MLB 2007-2008 Offseason Thread

[Dragon]

Apparently McNamee gave investigators vials with traces of steroids, blood-stained syringes and gauze pads that Clemens might have used. Seems kind of odd that he'd hold on to that stuff for 6 years I think.

[Hanso Amore]

Apparently McNamee gave investigators vials with traces of steroids, blood-stained syringes and gauze pads that Clemens might have used. Seems kind of odd that he'd hold on to that stuff for 6 years I think.

When breaking the law, its a good idea to keep that stuff for a plea :)

[Dragon]

Yeah, just kinda weird still.

I wonder what Clemens will have to say if they find anything with this evidence. He will look like the biggest idiot alive with all the denying he has been doing since the Mitchell report came out.

[ClockShot]

Yeah, just kinda weird still.

I wonder what Clemens will have to say if they find anything with this evidence. He will look like the biggest idiot alive with all the denying he has been doing since the Mitchell report came out.

The more you deny, the more you're gonna look guilty.

Today's news and rumors.

The great Nolan Ryan is now president of the Texas Rangers.

Red Sox sign Bobby Kielty

Padres are interested in Tony Clark.

Rays sign Trever Miller to a 1-year deal with an option for '09.

Rays also sign Eric Hinske to a minor league deal.

Indians sign Brendan Donnelly to a minor league deal.

[Tranny]

Does anybody think the Brewers can pull of the NL central win this year? They've got the offense, no doubt, and they have a crazy amount of pitching this year....

[Heros Welcome]

I think the brewers got a shot. I mean anyone can take the NL Central. I'll give them a chance, but right now I think I'm taking the Cubs for the division.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I like the Sox picking up Sean Casey and re-upping Kietly. I'm curious what is gonna happen with Coco though, as well as Lugo. I guess some people think that Jed Lowry is ready to be the starter. Lugo is really over paid though so if they move they would probably still have to pay him anyway. Plus people may also be overrating Lowry right now because of the success of last year's rookie starter, Dustin Pedoria.

[Tranny]

I think the brewers got a shot. I mean anyone can take the NL Central. I'll give them a chance, but right now I think I'm taking the Cubs for the division.

It's a tough choice. I am a Cubs fan as well, so I wasn't sad to see them win the division last year, but they do have a habit of disappointing, so we will see.

[ClockShot]

They were hot last year, but something happened and they fell out of radar. They had Prince Fielder give A-Rod a run for his money this past season. Add in Mike Cameron after suspension and the recent gunslingers they got, they can make a run for the Central.

[Tranny]

They were hot last year, but something happened and they fell out of radar. They had Prince Fielder give A-Rod a run for his money this past season. Add in Mike Cameron after suspension and the recent gunslingers they got, they can make a run for the Central.


Their starting pitching started disappointing halfway through the season or so, and the bullpen got roughed up alot as well with the exception of Shouse and Cordero. :'( Francisco :heart:

[YOUR Hero]

UNtil the Brewers stay healthy and get deeper in the Sp position they'll not be a serious threat. To win their division, yeah maybe, but they wouldn't go much further.

[VonErichLives]

So, ESPN has footage of Pedro martinez at a cock fight, he was an honoraray person that released one of the rooster, it was in the dominican where it's legal...

dunno, seems like a non-story to me...

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Schill has a major shoulder injury, Sox inquiring about voiding his contract. Damn.</font>

[VonErichLives]

good thing the sox didn't get Santana, they have plenty of pitching...

Looks like this could get Ugly, the Sox are taking issue and feel schilling either did something he shoudn't or hid the injury, Schilling is pissed they asked about voiding the contract on the basis that if he threw a CY young season 20+ wins below 3.00era they wouldn't offer to double his pay, and this is just something that comes with his "age"...

not real worried... still some good depth.

[Dragon]

They have Buchholz to step in but still would hurt the Sox some. Everyone talks about how many questions the Yankees rotation has (and it does) but the Sox rotation has some question marks too. Especially if Schilling is out for a while. Would be much harder to handle if they didn't have a major league ready starter to step up in Buchholz though.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I'm curious to see how serious it is, some reports are saying it could be career ending. If that's the case it could make this season real interesting. I am pretty confident Buchholz will be a good MLB pitcher but I don't know if he is ready for the full time duty yet.

[FakeLaser]

Peace out Schilling

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

While I was never a huge of fan of Schilling before he came to the Red Sox, he did help deliver 2 World Series championships to Boston. If this is the way he goes out then it'll be pretty weak

[MVP]

Maybe Tavarez could be the 5th man in the rotation again until Buchholz is ready for a full-time spot in the rotation. It's either that or we rotate the 5th man by playing it by ear. I won't be too upset if the Sox decide to void Schilling's contract. I am very greatful for what he's done for the team in the last 4 years, especially in the playoffs, but last season he attracted a lot of negative attention since he can't keep his mouth shut. Plus Beckett has taken over as mentor to the younger pitchers.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I haven't heard anything official about this yet, so I'm still going to without judgment. I don't see how it took so long for this to come out though, I mean did he get throwing during the off-season or something?

[Dragon]

Sources told the Boston Globe that Curt Schilling will be out at least through the All-Star break even if he declines to undergo shoulder surgery.

The Globe reports that Schilling will follow the Red Sox's wishes and opt for rehab over surgery for a partially torn rotator cuff. Schilling has so far refused to comment, though there are whispers that he's contemplating retirement. One sources told the the Sox raised the possibility that Schilling would forfeit his contract if he proceeded to have surgery without their permission, and there were indications that the dispute has led to strained feelings between the parties.
-Rotoworld

It does seem weird that this just came up. I wonder if the Sox knew about it if they would have went after Santana harder. Probably not because they knew Schilling would only be there for one year but who knows.

[FakeLaser]

Good riddance

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Its alright Red Sox still got Papelbon, the best closer in baseball

[VonErichLives]

they were counting on schilling as a 3rd/4th starter... not a huge deal...

Beckett/Dice-K will be one of the best 1-2 in baseball.

Lester, Bucholtz, Wakefield or Lester (I can't remember if Wakefield retired officially or not).

I'm ok with that and the current hitting... they'll compete.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Wakefield is back

[Dragon]

Yeah, it doesn't hurt as much because Buchholz is ready. But this means that Dice-K has to be a lot more consistent this year for you guys.

[Heros Welcome]

Sox will be fine. RSN should have no worries.

[YOUR Hero]

Maybe they can go after Clemens. He's still unsigned.

[Dragon]

McNamee is now saying that he injected Clemens' wife with HGH too.

I have to admit, that is quite the swerve

[RBM]

Bedard to Seattle, finally.

[ClockShot]

Nothing much in the baseball world happening today except for the Bedard trade being final.

However. The A's are finalizing a deal to bring back Keith Foulke for a 1-year deal with incentives.

[YOUR Hero]

Bedard to Seattle, finally.

Well as a Mariners fan (after the Jays) I have to say this is good news. Going to go read the details.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>A's and Reds are discussing a deal for Joe Blanton...A's want Homer Bailey and Joey Votto. I think the Reds would be fucking stupid to do that.</font>

[YOUR Hero]

If Blanton is available, well then someone should go after him, but that's way too much to ask fro the Reds.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

McNamee is now saying that he injected Clemens' wife with HGH too.

I have to admit, that is quite the swerve

lol just heard this as well

[Heros Welcome]

<font color=goldenrod>A's and Reds are discussing a deal for Joe Blanton...A's want Homer Bailey and Joey Votto. I think the Reds would be fucking stupid to do that.</font>

Jesus! If the Reds did this, the entire front office should be shot. No way do you give 2 of your top prospects for a guy like Blanton. I mean I'm a big Blanton fan, but you cant crumble to Billy Beane trying to rape you of all your farm talent.

[Hanso Amore]

Blanton is a number 2....Votto and Bailey are Potential All Stars.

I wouldnt give either, let alone both.

If they can land blanton, they become a serious division contender.

[ClockShot]

Here's something that is sure to piss off most if not all Yankees fans.

From ESPN.com
Unsure whether he'll pitch in '08, Pavano plays catch
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. -- Oft-injured pitcher Carl Pavano arrived at the New York Yankees' minor-league complex Friday and played catch for 12 minutes.

A $39.95 million bust since signing with the Yankees as a free agent before the 2005 season, Pavano had rotator cuff surgery last June 5. It's not known whether he will pitch in 2008, the final season of his four-year contract.

