Posted By Jeff Fletcher on February 11, 2009 3:43 pm

Here are some extended comments from Jason Giambi on the A-Rod situation.

Speaking this morning before Comcast’s annual Giants-A’s preseason luncheon on Treasure Island, Giambi said he had never discussed steroids with A-Rod and he had no idea that he’d ever used steroids, but he said he was happy that his former teammate came clean.

“There is enough pressure playing in New York already,” Giambi said. “You don’t need to be looking over your shoulder. I’m happy for him that he did it and now he can concentrate on baseball. It’s an unfortunate thing, but at the same time he’s a great player and he’ll work through it.”

Giambi also compared A-Rod’s situation to what he went through. Yes, there is a slight difference. Giambi never really publicly said “I took steroids,” but he did say it under oath to a grand jury and, to my knowledge, he has not publicly denied it since then. I think he’s pretty much allowed us all to assume he took steroids, so I don’t hold it against him that he hasn’t said the specific words.

“I know I learned a lot about myself when I went through it,” Giambi said. “You don’t measure yourself as a man by your great accomplishements, but by your mistakes and how you work through them.  Maybe this is a turning point in his career. When I did it, it was a tough thing, but probably the greatest thing that ever happened. You learn a lot about yourself.”

Otherwise, there was not much A’s-related news to come out of the luncheon. Bob Geren said that Giambi and Jack Cust have both been told to prepare themselves as if they are going to be playing defense every day. Of course, one of them will be the DH, but they have to prepare to play the field just in case.

Geren also reiterated that Brad Ziegler and Joey Devine will go into camp with neither holding a leg-up as the closer. Both could get opportunities. He also added newly signed Edgar Gonzalez to the No. 5 starter competition, along with Josh Outman and Gio Gonzalez. Edgar Gonzalez started 35 games with the Diamondbacks over the past six seasons. In his career, he’s 14-21 with a 5.97 ERA.

Assistant GM David Forst and Geren were both asked about the shortstop situation, and they both said that Bobby Crosby will get the chance to prove himself.

Owner Lew Wolff also said the team continues to focus on building a new ballpark in Fremont.