Be surprised only if there's any surprises

Talk to enough people in and around baseball and you'll get dozens of different notions about what's going to be in the Mitchell Report.

But one fairly common opinion is that if the George Mitchell steroids investigation -- an "independent'' group commissioned by MLB for MLB about MLB -- uncovers anything shocking, or blows the lid off baseball's closed-eye approach to drug abuse, that will surprise a lot of folks.

Based on the people we spoke to who were questioned by investigators, and that's a small sample compared to how many interviews were conducted, the line of questioning suggests that investigators knew going in that most people would have few specifics to offer.

It's as though they wanted to be able to say that baseball couldn't have done anything -- or known anything -- because no one will talk.

Some feel this exercise was designed mostly to keep Congress out of baseball and keep Bud Selig's legacy in tact, that it will serve to absolve the commissioner of any blame.

It might suggest that Selig acted as soon as he discovered a problem, only a couple of years ago.

Based on the questions, it seems the report might say the commissioner's office had in place policies geared toward attacking the problem, but that some teams -- like the Giants -- didn't properly enforce rules about personal trainers on the property.

It might also say that a veil of secrecy among players -- an unwritten code, as it were -- kept ex-players from being truthful about steroid abuse.

It might even name the names of those it deemed uncooperative, those who either couldn't or wouldn't claim someone else used steroids.

But no one we know was interviewed under oath, there was no subpoena power, and no one was asked about amphetamines. So how much did they really expect to learn?

We know certain people were asked questions about specific players, some big-name players, but will Mitchell name the names of players only suspected of using steroids?

Sure, the arrests made in the last year or two may add some flavor to the investigation if the list of the accused is both affirmed and printed.

Maybe the report will call for independent testing, something WADA and USADA have been demanding for years.

The only thing we know for certain is that some ex-players, currently employed by clubs as coaches, execs and broadcasters, were pressured to speak to investigators, and that some are upset by MLB's heavy-handed tactics during the course of this investigation.

So while the commissioner tries to point out every day that the game has never been more popular or profitable, this investigation has cost a fortune and been a distracting headline for the game, not to mention a source of aggravation and angst for many club employees.

Let's hope that when it comes out, it was worth the price baseball has paid for it.

Starr witness

Most witnesses probably had little to offer, but former Reds and Marlins trainer Larry Starr, who is out of the game after 30 years, told Florida Today that he gave the Mitchell boys plenty to talk about.

"They sit there … Bud Selig and … Don Fehr and … say, 'Well, now that we know that this happened we're going to do something about it,'ø'' Starr said. "I have notes from the winter meetings where the owners group and the players association sat in meetings with the team physicians and … team physicians stood up and said, 'Look, we need to do something about this. We've got a problem here if we don't do something about it.' That was in 1988.''

Starr, who didn't name names for Mitchell, said he knew by 1984 that players were using steroids and that there were times when some teams had 30-40 percent use.

Starr also said one player came to camp in 1990 having gone from 171 pounds the year before to 205, while his body fat dropped from 8 to 5.8 percent.

Added Starr, "When Mark McGwire was discovered taking (andro) … four players walked into my office within an hour and asked, 'Where can I get (it)?' ''

The good cause

From e-mailer Elk Grove Pat: "When I saw that Kyle Turley donated to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, I had an epiphany. My boyhood heroes played a game they loved for not much pay, and while doing so gave me memories to last a lifetime. What better way to thank them than by making a donation.

"I hope that any of your readers who watched these greats in the '50s, '60s and '70s can help out, too. It's a shame that a sympathetic public should have to cover for the greed of the current owners and players.''

To make a donation, visit gridirongreats.org.

Caravan kickoff

Ron Santo, Lou Piniella, Jim Hendry, Ryan Theriot and a host of players and coaches will be on hand for the Cubs Caravan luncheon at Harry Caray's downtown on Jan. 16. Tickets will be available beginning Monday at 10 a.m. (773-404-CUBS). Proceeds benefit Cubs Care.

Sight seen

Bobby Hull with new Blackhawks president John McDonough and Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday night at the UC.

Best quote

Charles Tillman: "We have nothing to celebrate yet. We have a lot of work to do.''

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Child psychologist says youngest Manning sibling acting out to get attention.''

And finally …

Comedian Alex Kaseberg, on Ricky Williams suffering a torn pectoral muscle: "For the first time ever, Ricky is out for the season, and it has nothing to do with a joint.''

brozner@dailyherald.com