Yankees vice president Billy Connors and pitching coach Dave Eiland watched Pavano's throwing session, which was broken into two segments. The right-hander's throwing distance reached around 90 feet.

Eiland plans to meet with Pavano and Yankees head trainer Gene Monahan on Monday to discuss the pitcher's rehab program.

"He feels great," Eiland said. "The ball came out of his hand well."

Pavano, who threw in a restricted area, did not stop to talk with reporters.

Hampered by shoulder, back, elbow and rib injuries, Pavano went 5-6 in 19 starts with the Yankees, including 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts last year.



Also, Keith Foulke officially signed with the A's for $700k with $2.5 million in incentives. An interesting note. Back in January, 20 teams watched him work out. The D-Backs made him an offer, but Oakland upped the ante.

[YOUR Hero]

That should make Yankee fans happy, not pissed off. If Pavano can come back and pitch effectively, it'll add depth to the team. They gotta pay him anyway, so might as well hope for the best. LOL, watch him have like a 16+ win season and resign with the Yankees for huge cash and then re injure himself. If that happened, then the Yankee fans can be pissed.

[Heros Welcome]

I still can't believe Pavano turned into one of the biggest busts

[YOUR Hero]

So do you think McNamee is now going "the crazy route"? Seems like he's getting fantastic with his revelations.

[Hanso Amore]

Chicks on HGH turn me on

[Supreme Olajuwon]

<font color=goldenrod>A's and Reds are discussing a deal for Joe Blanton...A's want Homer Bailey and Joey Votto. I think the Reds would be fucking stupid to do that.</font>

Oakland got squat when they traded Harang to the Reds so it'd make sense they'd have heavier demands this time. Still though when a team's fan base gets told that their team sucked so they could build up a farm system and then you get rid of two of the top prospects in all of baseball, it'd get ugly. I know I'd smash a few windows.

[ClockShot]

So do you think McNamee is now going "the crazy route"? Seems like he's getting fantastic with his revelations.

I think he's been telling the truth the entire time. What's the guy gotta hide? But with this new stuff injecting Mrs. Clemens with HGH might just be a little bit over the top. Not crazy, just a tad bit too much info the public should know about.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Why would McNamee claim "crazy" or whatever? I mean, Clemens can't really sue him for anything, other than presenting information he KNEW was false...which is kinda a tough sell. Even if he does that, Clemens has to prove that what McNamee did caused damage to image, which I don't think it did. Consider the Texas High School baseball association or whatever had him come talk to high school baseball coaches.

[YOUR Hero]

McNamee is getting bad advice. He's getting a 'lil bit like Tom Cruise rite now with these stories. I think they hurt him in the public eye. Up till now I'd say people tended to be believing him, but now he's starting to sound a little bit cooky

[Heros Welcome]

McNamee is started to sound a tad bit loco, but I mean your right in saying what the hell does this guy have to hide. I just wish this shit would end, I'm tired of seeing it on all sports sites and ESPN...so annoying.

[Hanso Amore]

McNamee is just a normal guy, and he has been thrust into a crazy situation. I imagine the stress is gettingto him, but I still believe him 100 percent. If Roger is found guilty, he still has hundreds of millions. McNamee has nothing. He has to do whatever it takes to get his truth out there.

[ClockShot]

Some major late night news.

Congress has decided to excuse Kirk Radomski, Chuck Knoblauch, and Andy Pettitte from the hearing this wednesday on Capitol Hill. It's only gonna be a gloves off brawl between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee.

So long Death Grip Doug. Pirates sign Doug Mienkiewicz to a 1-year minor league deal.

Red Sox resign Kevin Youkilis to a 1-year, $3 million deal.

Steve Trachsel signs a minor league deal.

The Athletics sign Mike Sweeney to a minor league deal.


Hmmmm. I wonder if that Ensberg signing has a purpose now?

[YOUR Hero]

Kalil Greene resigned with the Padres today too I thought.

[The Gold Standard]

Didn't Pettitte ask to be excused?

[ClockShot]

Didn't Pettitte ask to be excused?

Yeah. He didn't want to go public on Capitol Hill about it, and he already gave his deposition.

[The Gold Standard]

So then I think it is proof that Clemens did use some kind of drugs for his training.

Livan is a Twin now. I guess he was never going to the Mets.

[RP]

I every thing i've read says that Pettite is a God fearing man and he wouldnt lie. Now i'm reading that Pettite is backing up McNamee. Roger Clemens is officially the dumbest man ever.

[SammyG]

lolllllll Roger's wife injected with HGH

[The Gold Standard]

Clemens is done. I just want this to be over. I am sick of turning on the tv and hearing about this. I just don't care anymore

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Surprised Youk only got a 1 year deal at 3 million, figured he'd get a longer deal/more money

[YOUR Hero]

Yeah, why just a one year deal do you think, Stima?

Things don't look good for Rocket Roger. Pettitte's deposition backs up McNamee. So says the early leaks of it anyway.

[The Gold Standard]

I think the sox should have locked him up long term because I think when he goes out on the market he will be a hot item

[OssMan]

ROGER CLEMENS IS IN GEORGE'S BOX--AND ROGER CLEMENS IS COMING BACK

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Yeah, why just a one year deal do you think, Stima?No idea really, maybe they couldn't decide on the money or something and both agreed to go with the one year deal (since the money thing will need to be addressed again next off season.) Youk had a great year but kinda tailed off towards the end of the season, still though I would like to see them lock him up for the long term. Even though 3 million may not seem like a lot (for sports anyway) he was still on his rookie contract last year so this is a big jump for him.

[FakeLaser]

Canseco has spoken out on Clemens' behalf and says he has no reason to believe Clemens did steroids or HGH.

[FakeLaser]

Oh, and the Twins signed Livan Hernandez. Surprised it took so long for someone to snatch him up. He's not good anymore, but he'll give you 200 innings.

[RP]

have fun in jail Roger

[RP]

Roger's wife is a roider lol

[McLegend]

This is a public execution.

[MVP]

Clemens is screwed. It's highly unlikely that McNamee, Pettite, and Pettite's wife have all lied under oath and Clemens is the only one telling the truth. He's in deep shit.

[Innovator]

"How to ruin a legacy" by Roger Clemens, in stores Tuesday

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

lol this hearing is so retarded, how dumb are the people asking him the questions? This one lady can't even speak

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/images/07/05/dclemens_tale.jpg

[Dragon]

I don't know how Clemens is still denying everything. He is looking incredibly stupid with this. He really isn't answering any questions. He just dances around the question and talks about something else.

And honestly, having Canseco vouch for you in anything is quite a joke. He's the same guy that said he had evidence against Magglio Ordonez like a month ago, but said he would keep quiet if Ordonez invested in a movie for him lol.

[FakeLaser]

lol Canseco. What a douche. The best thing ever was when they wouldn't let him into the Mitchell Report press conference.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

rofllllll still can't get over that lady who said "Well Mr. Clemens I hope you go to heaven" or something like that at the end of her questions. Her entire 5 minutes or however long it was was ridiculous. She could barely speak

[Dragon]

LOL was she the one talking about the Bruce Springsteen tickets and how that signifies love or something?

[ClockShot]

Woohoo! Rock on, Waxman. Shut him up.

Really not looking for for Clemens. His lawyers interupting the proceedings probably threw a nail or two in his coffin.

[Dragon]

There seemed to be a lot of people on the committee that were just tearing into McNamee and really not going into anything too bad with Clemens. Kinda crazy when the head guy even apologizes to McNamee for some of his committee members.

[RP]

I turned it off when Roger said " Andy misremembered ".


.......

Thats basically either calling Petitte a liar, or calling him a retard. The most credible person is Petitte so i think i'd believe him before anyone else.



BTW. Barry Bonds is sipping Green Tea on a yacht somewhere smiling.

[OssMan]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo we have our Nationals 20 game plan thing got some pretty decent seats :cool: Natsssssssssssssssssssssssss

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I thought Clemens said misheard? Either way pretty funny

I can't believe they were talking about Bruce Springsteen tickets, then after that trying to figure out why Clemens contacted a nanny before the court was able to, which he wasn't suppose to do. "I was tryin' to help y'all!" I was waiting for him to say YEEHAW for that

[McLegend]

The Rocket isn't very smart.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Nope just saw the highlights, "misremembers"

[Loose Cannon]

lol new word.


hip hop opotamus

[RP]

contact a nanny? I didnt catch that. The fuck?

