He pitched for the Phillies after being claimed off waivers by the Braves from August 1998 to June 2001, when he was traded to Kansas City.

In a remarkable appearance about 2 hours before the first pitch, Byrd openly admitted having ordered, received and used the hormones . . . while steadfastly denying he had done anything wrong.

"I have never taken any hormone or any drug that was not prescribed to me by a doctor, and that is the key to this," he said earnestly. "I have a reputation. I speak at different places. I speak to kids. I speak to churches.

"I do not want the fans of Cleveland, I do not want honest, caring people to think that I cheated. Because I didn't. That is very important to me. That is first and foremost above anything else."

He went on to point out that he made the payments on his personal credit card, in his own name, and openly accepted the shipments at team facilities.

"I had nothing to hide," he said. "I actually, for a small period of time, stored them in the refrigerator in the clubhouses. So I feel like that . . . makes things very legitimate [as far as] my intentions."

Later, he said that he has been prescribed medication for a pituitary tumor and that he was "very happy" that he's been working with Major League Baseball.

There are at least a few inconsistencies or questions in that self-defense.

* According to the Chronicle story, two of the prescriptions were written not by a physician, but by a Florida dentist whose license was suspended in 2003 for fraud and incompetence.

* If he didn't think he was doing anything wrong, why did records obtained by the newspaper show that he received his last shipment just a week before Major League Baseball formally banned growth hormones on Jan. 13, 2005?

* While Byrd implied that MLB was aware of and condoned his use of the hormone for medical reasons, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he knew nothing about this story until recently.

"Paul and I talked late Friday night. That's the first time I've been aware of any of this," he said.

A statement issued by MLB also seemed to refute any prior knowledge. "We will investigate the allegations concerning Paul Byrd as we have players implicated in previous similar reports. Since Mr. Byrd and his club, the Cleveland Indians, are currently active in postseason play, we will interview Mr. Byrd prior to the start of the World Series should the Cleveland club advance," it read.

* Byrd hinted that his use of the drugs was linked to the glandular problem. But the time line he provided was fuzzy and he declined to make that link specifically and, at another point, seemed to indicate that the tumor was discovered only recently.

Human-growth hormone can be used to help build muscles. Byrd has had both shoulder and elbow problems during the time he was receiving the drugs.

"I do understand that there are going to be people around that it doesn't matter what you say, they're going to take a negative viewpoint and that's going to be it," he said. "I also understand that when you make a lot of money, and some people have abused the opportunity to perform at this level properly, there will be some scrutiny. I understand that it can be a fishbowl up here."

Byrd's name apparently surfaced as part of a probe being conducted by the Albany, N.Y., district attorney of a network that has allegedly distributed hormones illegally. Other players who have been linked to the investigation to this point are Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel, Blue Jays third baseman Troy Glaus, Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons and Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.

Byrd mentioned that he has a book coming out next year that touches on some of these subjects.

"I talk about . . . where I have had temptations to cheat," he said. "I have been asked by people, by pitching coaches, here's how you scuff a ball, here's how you put saliva on a ball.

"I also talk about the fact that I was prescribed a hormone, that I did inject it and I did have the temptation to take more of it than what was prescribed so my fastball would reach into the 90s on a consistent basis.

"I never succumbed to any of these temptations. I never took any more than what was prescribed for me [and] my fastball has always stayed the same. It's important to bring out to people that I care about this situation. I have never done anything that disrespected the game."

Byrd addressed his teammates before the game. "They understand the situation and we respect each other," he said. "These guys have worked too hard to let something like this distract them at the last minute. They understand where I'm coming from. It was a very good talk.

"This is Game 7. We're trying to get to a World Series. My medical history should not be the focus."

Inevitably, unfortunately, it was. *