The following was just released from Nats catcher Paul Lo Duca:

"In regards to Senator Mitchell's Report, I apologize to my family, all of my fans and to the entire baseball community for mistakes in judgment I made in the past and for the distraction that has resulted. I am fully committed to being the best player and person I can be, on and off the field, for the Washington Nationals and the entire baseball community. I recognize the importance of my role in the community as a professional athlete, and I intend to focus my energies on making a positive impact in that regard. So that I can focus on making positive contributions and avoid creating further distractions, I respectfully decline to comment any further on the content of the Mitchell Report."

Reading between the lines, Lo Duca is basically confirming the accuracy of the Mitchell Report, and thus is admitting to purchasing and using steroids and HGH, without actually admitting it. He says he's apologizing, but doesn't specifically say what he's apologizing for. It's the Jason Giambi tactic. Giambi offered a similar, non-specific apology after his testimony to the grand jury in San Francisco (where he admitted taking steroids) was leaked. He apologized over and over again but never actually said publicly he took steroids. He never faced any actual punishment from MLB, and he was eventually re-embraced by Yankees fans when he performed on the field.

Will fans react the same way to Lo Duca? We'll see. Certainly, this is a different approach than some other players named in the Mitchell Report have taken in the last two months. Most players who have come out have admitted taking performance enhancing drugs, apologized and asked for forgiveness. Fans seem to be respecting those players who do that. Will they feel the same way about a guy who basically is admitting his wrongdoing but won't come all the way out and confess completely.

Lo Duca is scheduled to arrive in Viera shortly and is supposed to speak with reporters around lunchtime. We'll obviously have updates later today with anything else he (or others with the club) has to say.