[The Gold Standard]

I have had enough with both of these guys. Lets just concentrate on the next season.

[Dragon]

Apparently they wanted to contact Clemens' nanny from like 10 years ago. They wanted to find out if she knew if Roger was over Jose's BBQ lol.

I guess they said that Rogers kid actually slept over Canseco's house that night or something.

Really is ridiculous how much they tore into McNamee and took it so easy on Clemens expect for a certain few guys on that committee. It seemed to me that a lot of people were kind of taken aback by Roger's star power or whatever.

[Dragon]

One guy said it best though when he said it was just really hard to believe Clemens. McNamee said Pettitte did it and he did, he said Knoblauch did it and he did. And now he's lying about Clemens?

[RP]

Apparently they wanted to contact Clemens' nanny from like 10 years ago. They wanted to find out if she knew if Roger was over Jose's BBQ lol.

I guess they said that Rogers kid actually slept over Canseco's house that night or something.

Really is ridiculous how much they tore into McNamee and took it so easy on Clemens expect for a certain few guys on that committee. It seemed to me that a lot of people were kind of taken aback by Roger's star power or whatever.


it dont matter. about 85% of America know that McNamee is telling the truth.

[McLegend]

Mr. Clemens, all I can say is, I'm sure you're going to heaven.

[ClockShot]

I was watching this cause I wanted to see my man Chris Shays go hellfire and brimstone on both of them. But man oh man. How about that guy from Illinois or whatever.

Also, anybody see that the word "bullshit" made it onto national television?

[ClockShot]

News and rumors.

The Phillies signed Kris Benson to minor league deal.

Kevin Mench signs a minor league deal with the Rangers.

[YOUR Hero]

I should have taken the day of work to watch that.

[VonErichLives]

yeah, I loved the nanny...

"I don't need an attorny, I'm telling the truth, bring it on"

that and that they asked Clemens for her name and number and for over a week he said he didn't have it, yet during that same time he or his atty contacted her and invited her to Clemens house...

"So, you invited a witness we wanted to speak to over your house before we could speak with her"

"I thought I was helping...."

lmfao...

A local reporter said it best "Roger, you wanted to testify so we could make up our own minds if you're telling the truth or not. Well, you did and we have, you're a lieing"

[ClockShot]

Breaking news out of ESPN.com

U.S. says Bonds failed steroid test in November 2001

Updated: February 14, 2008, 8:30 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds tested positive for steroids in November 2001, just a month after hitting his record 73rd home run of the season, U.S. prosecutors said on Thursday.

The allegation came in a legal filing in his steroid perjury case that referred to Bonds' long-time trainer, Greg Anderson.

"At trial, the government's evidence will show that Bonds received steroids from Anderson in the period before the November 2001 positive drug test, and that evidence raises the inference that Anderson gave Bonds the steroids that caused him to test positive in November 2001," U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello wrote.

The U.S. government made the assertion in a document that asked a federal court to reject Bonds' motion last month to dismiss the charges that he lied about past steroid use.

In December, the record seven-time National League Most Valuable Player pleaded not guilty to lying to a federal grand jury in 2003 when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

He testified in the BALCO sports steroid case, which ended up jailing his personal trainer, Anderson, and the head of the BALCO lab near San Francisco.

The latest government motion also referred to a question by a prosecutor during the BALCO case to "determine why Bonds apparently tested positive for anabolic steroids in November 2000."

To date, prosecutors have revealed little about the details they have in the case against Bonds, the greatest hitter of his era long dogged by suspicions about doping.

[Splaya]

FUCKING OWNED

[FakeLaser]

Why don't players today just drop acid like Dock Ellis? They gotta fuck around with steroids and HGH.

[Heros Welcome]

http://www.sportaphile.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/barrybonds.jpg

[OssMan]

My brother covered the Clemens hearings for the Boston Globe, so thats tight.

[ddpBANG]

Breaking news out of ESPN.com

U.S. says Bonds failed steroid test in November 2001

Updated: February 14, 2008, 8:30 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds tested positive for steroids in November 2001, just a month after hitting his record 73rd home run of the season, U.S. prosecutors said on Thursday.

...
U.S. filing typo spurs erroneous Bonds drug report



SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal prosecutors mistakenly filed court papers Thursday that incorrectly stated that Barry Bonds (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=3918) failed a steroids test in November of 2001 -- one month after breaking the single-season home run mark.

U.S. attorney spokesman Josh Eaton now says that the reference in Thursday's government court filing regarding Bonds testing positive was actually referring to a November 2000 test that was previously disclosed in the indictment of Bonds and had already been reported.

That drug test was included in the indictment unsealed last year, when prosecutors said the test was for a player they called "Barry B."



Also from ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3246675)

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>LOL the 30 MLB GMs were polled on who would win the World Series (not allowed to pick your own team) and the Yanks didn't get a single vote.

Breakdown: 17 Red Sox, 7 Tigers, 3 Indians, 2 Mets, 1 Braves

A WS Matchup between the Red Sox and Mets was voted 10 times. 1 vote guessed there would be another Subway World Series (and by that token, that exec was one of the two to pick the Mets winning)</font>

[MVP]

Surprised no one picked the Cubs or any team in the NL West not named the San Francisco Giants.

[McLegend]

According to Rep. Wexman chairman of the comitte Congress didn't even want a hearing. They only did it because Clemens and his attornys insisted on one.

So where does that rank as one of the dumbest things ever done by a person?

[SammyG]

lol what

[The Gold Standard]

See what proves that Clemens is guilty is the fact that Andy Pettitte asked not to be there. If Clemens was truly innocent, Pettitte would've been there to defend him.

[YOUR Hero]

Depositions paint complex McNamee portrait

By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports
February 14, 2008


WASHINGTON – Billy Belk eased his rental car onto the driveway of the oceanfront Long Island home. His secret tape recorder, already rolling, captured a GPS voice telling him: "You have arrived."

At what, exactly, no one could have imagined. Inside the house waited Brian McNamee, the man who in the previous months told federal authorities, and then former Sen. George Mitchell's investigators, that he had injected Roger Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone. What has ensued since is a fascinating study of two men, the famous pitcher and the trainer he once trusted, one of whom is lying, only no one can decipher for certain which one.

Belk approached the door. He was working for Clemens. So was his colleague Jim Yarbrough. Both were sent to New York by Rusty Hardin, the powerhouse Houston lawyer Clemens hired as much for forceful demeanor as his reputation as a problem-solver for professional athletes. McNamee agreed to meet with Belk and Yarbrough on Dec. 12, the eve of the Mitchell Report's release. McNamee said he wanted to help Clemens and Andy Pettitte, the other star pitcher who he had fingered in the report.

Belk and Yarbrough engaged McNamee in a few minutes of small talk, about McNamee's years as a policeman, about Hardin's background. McNamee brought the chatter to an abrupt end.

"Tell me what your goal is," McNamee said.

"I'll try to be just as straight with you and upfront with you as I can, Brian," Belk said. "Our goal is simply on behalf of Roger and Andy to try to talk with you about the knowledge you have concerning what may or may not come out in the Mitchell Report."
Belk wasn't lying. He wasn't telling the whole truth, either. Hardin was ramping up for the case of his life, and he wanted all the ammunition he could gather. Because the next two months leading up to the recently completed hearing in front of Congress would twist and turn like a country road.

And the future? Well, that is anyone's guess.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At 2:41 p.m. Wednesday, when Rep. Henry Waxman adjourned the Committee on Government and Oversight Reform's hearing that featured Clemens and McNamee sticking to their divergent versions of the truth, the real story – the details of how the greatest pitcher of his generation ended up before Congress possibly perjuring himself – began to emerge.

McNamee, gaunt and dressed in Long Island chic – olive double-breasted suit with wide lapels – slinked out of the hearing while his lawyers mobilized on the room's right side. About 100 feet away, Clemens, filling out his bespoke suit, traded niceties with Rep. Virginia Foxx as his attorneys prepared their post-hearing plan. And Waxman and Rep. Tom Davis, the chairman and ranking minority member, stood in front of a frothing crowd of reporters, bystanders and local high school students on a trip to Rayburn House Office Building.

One mop-haired kid pulled out his cell phone camera and started recording video. He captured Waxman and Davis sloughing off intimations that the hearing had split along party lines – it was rather obvious, and curious, that Democrats favored McNamee's explanation while Republicans sided with Clemens – and encouraging an inquisitive public to view all the documents entered into the record.


