Selig mum about book's pitch-tipping claim against A-Rod

"I'm not going to respond until I see the book," Selig told SI.com. "I just heard about it."

When asked in general if giving pitches to an opposing team would subject a player to possible disciplinary action for striking at the integrity of the game and violating a contractual obligation to the "high standards of fair play," Selig maintained his refusal to comment in detail. "I need to see the book and go over it," the commissioner said. "I need to see the book, for goodness sake."

The book was authored by Selena Roberts, the Sports Illustrated senior writer who, along with David Epstein, broke the news in February that Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. Rodriguez subsequently admitted to using steroids from 2001 through 2003.

The book, as first reported by the New York Daily News, claims Rodriguez, while playing shortstop for the Texas Rangers, tipped opposing batters about what pitches were coming in lopsided games. Rodriguez, according to the book, tipped those players so they could reciprocate and provide him with what pitches were coming in one-sided games so that he could pad his batting statistics.

The standard playing contract includes a "Loyalty" provision. Paragraph 3(a) holds that "The Player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to obey the Club's training rules, and pledges himself to the American public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship."