"Many players are named, their reputations adversely affected forever," Fehr read from a statement at the Intercontinental Hotel last night, 90 minutes after commissioner Bud Selig issued his response to the Mitchell Report at the Waldorf-Astoria. "Anyone interested in fairly assessing the allegations against a player should consider the nature of the evidence presented, the reliability of its source, and the absence of procedural safeguards individuals who may be accused of wrongdoing should be afforded."

The Mitchell Report revealed 88 names, among which were seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada, Yankees lefthander Andy Pettitte, and home run king Barry Bonds. While report author George Mitchell said he hopes the players implicated would not be disciplined - except in extreme cases that might affect the integrity of the game - Selig called for possible discipline on a "case-by-case" basis.

"If there were problems, I wanted them revealed," said Selig, who appointed Mitchell in March 2006 to conduct an investigation into the use of illicit performance-enhancing substances in baseball. "If there were individuals who engaged in wrongdoing, I wanted those facts to come to light. If there were recommendations that would improve our drug-testing program, I wanted to hear them. His report is a call to action. And I will act."

Fehr said Mitchell's comments regarding discipline "are welcome," but he added, "We will make certain that should any player be disciplined, he will have a right to a hearing and the full panoply of due process protections our agreements contemplate, and we will represent him in that process."

Selig said he embraced all 20 recommendations made by Mitchell in the 409-page report. He added that one recommendation already adopted is the elimination of the 24-hour notice drug testers were giving teams. "Those recommendations that I can implement independently, I will do immediately," said Selig. "There are other recommendations that are subject to collective bargaining."

Selig said he would also deal with Mitchell's comments regarding club personnel and potential wrongdoing and "will take appropriate action." Asked whether any punishment would be made public, Selig said, "I'm confident all disciplines will be made public."

Like Fehr, the commissioner said he was committed to finding ways to improve testing, particularly in developing a urine test to detect human growth hormone. "Players who are set on cheating have apparently moved from steroids to HGH," said Selig.