In all, they total 1,189 pages. They include depositions from Clemens, McNamee and Pettitte, affidavits from Pettitte and his wife, interviews with trainers and doctors, documents detailing the treatment of a "palpable mass" on Clemens' right buttock, the testimony of Clemens' former nanny, the transcript of the covertly taped interview and one more surreptitiously recorded conversation, the one that began this whole circus.


On Dec. 5, sometime between 8 and 9 a.m., McNamee placed a frantic call to Jim Murray. Call me from a landline, McNamee told Murray.

Murray works for brothers Randy and Alan Hendricks, Clemens and Pettitte's agents, and was the person to whom McNamee reached out when he could not contact either player. Murray returned McNamee's call, clicked the speakerphone button and placed a digital tape recorder next to the amplifier.

"I'm just trying to alert Roger and Andy that they're going to be in the Mitchell Report," McNamee said.

Murray fumbled over his words. McNamee didn't stop dispensing his. The government had him dead to rights, he said. Somehow, he said, "they had tapes from clubhouses." Jeff Novitzky, the IRS special agent who broke open the BALCO case, allegedly threatened to throw him in jail. So he talked.

"It incriminates Roger and Andy," McNamee said.

"It incriminates Roger and Andy?" Murray replied.

McNamee said he spent two days in the hospital, the stress too overwhelming.

"They wanted to bury … Roger," he said.

A few minutes later, Murray hung up the phone. He scurried to Randy Hendricks' office and played him the tape.

With the avalanche of scrutiny about to fall, Hendricks advised Clemens to obtain outside counsel. In came Hardin, and a week later, his associates sat in McNamee's house and heard him tell his version of the truth.

Details, previously unknown publicly, emerged from Congress' entering the interview into the record. Kirk Radomski, the steroid dealer and source of most of the names in the Mitchell Report, would meet McNamee off a highway exit ramp and deliver him drugs wrapped in FedEx packages. McNamee told Belk and Yarbrough that he had spoken with his lawyer, Earl Ward, about illegally backdating a confidentiality agreement with Clemens and Pettitte to avoid having to testify against them. Ward said no.

And McNamee alluded to a meeting with Clemens in 1998 to which Clemens allegedly brought 30 vials of testosterone in a Ziploc bag and a bottle of 200 pills, which McNamee believed were the steroid Anadrol-50.

"I (have) told you more truth than I told the federal government," McNamee said to Belk and Yarbrough.

At no point did Clemens' investigators dispute that. They listened and asked questions. They heard McNamee talk about Clemens bleeding through the bottom of his pants after a shot gone bad and how after that Clemens carried around Band-Aids. They watched McNamee seethe at Clemens allegedly telling Jose Canseco that steroids contributed to his success.

"I won two Cy Young Awards on that (expletive)," McNamee remembered Clemens saying.

As McNamee talked, Clemens sat in Texas awaiting the most harrowing day of his life. His accomplishments, his good name, his reputation – all would crumble under the allegations of steroid use, whether true or false. He met with Hardin and agreed on the tack that has drawn so much criticism.

"We've got to fight," Hardin said. "The whole world thinks he's crazy. You saw the skepticism. Roger always knew that. But I ask everyone to decide: If you lived in the public all your life, and somebody comes out and says the things that were in the Mitchell Report, what is that person supposed to do to try to protect their public reputation?"

Clemens sued McNamee for defamation of character. He went on "60 Minutes" to deny McNamee's allegations. He taped a phone call with McNamee and played it at a news conference, causing McNamee to turn over to federal authorities needles and bloody gauze he said he saved … just in case. Clemens denied and denied and denied, all the way to Capitol Hill, where he appeared Wednesday in another effort to clear his name.

Just as he did in his sworn deposition, Clemens refuted McNamee's claims that he had used performance-enhancing drugs. In the face of searing questions from Waxman, Rep. Elijah Cummings and Rep. Stephen Lynch, Clemens fumbled through his words, made logic leaps the size of the Grand Canyon and bobbed and weaved around the toughest of questions. He cast blame everywhere – on his mother for advising him to take vitamin B-12 shots, on commissioner Bud Selig for not tracking him down to tell him about the contents of the Mitchell Report, on Pettitte for "misremembering" a conversation about his alleged HGH use, on his wife for being the real HGH user in the family – except on himself.

"I never had any detailed discussions with Brian McNamee about HGH," Clemens said.

Less than a minute later, asked about a conversation regarding Debbie Clemens' use of HGH, Clemens responded to the same question from Rep. John Tierney with a different answer.

"That very much is detailed conversation," Clemens said.

Contradictions and misrepresentations abounded. Clemens claimed he did not respond to Mitchell Report investigators because he assumed the inquiry regarded the Los Angeles Times story that mistakenly said he was in the affidavit given by Jason Grimsley. Pettitte, however, said in his deposition that he "didn't think" the Times story, in which he was named as well, was the reason Mitchell investigators contacted him.

In Pettitte's deposition, he admitted to using HGH he received from his ill father in 2004 in addition to the two times McNamee injected him in 2002. Despite contradicting what he said following the Mitchell Report's release, Pettitte was hailed an impermeable witness by Cummings and Waxman, who called him a role model.

More than anything, Pettitte served as the fulcrum of questions aimed at Clemens. Cummings, in particular, battered Clemens about why Pettitte, a man with whom he claimed such unassailable character, would lie about Clemens telling him in 1999 or 2000 that he had taken human growth hormone usage.

"I don't think I misunderstood him," Pettitte said in his deposition.

By the people Congressional investigators chose to interview, it was clear they craved an assault on Clemens' credibility. Trainers or doctors from all four teams for which Clemens played – the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros – were interviewed, and each was asked about the veracity of Clemens receiving shots of vitamin B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine, as Clemens claimed he did from McNamee.

Yankees trainer Gene Monahan, who brought more lawyers to his interview (six) than Clemens to his (five), said McNamee, once an assistant strength coach with the team, never would have given him B-12 shots. Tommy Craig, a longtime Blue Jays trainer, said, "I don't know why anybody would get lidocaine to go perform a pitch."

And Dr. Ron Taylor, the Blue Jays' team doctor, said he has given around 1,000 B-12 shots a year over his 30-year career and never seen one cause the "palpable mass" – an abscess-like wound – that appeared on Clemens' buttock in 2000.

Clemens claimed it came from the B-12 shot Taylor administered. McNamee said in his deposition that it came from an injection of Winstrol – a steroid – delivered too quickly.

Amid all the talk of Clemens' behind, McNamee did not exactly acquit himself. A mini-controversy erupted about McNamee's claim in the Mitchell Report that Clemens had talked about steroids with Jose Canseco at a 1998 party. Clemens claimed he did not attend the party and produced a golf receipt from that morning. Others at the party backed his story.

McNamee said he remembered the nanny for Clemens' children bopping around in a bikini. The nanny said she did not attend a party at Canseco's house, though she, Debbie and the children did spend a night there. And her interview came after Clemens and his lawyers visited with her.

Richard Emery, McNamee's other lawyer, said it could be witness tampering. Hardin called it good lawyering.

"There is no money involved," the nanny said in her interview. "I'm doing this because I know it is the right thing to do. He's a good man."

Nanny-gate continued to drag on with the release of Belk and Yarbrough's interview. McNamee said the Mitchell investigators broached the topic of the Canseco party and that his memories were foggy.

"I wanted them to take that out (of the report)," he said, "because I had no idea."

In his deposition, McNamee remembered it in far greater detail, describing a scene in which Debbie Clemens and Canseco's wife, Jessica, complimented each other on their breast augmentation. Such flip-flops torpedoed McNamee's credibility in the eyes of a handful of Republican Congressmen. During an attack from Rep. Dan Burton, McNamee crossed his arms and slumped forward, trying to slough off Burton's allegation that he had committed "lie after lie after lie after lie" – to the media and to the government and, it was implied, to the committee in front of which he sat.

"He admitted those lies to the federal government," Ward said. "And they walked away thinking Brian McNamee was telling the truth. Everybody should walk away from this knowing Brian McNamee told the truth."

Everybody didn't. Rep. Christopher Shays called him a "drug dealer," Rep. Darrell Issa "a street pusher." Interviews with Congressional investigators, however, show that while McNamee explained the potential benefits of performance-enhancing drugs – Pettitte said McNamee told him that it helped heal injuries – he did not necessarily push it on his clients.

