Yet again, Gossage hopes for Hall pass

By: Associated Press | Tuesday, January 8, 2008 12:01 AM PST ∞

Goose Gossage was having trouble getting a full night's sleep as the Hall of Fame announcement approached.

"I try not to get too excited," he said Monday.

After falling short eight times in voting for Cooperstown, the former Padres' relief pitcher was the leading candidate on this year's ballot.

Votes from 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America had to be in by Dec. 31, and totals were to be released today.

When Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were elected last year, Gossage was third with 388 votes (71.2 percent), 21 shy of the 75 percent needed for election.

Jim Rice was next with 346 (63.5 percent), followed by Andre Dawson at 309 (56.7) and Bert Blyleven at 260 (47.7).

Tainted by accusations of steroids use, Mark McGwire received just 128 votes (23.5 percent) in his first appearance on the ballot. Given Barry Bonds' indictment on perjury and obstruction charges and allegations of performance-enhancing drug use against Roger Clemens, it will be interesting to see if McGwire's percentage increases, stays the same or declines.

Tim Raines and David Justice headed 11 first-time candidates on the 25-man ballot. While there were no odds-on favorites among this year's newcomers, career steals leader Rickey Henderson will be on the ballot for the first time in 2009.

Baseball to bolster security

Acting on recommendations in the Mitchell Report, Major League Baseball cracked down on clubhouse security in an effort to prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Among the changes: Teams will no longer be notified the night before drug testing personnel arrive, and all clubs must have a designated area in home and visiting clubhouses for tests to be collected. The collectors will be given permanent credentials to expedite their access.

Baseball also implemented background checks and random drug tests for all clubhouse employees, and teams now will be required to log all packages sent to clubhouses at major league ballparks.

Teams must give baseball's policy on "Disclosing Information Relating to the Use, Possession or Distribution of Prohibited Substances" to all employees, and the policy must be posted in the clubhouse.

Et cetera

PHILLIES: Jayson Werth and Philadelphia agreed to a $1.7 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration. The 27-year-old Werth hit .298 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs last season for the Phillies.

METS: Reliever Duaner Sanchez, sidelined by a shoulder injury since a July 2006 taxi accident, agreed to an $850,000, one-year contract.

PIRATES: RHP Elmer Dessens signed a minor-league contract with Pittsburgh, nearly 15 years after first signing with the team.

YANKEES: Pete Mackanin, who ended last season as the Cincinnati Reds' interim manager, has taken a job with New York as a major league scout.