guilty last year included language that stated he didn’t have to cooperate with the investigation.

Geragos also argued that Anderson shouldn’t have to testify because he was the target of an illegal wiretap.

Prosecutors have a tape recording of Anderson discussing illegal steroids with another person who they say made the recording during a face-to-face meeting. The prosecutors argue they didn’t obtain the tape illegally, but have promised not to use its contents when questioning Anderson.

Alsup hasn’t directly ruled on the matter, but said since the government has vowed not to use the tape, Anderson should still have to testify.

But Geragos said Anderson and his attorneys have never heard the tape nor seen a transcript of the conversation. Geragos didn’t return telephone calls Monday.

“We believe the court imposed the proper sanction, beyond that we will respond in court as appropriate,” U.S. attorney spokesman Luke Macaulay said.

The appeals court is not expected to rule until it receives the government’s response, due July 13.

Anderson was initially ordered in March to testify to the grand jury investigating whether Bonds perjured himself when he testified to the original BALCO grand jury in December 2003 that he never knowingly used steroids or other banned performance enhancing drugs.

But Anderson has twice refused to testify when called before the grand jury. He is to be jailed until he changes his mind or until the grand jury’s term expires, which is expected in the next couple of weeks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13816292/

Prosecutors extend Bonds investigation
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - With Barry Bonds still firmly in the sights of a federal steroid investigation, prosecutors will impanel a new grand jury to take up where an outgoing one left off Thursday and consider perjury and tax-evasion charges against the star slugger.

"We are not finished," U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan said. "We have postponed the decision (to indict) for another day in light of some recent developments."

Word that an indictment wasn't imminent came as one grand jury's term expired, and the lawyer for Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, said his client already had been subpoenaed to testify next Thursday before the new grand jury.

The new panel will further investigate whether Bonds lied under oath when he said he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs, attorney Mark Geragos said.

Geragos said Anderson will again refuse to testify.

"They don't even have enough to indict a ham sandwich, let alone Barry Bonds," said the slugger's lawyer, Michael Rains. But he seemed to back away slightly from Bonds' earlier statements that he didn't know the substances given to him by Anderson were steroids.

"He was suspicious in light of what he had read as to whether those were steroids or not," Rains told reporters outside the federal courthouse here.

Bonds arrived at AT&T Park with his 16-year-old batboy son. As reporters moved toward his locker, team spokesman Blake Rhodes said Bonds would have no comment.

Major League Baseball declined to comment.

Giants owner Peter Magowan declined to comment on the case, noting there was "nothing new," but said he hoped to see a resolution soon.

"I think all of us would like to see a resolution, I mean everybody in baseball," Magowan said. "I'm sure the commissioner would like to see one, I'm sure Barry would like to see one, and I'm sure the fans would like to see one."

Anderson, a key witness, was freed at midday from the federal prison where he was sent more than two weeks ago for refusing to testify against his childhood friend.

"They can subpoena him every day for the rest of this year, and it doesn't matter," Geragos said. "He's not going to talk."

The judge who ordered Anderson to prison on July 5 said he would be held until he agreed to testify against Bonds or the grand jury's term expired.

Joseph Russienello, the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco from 1982 to 1990, said handing the case off to a new grand jury means the federal government can lock Anderson up for the length of the new grand jury's term, which could extend beyond a year. The threat of a lengthy jail term can convince even the most intransigent witnesses to cave.

"It's no longer a two-week vacation," Russienello said. "Twelve months usually has a way of getting people sensitized to giving truthful testimony."

Speculation has been mounting for weeks that Bonds, one of the biggest names in professional sports, would be indicted Thursday with the grand jury expiring. His lawyers had said they were preparing a defense.

But soon after the grand jury reported to the federal courthouse to begin the final day of its probe, the U.S. Attorney's office issued a statement saying it "is not seeking an indictment (Thursday) in connection with the ongoing steroids-related investigation."

"There's temporary relief in the news we heard today," Rains said. The lawyer said Bonds was elated when he heard of Anderson's release and asked when the two can start working out together again.

"He's hoping this is the end of it," Rains said, "but he doesn't know that, nor do I."

Anderson appears to be the key to whether perjury charges could stick against Bonds, and prosecutors referred to his refusal to testify.

"We will continue to move forward actively in this investigation - including continuing to seek the truthful testimony of witnesses whose testimony the grand jury is entitled to hear," said Luke Macaulay, a spokesman for Ryan, the U.S. attorney.

Bonds testified in 2003 that he thought substances given to him by Anderson were arthritis balm and flaxseed oil. Authorities suspected Bonds was lying and that those items were "the clear" and "the cream" - two performance-enhancing drugs tied to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the lab exposed as a steroids supplier to top athletes in baseball, track and other sports.

Although Bonds was promised immunity as long as he told the truth, doubts soon surfaced.

- His former girlfriend, Kimberly Bell, testified the slugger told her he had used steroids, according to Bell's lawyer. Bonds' attorney accused Bell of trying to extort money from Bonds and using the platform to promote a book that never was published.

- IRS agent Jeff Novitzky, lead investigator in the steroids probe, said in court filings that BALCO founder Victor Conte told him Bonds used "the clear" on a regular basis.

- Federal agents who raided Anderson's house seized doping calendars, price lists and other documents pointing to Bonds' use of steroids and human growth hormone. Federal prosecutors say they need Anderson, in part, to interpret the calendars, which seem to spell out Bonds' schedule for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Anderson was one of five men convicted in the BALCO scandal. He was sentenced to three months behind bars and three months of home confinement in October after pleading guilty to money laundering and steroid distribution.

He was called to testify before the perjury grand jury and refused. A federal judge found him in contempt of court and ordered him jailed.

Geragos protested, saying Anderson was the victim of an illegal government wiretap and that because Anderson's refusal to cooperate with government investigators is noted in his earlier plea agreement, he cannot be forced to testify.

"He took three months in jail rather than cooperate," Geragos said.

He also says Anderson can't trust that his testimony will be kept confidential because other BALCO grand jury testimony has been leaked to the press. Excerpts of testimony by Bonds and other key players in the case was published by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Geragos said he plans to repeat the same arguments.

Allegations of steroid use long have plagued Bonds, who passed Babe Ruth in May to become second only to Hank Aaron on the career home run list. They intensified in late 2003, when he testified before the original BALCO grand jury, which took testimony from about two dozen athletes.

Without Anderson's help, prosecutors still could indict Bonds on charges alleging he failed to pay taxes on money made through sales of autographs and other memorabilia. There is also the possibility Bonds could be indicted on perjury charges without Anderson's testimony.

"There comes a point in time ... where everybody needs to move on," Rains said. "We hope we have arrived at that point today."

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5800106?FSO1&ATT=HMA