"Definitely at no time did he encourage me to do it," said C.J. Nitkowski, a former major-league pitcher and McNamee advocate.

By the hearing's end, neither man escaped unscathed nor was proven innocent. It was quite obvious that the performance-enhancing drug of choice should have been gingko biloba, because neither Clemens' nor McNamee's memory was something of which to be proud.

The hearing had turned out like everything else in this sordid mess: convoluted.

Clemens gave a brief statement and left the building surrounded by five policemen and a lightning storm of flashbulbs. McNamee walked the halls without incident, anonymous, a schnook. Over the 4 hours and 41 minutes of the hearings, and in the time after, they didn't say a word to each other.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(con't)

[YOUR Hero]

From the start, McNamee understood what he was doing. He got pinched in July, threatened in the weeks and months to come and flipped to Mitchell. Nearly half a year passed until Dec. 12, and the consequences of his past actions – of Clemens' past actions – were clear.

"Tomorrow," McNamee told Belk and Yarbrough, "it's going to be a disaster."

And it was. Clemens' name leaked early in the morning, and he has been on the attack ever since, targeting McNamee like a one-man most-wanted list. Whether destroying McNamee's character will absolve Clemens in the public eye is dubious. He cares not. That is the strategy, and Clemens is sticking to it.

Which, in hindsight, makes Belk and Yarbrough's approach look all the more disingenuous. McNamee comes off as genuine in their interview – naïve, sure, in that he believes he can help Clemens and Pettitte after ruining them, yet sincere nonetheless.

"You sound to me like a very credible person," Yarbrough said.

And that seemed to sit well with McNamee. Before Belk and Yarbrough left – before he recommended a few restaurants in the area and thanked them for their help – McNamee thought about his friends and clients, the men whom he says trusted him enough to let him puncture their skin with needles and inject illegal drugs, and what the interview with the investigators might have accomplished.

"I hope," McNamee said, "it salvages whatever relationship I had with Andy and Roger."


http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AkdYpZKO9RHY9TUR0b9_WOcRvLYF?slug=jp-clemenshearingfolo021408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[ClockShot]

Well. Nothing much has came up in baseball news as of late. Just a few players losing their arbitration hearings. Other than that, a report has surfaced about how Andy Pettitte got his HGH.

From ESPN.com

Report: Pettitte's father obtained HGH from son's ex-classmate
Associated Press

Updated: February 17, 2008, 8:18 PM ET

NEW YORK -- Andy Pettitte's father obtained the human growth hormone he supplied his son from a trainer who attended high school with the New York Yankees pitcher.

Kelly Blair, who owns a gym in Pasadena, Texas, was the source of the substance, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.

Pettitte, who has admitted using HGH in 2004, told congressional attorneys that he received it from his father, Tom Pettitte, who has had serious health problems. In his deposition, Pettitte said his father got the drugs from a trainer at a gym where he worked out but did not identify the trainer.

The Daily News reported that Blair sold HGH and steroids to customers at 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness. Blair did not respond to the newspaper's requests for comment.

Pettitte, who is scheduled to report to spring training Monday, and Blair attended nearby Deer Park High School, east of Houston, at the same time.

Pettitte planned to make his first public comments since telling a congressional committee that Roger Clemens had spoken with him about using performance-enhancing drugs.

"The sooner he gets here, the better it will be, to get it over, and just do what he has to do," Mariano Rivera said Sunday.

Pettitte was excused from testifying publicly in Washington last week after he gave a deposition and an affidavit. In addition to his December admission that he used human growth hormone for two days in 2002 while with the Yankees, he said he injected himself with HGH for one day in 2004 while with the Houston Astros after obtaining two syringes from his father.

Pettitte also said Roger Clemens, his friend and former teammate, had discussed nearly a decade ago using HGH. In addition, Pettitte testified Brian McNamee, the former personal trainer for Clemens and Pettitte, had spoken in 2003 or 2004 about steroids use by Clemens.

"There's just necessary steps on this ladder as he climbs back, obviously, up on that mound starting every fifth day for us," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "So tomorrow is step one in that process."

Cashman has spoken on the phone with Pettitte, who planned to travel Monday morning from his home in suburban Houston, but Cashman wouldn't detail those talks. Pettitte was given permission to report to spring training four days after other Yankees pitchers because of what new manager Joe Girardi said were "loose ends that he had to tie up."

"I think he wants to get his life back to normal. I don't think Andy is a guy who goes into hiding," said Girardi, who planned to attend the news conference. "I think he wants to get back to doing what he wants to do, and that's pitch for the New York Yankees."

Pettitte, who will be accompanied by lawyer Jay Reisinger, does not appear to be at risk of a suspension for his admissions. HGH was not banned by players and owners until January 2005.

But he could remain ensnared between McNamee and Clemens, who denies allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Dealing with his first controversy since he was hired to replace Joe Torre, Girardi said it was too soon to tell whether the matter will end soon for Pettitte.

"I think a lot of that depends on what happens with Roger and what he continues to do. If that was to all die down, I think it would pretty much go away," Girardi said. "But, obviously, there's some litigation there that Andy might be a part of, so from that standpoint, it could linger."

Clemens has filed a civil suit against McNamee claiming defamation, and there could be a criminal investigation of the conflicting accounts given Congress by Clemens and McNamee.

Girardi understands any additional admissions of drug use by Pettitte "would become a huge story."

"But my thought is Andy has probably told everything that there is," Girardi said.

During the season, spectators on the road are likely to remind Pettitte of HGH use.

"You know how the fans are. They're going to say anything to distract the pitcher," Rivera said. "Hopefully, it's not too bad, because it always happens."

A 35-year-old left-hander with 201 regular-season wins, Pettitte debated retiring after going 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA in his first season back with New York following three years on the Astros. He announced Dec. 3 that he would accept the Yankees' $16 million standing offer to return for another year. That was two days before McNamee called Jim Murray, an employee of the agency that represents Clemens and Pettitte, and said the two players would be in the Mitchell Report.

While disapproving of Pettitte's HGH use, Cashman said it didn't diminish Pettitte in his view.

"Whatever took place, Andy is a good person. Obviously he's admitted to some mistakes, but he's a good man. He really is," Cashman said. "I say Roger is a good guy, too. One is admitting to things -- there's denials on Roger's case. But the Roger Clemens I also know is an extremely good person who's done a lot for a lot of people and was a good teammate."

[SammyG]

lol this is getting so ridiculous

[YOUR Hero]

I gotta wonder how the Yankees in this case feel about Pettitte. He took their 16 million dollar deal when he knew he was about to be implicated in this whole ordeal. I wonder if the Yankees feel had they known that they would have approached him differently. They're not going to say anything about because it would work against them in terms of team chemistry and Pettitte's performance. Still though, I have to bet they're grinding their teeth in order to stay quiet.

[Evil Vito]

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0nKKqPOiJxI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0nKKqPOiJxI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[ClockShot]

Anyone watch the Pettitte news conference just now?

[SammyG]

Recap it.

[SammyG]

lollll amazing prank

[Dragon]

I just hope Pettitte is able to put this all behind him. Yankees are screwed if he doesn't have his head in the game this year.

[ClockShot]

I just hope Pettitte is able to put this all behind him. Yankees are screwed if he doesn't have his head in the game this year.

I hope so. Wilbon and Kornheiser played odds last week and this came up. They thought it was gonna be a rocky season for him.

Cashman still got time to bring in a name to really solidfy the starting rotation. Josh Fogg I think is the big name on the market right now. Maybe we should take a look at him. Either that or we're gonna go with our Kennedy and Hughes to round out the rotation, give Igawa a second chance, and/or give Pavano a last chance.

Only time and Girardi will tell.

[Skippord]

Josh Fogg is the mane

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

New York Yankees <3 HGH

[ClockShot]

A couple notable signings.

Ron Villone signs a minor league deal with the Cardinals.

Odalis Perez signs a minor league deal with the Nationals.

[FakeLaser]

"notable"

[OssMan]

wooooo got 2 tickets to nationals home opener yeahhhhh

[YOUR Hero]

ARod's been shouting off his mouth about all the steroids tests he had done last year "9 or 10" he said. Now today (I guess someone challenged that) he's backed off and said "I exaggerated to prove a point".

LOL

Now the article I read is wondering if maybe he's not clean.

