Former Sen. George Mitchell responded to a question yesterday about the independence of his investigation on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball by saying, "Judge me by my work."

Starting today, the statement applies even more strongly to Commissioner Bud Selig, whose actions in the aftermath of the damaging 409-page report could become the signature element of his tenure.

"His report is a call to action, and I will act," Selig declared after the release of the Mitchell findings that linked All-Stars Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Miguel Tejada, Andy Pettitte and others to the use of performance enhancers.

Selig said he would seek to implement all of Mitchell's recommendations, unilaterally enacting those that don't require approval of the Major League Baseball Players Association and working with the union to reach agreement on the others.

Mitchell suggested, in part, that baseball must create a department of investigations to probe allegations of abuse outside the testing program, have a drug-testing program administered by an independent authority and do more to curb drugs from entering their clubhouses.

The one area the commissioner indicated he would split with the report was Mitchell's suggestion that no players named be disciplined. "I will deal with the active players identified by Sen. Mitchell," he said. "Discipline of players and others identified in this report will be on a case-by-case basis."

Don Fehr, executive director of the Players Association, said the union would "review and consider" the Mitchell report's recommendations and welcomed the suggestion players shouldn't be disciplined.

Fehr cautioned against rushing to judgment on any of the 85 players mentioned in the report. "Anyone interested in fairly assessing the allegations against the players should consider the nature of the evidence presented, the reliability of the source, and the absence of procedural safeguards (that) individuals who are accused of wrongdoing should be afforded," he said.

Selig's first step may be a return to Capitol Hill. Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Tom Davis, R-Va., who head the panel studying the steroids issue, asked the principals to testify at a House committee hearing Tuesday, and a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has called for hearings beginning Jan. 23.

Another congressman who has held hearings on the subject, Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., called for Selig to resign yesterday, citing lack of leadership and oversight.

Mitchell, who was appointed by the commissioner in March 2006, said everyone in baseball "shares to some extent the responsibility," but Selig declined to accept any individual culpability.

"Hindsight is wonderful," Selig said. "I understand that he feels that way, but there are a lot of people in baseball who clearly feel differently. The fact of the matter is it happened."

John Dowd, the former federal prosecutor who investigated Pete Rose for then-Commissioner Bart Giamatti, said Mitchell did an "admirable job" given that he received virtually no cooperation from the players or union.

Dowd said Selig should "join up with the Department of Justice and FBI and go at it," adding that MLB officials should call the Attorney General "and say we need some help" cleaning up the game.

"Someone ought to convene a grand jury to subpoena the union's records," Dowd said, adding the players union's "code of silence tarnishes the game."

Fehr said the union advised players to obtain individual legal counsel, especially because the probe carried disciplinary consequences and there is an ongoing criminal investigation.

Ex-Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo said Selig, 73, will take the necessary steps and the report won't stain his legacy.

"Bud is very young for his age and he responds very well to difficult circumstances and situations," Colangelo said.

"Is there damage? Absolutely there's damage. A lot of damage. But I think baseball can overcome it."