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Associated Press 17y

Selig says not disciplining Giambi was 'appropriate decision'

New York Yankees

NEW YORK -- With a bright-eyed smile stretched across his
rosy face, Jason Giambi bounced around the field during batting
practice and posed for photos with fans.

The New York Yankees slugger had plenty to be happy about
Thursday.

Giambi escaped punishment from commissioner Bud Selig because of
his charitable work and cooperation with baseball's steroids
investigator.

"It's over and done with. I'm thrilled with it. He did what he
needed to do -- now I can go forward," Giambi said before the
Yankees hosted Detroit in the opener of an important four-game
series. "I can go forward and not hurt the ballclub with a
suspension."

Selig, speaking on the second and final day of an owners meeting
in Toronto, called this an "appropriate decision."

Giambi has acknowledged a "personal history regarding
steroids." He agreed to speak with former Sen. George Mitchell
last month after Selig threatened to discipline him if he refused
to cooperate.

"He's doing a lot of public-service work, and I think that's
terribly important," Selig said. "I think it's more important for
us to keep getting the message out. He was, I thought, very frank
and candid with Sen. Mitchell, at least that was the senator's
conclusion. Given everything, this is an appropriate decision."

Giambi said he already was involved with most of the charity
work in question "before any of this."

"I felt they were good programs. They were great for kids," he
said.

Selig said June 21, before Giambi met Mitchell, that he would
take "Giambi's level of cooperation into account in determining
appropriate further action."

Selig said Mitchell was not expected to speak with any other
active players.

"This was a special circumstance," Selig said. "I have no
other plans."

No date has been announced for the release of Mitchell's report.

Giambi met Mitchell in New York on July 13, becoming the first
active player known to talk with baseball's steroids investigator.

"Sen. Mitchell was great. We got along great. He knew I was in
a tough situation and at the same time it was great the way he went
about it," Giambi said. "I'm just one piece of a huge puzzle."

Giambi, the 2000 AL MVP with Oakland, missed more than two
months this season because of torn tissue in his left foot. He
began the day batting .270 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs in 51
games.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman didn't have much reaction
to Selig's decision, saying the commissioner's discretion about the
health of the sport was more important than the club's
self-interest.

But manager Joe Torre was pleased with the news.

"The fact that it's over and done with, it's a little less he
has to deal with. It's closure. It's something he treated with a
great deal of respect," Torre said. "The fact that he can just
concentrate on baseball is good for all of us."

Giambi started at first base Thursday night for the first time
since returning from the foot injury.

"Oh my God, it's a miracle!" he said. "Big G is loose
today!"

On other matters:

• The commissioner's office and the players' association are
discussing the possibility of starting the 2008 season in Tokyo,
with the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics
under consideration along with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los
Angeles Dodgers.

• Selig said the league does not intend to hold an official
celebration to honor Barry Bonds for breaking Hank Aaron's home run
record. "I think my statement was appropriate and I don't have any
future plans," he said. When Bonds broke the record, Selig issued
a statement saying, "While the issues which have swirled around
this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution,
today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable
achievement." Asked whether he was happy with the way the record
fell, Selig responded: "Look, it's fine; it's over, and I think I
was."

• On the Florida Marlins' plans for a new ballpark, Selig said:
"We need to make progress there. This team needs a new stadium.
I've said many times I like South Florida. I think it's a major
league market. But it's a major league market only if they get a
new ballpark."

• Selig said he hopes to decide on the host of the 2010 All-Star
game in the next month or so. "Then I'll determine 2011 and
probably do a few of those. I'm going to try to go AL and NL
alternating. I think that's fair, since it does determine the
home-field advantage [in the World Series]."

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