Nice going A Rod. Just what the Yankees needed.

[ClockShot]

A few odds and ends.

In the Arbitration battles, a player has come out on top. Ryan Howard won his case this morning, and gets his $10 million.

Trot Nixon signs a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks.

Josh Fogg signs a deal with the Reds.

Tomo Ohka signs a deal with with the White Sox.

[YOUR Hero]

THE Toma Ohka!?

What a coup!

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

A-Rod said he thinks Jeter is gonna win the MVP, lol shut up fag. Not saying that can't happen but come on. A-Rod is such a clown

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The scheduling this year is seriously fucked up in some places. I really can see the Red Sox getting off to a bad start.

They start their year in Japan, playing 2 regular season games against the A's...only to go to LA and play 3 exhibition games before going to Oakland and playing 2 more regular season games.

Between all the travel and going back to playing meaningless games after starting their year, I could see that fucking with them a bit.</font>

[VonErichLives]

yeah, regular then exibition then regular is stupid and could screw up the rotation, also, I wonder if the roster rules change from the the Japans games to the LA games back to the regular games.

[VonErichLives]

LMFAO!

I really don't care if players do Roids or not, But Clemens just keep making a bigger and bigger ass out of himself.

Report: Photo of Clemens at party

Fan may have picture of Rocket at Canseco's house
Posted: Friday February 22, 2008 2:28PM; Updated: Friday February 22, 2008 2:28PM


According to the New York Daily News, federal investigators have a picture provided by a young man who was at the now infamous Jose Canseco house party in 1998 that reportedly shows definitively that another guest was there: Roger Clemens.

Clemens testified under oath both in a deposition to Congressional staffers and in a hearing before the House Oversight Committee that he did not attend the party, as alleged by his ex-trainer Brian McNamee, who has accused Clemens of taking steroids and HGH. Clemens has denied those allegations repeatedly.

We have reason to believe it's reliable evidence," Richard Emery, one of McNamee's attorneys, told the Daily News on Thursday. "We believe there's photographic evidence that shows Clemens was at a party he says he wasn't at."

The party was hosted by Canseco for his Toronto Blue Jays teammates and their families at his Miami home during June of 1998, when the Jays were in town for a series agains the Florida Marlins. McNamee has stated that he saw Clemens at the party talking with Canseco, an admitted steroid user, and that some time after the party, Clemens made his first inquiry to McNamee about using steroids.



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/02/22/clemens.party/index.html?cnn=yes

[Loose Cannon]

what party is this? I seriously have not read about this. what was it some steroid party where they played pin the syringe on the Donkey (aka The Ass)?

[VonErichLives]

The Red Sox have 2 more options on Manny Rameriez...

Manny today fired his agent and hired Scott Borus.

The reality is they can re-up manny 2 times w/o even talking to Borus, but I'm still willing to bet Larry Luchino threw something at the wall.

[VonErichLives]

what party is this? I seriously have not read about this. what was it some steroid party where they played pin the syringe on the Donkey (Ass)

Clemens Trainer said he saw Clemens at a Party at Cansecos house and thats when he first asked about roid to Canseco and Clemens then asked his trainer about them.

Roger has gone out of his way to deny he was ever at this party and more and more info keeps coming up that he was and it may leave him open for a conempt charge for lieing under oath.

[ClockShot]

Arbitration news.

The Mets' Oliver Perez won his case today. He'll be getting $6.5 million. However, Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez lost his and will be paid only $10 million.

[OssMan]

Don't know how anyone can believe photo evidence anymore...just saying

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>This is one of the first years in a long while that I can remember the Mets having so little roster competition...there are maybe 2 spots not locked down yet, tops. The locks so far are:

Rotation: Santana, Pedro, Perez, Maine, El Duque
Bullpen: Wagner, Heilman, Feliciano, Schoeneweis, Sanchez, Wise
Lineup: Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Delgado, Alou, Church, Schneider
Bench: Castro, Endy, Anderson, Easley

Jorge Sosa and Mike Pelfrey are gonna duke it out for the final pitcher spot...though Sosa has the clear inside track to make it as the long man, Pelfrey won't be in the bullpen and he'd have to pitch completely out of his mind to knock El Duque out of his rotation spot. And if they did that, Duque would be pissed off.

Then the 25th man spot is up for grabs, but Ruben Gotay has the inside track especially due to being out of options. Olmedo Saenz, Brady Clark, and Angel Pagan are probably the only others with a shot at getting the spot, though one of them may come in as an unofficial 26th man if the Mets decide to go with 11 pitchers to start since they won't need a 5th starter for a few weeks.</font>

[YOUR Hero]

Don't know how anyone can believe photo evidence anymore...just saying

there are ways to tell the authenticity of photographs.

[VonErichLives]

Francona 3yr extention with 2 options years.

3-4mil/yr being reported.

good for him, he earned it!

[VonErichLives]

report out that the Red Sox are signing Colon to a minor league deal...

short money, worth a shot...

[SammyG]

Schmidt needs to fucking come back and be healthy for the Dodgers to have a legit shot this year. Esteban Loaiza would be our 5th starter if Schmidt doesn't come back, jesus.

[ClockShot]

:eek:

Bartolo Colon signs a minor league deal with the Red Sox.

[Splaya]

The scheduling this year is seriously fucked up in some places. I really can see the Red Sox getting off to a bad start.

They start their year in Japan, playing 2 regular season games against the A's...only to go to LA and play 3 exhibition games before going to Oakland and playing 2 more regular season games.

Between all the travel and going back to playing meaningless games after starting their year, I could see that fucking with them a bit.

Last year the Tigers had a fucked up July. They started by playing 7 games on the road, then the All star break, then 5 on the road, then 3 at home, then 12 straight on the road into August. They played 24 of 27 on the road and that's what began to fuck with them. It was horrible.

[VonErichLives]

report out that the Red Sox are signing Colon to a minor league deal...

short money, worth a shot...

:eek:

Bartolo Colon signs a minor league deal with the Red Sox.

short money minor league deal... huge upside if he's healthy and keeps his weight down.

Although word is he missed his flight... not a good starting sign.

Someone asked Manny Rameriez what he thought of the signing or if Colon would help... "I'm not a pitching coach, you'd have to ask them".

I hate to love manny as much as I love to hate him.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Manny is fucking man, plain and simple

[YOUR Hero]

Bonds to the DRays?

[SammyG]

would be lol

[FakeLaser]

Bonds to Japan?

[VonErichLives]

Bonds to the DRays?

it'll put butts in the seats.

[OssMan]

Anyone seen the fuckin drafts for the new Tampa Bay stadium, looks incredible

[OssMan]

http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mlb_experts/ept_sports_mlb_experts-126587184-1203514557.jpg?ym.Cc8.C8roer.6W

ya

[Skippord]

Jesus Christ

[Heros Welcome]

Holy shit that looks CRAZY

[Hanso Amore]

http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mlb_experts/ept_sports_mlb_experts-126587184-1203514557.jpg?ym.Cc8.C8roer.6W

ya

Looks cool, but it is Kind of AAA looking. How many fans does it hold, 9000?

[ClockShot]

Looks a bit futuristic for my liking.

[VonErichLives]

Looks cool, but it is Kind of AAA looking. How many fans does it hold, 9000?

They could probably get away with that for most games... although when the Sox or Yanks come to town they usually sell out...

[ClockShot]

Henry Waxman has given the D.O.J. the green light. Clemens is gonna get investigated for perjury.

Congress asks DOJ to prove whether Clemens committed perjury
Associated Press

Updated: February 27, 2008, 1:07 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- Congress asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Roger Clemens "committed perjury and made knowingly false statements" to a House committee.


House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Wednesday. The two said Clemens' statements in a Feb. 5 sworn deposition and at a Feb. 13 public hearing "that he never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone warrants further investigation."


"That testimony is directly contradicted by the sworn testimony of Brian McNamee, who testified that he personally injected Mr. Clemens with anabolic steroids and human growth hormone," the congressmen wrote.


"Mr. Clemens's testimony is also contradicted by the sworn deposition testimony and affidavit submitted to the committee by Andrew Pettitte, a former teammate of Mr. Clemens, whose testimony and affidavit reported that Mr. Clemens had admitted to him in 1999 or 2000 that he had taken human growth hormone."


McNamee, Clemens' former personal trainer, has told federal prosecutors, baseball investigator George Mitchell and Congress that he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner more than a dozen times with human growth hormone and steroids from 1998 to 2001. Clemens repeatedly and vigorously denied the allegations.


It was Clemens' denials of McNamee's allegations in the Mitchell Report that drew Congress' attention.


The Feb. 13 hearing generally divided along party lines, with Democrats giving Clemens a rougher time, and Republicans reserving their toughest questions for McNamee.


But Waxman and Davis jointly appealed to the Justice Department.


"For the good of the investigation and integrity of the committee, we've asked the Department of Justice to get to the bottom of this," Davis said.


Davis was the chairman of the committee when it held its 2005 hearing with Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro.


Clemens' lead lawyer, Rusty Hardin, could not immediately be reached for comment after Waxman and Davis released their letter. But about 20 minutes earlier, when informed by The Associated Press that the criminal referral would be announced Wednesday, Hardin said: "It doesn't surprise me. We've always assumed there would be a referral if Roger testified differently from the Mitchell Report."

[Loose Cannon]

Just in, Clemens denied ever Playing Professional Baseball.

[Skippord]

http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mlb_experts/ept_sports_mlb_experts-126587184-1203514557.jpg?ym.Cc8.C8roer.6W


looks like a plane landed on the stadium

[YOUR Hero]

Did you see the Jon Stewart skit where he was showing Clemens licking his lips all the time.
:lol:
Oh man.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Johan Santana gives up a 3-run home run to Juan Gonzalez in his first inning of the spring.

*waits for Mets fans to panic*</font>

[ClockShot]

<font color=goldenrod>Johan Santana gives up a 3-run home run to Juan Gonzalez in his first inning of the spring.

*waits for Mets fans to panic*</font>

:lol:

[FakeLaser]

Michigan baseball tied the Mets too. Lookin good boys

[Loose Cannon]

lol Juan Gone

[Loose Cannon]

okay, so answer me this.

Billy Wagner apparently got pissed at a Michigan player because he tried to bunt. One out, man on 2nd. is that not a routine play? I do it all the time. what the hell is he getting all worked up about?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah I dunno what Wagner was thinking. I think he wanted Michigan to treat the exhibition game like an exhibition game. Hence his "play to win against Villanova" comment. Not sure what he was expecting, I know I'd go all out to try and win against a big league team. Stupid of him.</font>

[Loose Cannon]

yea exactly. That would be my mentality. If you were a college ballplayer playing against professionals, how do you not go out there and play at 500%?

It's like in Rudy when Vince Vaugn got pissed because Rudy was hitting him hard in practice

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Wooo Johan's next start is at home on Wednesday, and all Mets ST home games get televised. :cool:

The one thing that worries me about Johan is that he normally gets off to a mediocre start (career ERA in the 4's in April and May). NY is the kind of place where idiot fans will turn on you if you have a couple of bad starts in a row...I hope they aren't dumb enough to run Johan out of town if he gets off to a slow start.</font>

[Boondock Saint]

MMMM, spring training. The season is upon us. Can't wait. :love:

[FakeLaser]

Johan historically gets off to a slow start too. Good luck

[Dragon]

LOL Igawa is terrible. Reading about the Yankees exhibition game today and apparently Igawa has a 9-0 lead, walks the college teams #9 guy, walks another guy, hits the next guy and then gives up a grand slam.

Apparently the guy that hit the grand slam had two at-bats so far and struck out both times and he missed the past two years with a shoulder injury.

Yeah, its spring training but come on, thats crazy.

Can't wait til some of these games are televised though.

[FakeLaser]

Igawa... wow.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Delgado is in NY for an MRI, great :|

If Delgado has another injury-plagued year I think the Mets need to take a nice long look at Tex next off-season, though supposedly he loves it in Atlanta. Of course, Scott Boras is his agent.</font>

[OssMan]

Why is there a big deal about Roger Clemens not being at Astros camp? Did he sign with tme? What am I missing?

[YOUR Hero]

more proof of
Bonds testing positive for 'roids. 2003, testosterone

[MVP]

Why is there a big deal about Roger Clemens not being at Astros camp? Did he sign with tme? What am I missing?

He has a 10 year service contract to work with their minor league players in the spring.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Oliver Perez roughed up in his first inning of the spring as well.

So that's Santana, Maine, and Perez all knocked around in their first starts of the spring.

Typical Mets fan: "OMG NO WAY WE CAN MAKE THE POSTSEASON!"</font> :roll:

[FakeLaser]

Pettitte looked good today. Giambi was jackin them too, as was Jason Lane

[FakeLaser]

Hank Steinbrenner said there’s not an official plan yet, but former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams will be honored by the team. “Obviously, Bernie is special to us,” Steinbrenner said.

Retire the number sir

[OssMan]

What the fuck has Hank Steinbrenner done at all except be George Steinbrenner's son seriously that guy pisses me off so much

[OssMan]

Thank
You
George

Thank
You
George

[FakeLaser]

I like Hank because he talks mad shit. I really enjoy that.

[SammyG]

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aBSVK1eIgms"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aBSVK1eIgms" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Looks cool, but it is Kind of AAA looking. How many fans does it hold, 9000?

It's supposed to hold 34,000 and that roof is supposed to be retractable. No clue how they plan on doing that.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I like Hank because he talks mad shit. I really enjoy that.

Yeah this shit talking going back and forth between the Yankees and Red Sox front offices is hilarious.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>LOL Noah Lowry walked 9 batters in 1 IP today</font>

[SammyG]

nice

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

What the fuck has Hank Steinbrenner done at all except be George Steinbrenner's son seriously that guy pisses me off so much

He looks like he should be a character on King of the Hill

[VonErichLives]

is Hank the guy what was getting all pissy about how "there is no such thing as Red Sox Nation, it was made up by ESPN who are all a bunch of Red Sox fans.."

[SammyG]

Yes

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Holy shit, I'm going to the last Opening Day at Shea. :love: Never been to Opening Day before but I've always wanted to...and its the first game of the year against the Phillies so thats all the better.

Also the Mets are reportedly discussing a swap with the Tigers, sending Jorge Sosa to Detroit and getting back Marcus Thames. I'd love that deal, Thames has some deifnite pop and he's a righty that can fill in at RF and 1B, just what the Mets are looking for.</font>

[OssMan]

going to the first opening day at NATIONALS PARK. should be going to a few games in NY too

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>OK this is getting ridiculous. The count of Mets who were slated to make the Opening Day roster and are currently injured and unavailable now stands at 12, a whopping 48% of their would-be first day roster. Granted, the majority of the injuries don't figure to be too bad, but its still annoying and it worries me that they'll just get re-injured.

-Moises Alou: Sent back to New York today for an MRI on his groin, he needs to stay healthy because he's key this year but it'll never happen.

-Marlon Anderson: Was in an outfield collision, bruised chest, day-to-day.

-Carlos Beltran: Recovering from offseason knee surgery, he can hit and he can run but he can't run and stop so fielding is out of the question right now.

-Luis Castillo: Also recovering from offseason knee surgery, hopes to play by the weekend.

-Endy Chavez: Recovering from hamstring problems, hopes to play by the weekend.

-Ryan Church: Was in the collision with Anderson, day-to-day recovering from a Grade 2 concussion.

-Carlos Delgado: Hip impingement, hopes to be playing by the weekend, also crucial to the offense.

-Damion Easley: Recovering from a bad ankle injury, hopes to be playing by the weekend.

-Ruben Gotay: Sprained ankle...but he's on crutches. Wouldn't be shocked if he isn't ready in time for the season.

-Orlando Hernandez: Almost comical how much he gets injured, its at the point where he is working on a new delivery reducing his leg kick. I doubt he'll be ready by Opening Day and I view him like Pedro from last year, anything we get out of El Duque is a bonus.

-Duaner Sanchez: Claimed he was fine, then he was suffering from general soreness, and now he's back to only being able to long toss. He might hit the DL to start the year.

-Brian Schneider: Probably the least injured guy of the bunch, he has hamstring and knee soreness but that happens to every catcher in Spring Training, he's been held out of games but is still working with the pitchers in bullpen sessions.

------

As I said, I'm sure most of them will be ready by Opening Day, but its insane to think that nearly half the team is injured right now, including the entire starting outfield.</font>

[Heros Welcome]

The injuries have been rediculous, but I'm not to worried about it. It happens, its just really flukey that we have this many so far.

The only people that concern me are Delgado because he is a big key this year.
Also Alou, but then again I knew him getting hurt was inevitable. I want the Mets to trade for Nady, but there saying the Pirates are asking for to much. Also read that a deal could happen with the mets sending Sosa to the Tigers for Thames.

Have to see how it all plays out.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Alou has a hernia...out 4-6 weeks. Bring on Thames or Nady</font>

[ClockShot]

So New York Congressman Anthony Weiner has asked the FBI to drop the Roger Clemens investigation into Perjury.

Yeah. Sure.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

hehe Weiner

[YOUR Hero]

There is talk that Clemens may end up getting a Presidential pardon. That that is why he's been so adamant that he's never taken steriods/HGH. I guess Bush and him are buddies.

Can you imagine that. Bush giving Clemens a pardon.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>lol Buster Olney thinks the Mets need to discuss signing Barry Bonds. I'm not sure I could root for Barry even if he wore a Mets uniform. Then when Alou comes back the lineup would be like:

SS Reyes
2B Castillo
3B Wright
LF Bonds
CF Beltran
1B Delgado
RF Alou
C Schneider

...that lineup would need to score 10 runs a game to offset the awful corner outfield D</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

There is talk that Clemens may end up getting a Presidential pardon. That that is why he's been so adamant that he's never taken steriods/HGH. I guess Bush and him are buddies.

Can you imagine that. Bush giving Clemens a pardon.

It's about that time in his Presidential life anyway so he might as well. I think if that happened it would make both Clemens and Bush look even worse than they already do now.

[FakeLaser]

...that lineup would need to score 10 runs a game to offset the awful corner outfield D
They could

[YOUR Hero]

It's about that time in his Presidential life anyway so he might as well. I think if that happened it would make both Clemens and Bush look even worse than they already do now.

The next question becomes what about Bonds? Can he pardon one guy and not the other?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Of course he can. In fact I'd be more surprised if he did pardon both of them than if he only pardoned Clemens.

[YOUR Hero]

But George Bush hates black people.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

That's what I'm saying.

[SammyG]

Clayton Kershaw is gonna be a fucking stud. 19 years old, dominating people.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>lol La Russa plans on batting his pitcher 8th again this year, for basically the whole season</font>

[Heros Welcome]

I didn't even know the Cards had enough players to field a team.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I guess Beckett's back tightened up, doesn't seem that serious

[ClockShot]

Yankees fans. Set your VCRs or your DVRs to 1:00 this thursday. Billy Crystal is gonna play an inning or two with the team.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>LOL. The Yankees and Rays had a bench-clearing brawl today.

Yankees pitcher Heath Phillips plunked someone in the first and was immediately warned...and then when the Yankees batted Shelley Duncan slid at someone with spikes up despite the fact he was clearly out by a mile, and he promptly got ejected. Jonny Gomes came charging in from the outfield, and a brawl ensued.</font> :lol:

[SammyG]

lol it is fucking spring training for fuck's sake

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3289751

[Dragon]

Stupid.

People might disagree but I do think plowing a catcher down in ST was uncalled for. Obviously this is too. Have a feeling this is definitely gonna spill into the regular season.

[FakeLaser]

lol Shelley Duncan is incredible

He is just this big goof who likes to start shit. This is almost as good as when he signed a 5 year old Red Sox fan's ball: "Shelley Duncan: Red Sox Suck."

[Skippord]

lol Shelley Duncan is the mane

[Hanso Amore]

I like this, it means the Yankees are Hungry and fired up

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Shelly Duncan is an idiot. He said after the first game there would be revenge, then he went out and came in spikes up the next game but then after that game says he was trying to knock the ball out of the 2nd basemen's glove lol

Yankee players do have a history of trying to hit ball out of peoples gloves though I guess, so maybe he really was?
http://graphics.boston.com/images/bostondirtdogs//Headline_Archives/arodpurse.jpg

[RP]

Shelly Duncan obviously thinks baseball fans are dumb

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0312/mlb_a_duncan_slide_200.jpg

I dunno, when you're slid past the bag and your cleet is in the second basemans groin area still, that might be a tad bit intentional..i dunno.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

"I saw it a couple times," Duncan said Thursday. "I still don't understand why they were as upset as they were."

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Doug Mirabelli released, gonna be up to Kevin Cash to catch the knuckleball now.</font>

[Boondock Saint]

Yeah just heard that. Dunno how I feel. Cash did alright last season filling in but Wake-Mirabelli is a well-proven tag team.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

If Cash can catch the knuckle ball I am all for it. I mean Mirabelli is the man and everything but his bat has been awful the last few years, like really awful. He shouldn't be a back up catcher on a team this good

[Hanso Amore]

Duncan is such a fucking asshole....I love it.

Shelley FTW.

[YOUR Hero]

Duncan is a fringe player at best still, I guess he thinks he'll become the character guy. A ball to the head ought to solve that line if thinking.

[Hanso Amore]

Duncan is a fringe player at best still, I guess he thinks he'll become the character guy. A ball to the head ought to solve that line if thinking.

He has some Pop off the bench. I like him in his role for now. He is not the solution at first

[FakeLaser]

Joe Torre used to refer to him as the team mascot.

[Kris P Lettus]

I just saw a piece on ESPN First Take about this third baseman for the TB Devil Rays named Evan Longoria.. I only bring it up cause his minor league team played the Mississippi Braves last season in a game I went to.. It was hilarious cause the whole crowd chanted "EVA" every time he went to bat..

[Heros Welcome]

Evan Longoria could be this years Ryan Braun. Probably with a lower avg though. Kid is going to be a stud.

[OssMan]

Is he gonna make 239443902 errors like Braun too

[Heros Welcome]

The ruling for that is still up for debate.

[Hanso Amore]

Longoria is going to be an All Star.....Until he is traded to a contender for more prospects just like him.

Vicious Cycle. TB will not compete even with a new Ball Park. Which is sad, because I really would like to see them contend, they have a great young team, but they atre buried in their division. Had they been put in a Western City, they would be the AL version of the Dbacks.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Matsuzaka starting the Opening Day game in Japan next week

[ClockShot]

Shit. Some big time news.

Red Sox vote not to board plane for Japan, play final spring game

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox are threatening to boycott their season-opening games in Japan unless their coaches and other staff are paid for making the trip.


Mike Lowell has told The Boston Globe the team voted unanimously not to take the field for their final spring training game or to board the plane later Wednesday for Japan.


Manager Terry Francona and his players were upset after learning staff members are not going to get a $40,000 stipend. The Boston Herald reported players insisted part of their agreement to make the trip included the fee -- for them and the coaches.

"I did not have an off day yesterday. I had the phone glued to my ear because I was promised some answers and I haven't even received a phone call," Francona said Wednesday. "So I'm a little bit stuck. What I want to do this morning is get excited to play a baseball game and what I ended up doing is apologizing to the coaches and being humiliated."

The World Series champions are scheduled to begin their season against Oakland on March 25 and 26.


The Red Sox clubhouse was closed to reporters because of the dispute and the team had not taken the field for batting practice before its last scheduled spring training game in Florida against Toronto.


"We had an agreement," Curt Schilling, one of a handful of Red Sox players who talked with Major League Baseball on ground rules for the trip, told ESPN's Claire Smith.


"Some of the promises have already been taken away, now this," Schilling said. "As far as the players are concerned, [withholding the coaches' bonuses] can't happen."


''When we voted to go to Japan, that was not a unanimous vote,'' Lowell told the Globe, "but we did what our team wanted us to do for Major League Baseball. They promised us the moon and the stars, and then when we committed, they started pulling back. It's not just the coaches, it's the staff, the trainers, a lot of people are affected by this.


"I'm so super proud of this team," Lowell said, according to the Globe. "When we put it to a vote it was unanimous, we're all in agreement that we're not going to put up with this.''


That the players would consider such action "is really appreciated, to say the least," Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan told Smith. "It means as much as the money itself.


"While we're very fortunate, a lot of people don't realize what we do. It's nice to get recognition from the players."

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Dispute settled, game is on.</font>

[Splaya]

THE TIGERS SIGN MIGUEL CABRERA TO AN 8 YEAR 153 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.


I LOVE MY LIFE :love:

[YOUR Hero]

19 million a season. Guy's like 23 years old(?) Hass anyone so young ever been paid so much.

[OssMan]

Watch Cabrera flop in the AL

[YOUR Hero]

Well boys and girls, it's time to unsticky this thread and sticky the season thread.

Game on.