Baseball about to take a break
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- December
- 21
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Baseball has become a 365-day-a-year sport. There’s very rarely a day without some sort of media coverage.
But those days are over, at least until Jan. 2. Once 5 p.m. rolls around today, baseball will close up shop until Jan. 2.
It’s not official, of course. But the MLB offices on Park Ave. will close and most teams (even the Yankees) give their people time off for the holidays. GMs will keep in touch via Blackberry but there won’t be many – if any – moves. Johan Santana will probably start 2008 as a Twin.
I’m on vacation myself and most of the beat writers will be doing the same for a while. The blog will roll on, but don’t expect multiple posts a day. There won’t be much news to report or comment on.
So get home safe and enjoy the holidays. Baseball will be there when you get back.
This entry was posted
on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Mele Kalikimaka, Pete!
Enjoy your holiday, break, and Patriot football.
KEEP PHIL HUGHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a great Holiday Pete!!!!!!!
Have a great vacation!
Enjoy the break, Pete!
Thanks Pete–happy Christmas and a merry New Year. Here’s hoping you’ll cover a World Series in ‘08.
Pete,
Thank you for everything that you do for us all year long, keeping us up to the minute with reports and news. This is by far the best Yankee site I have ever seen and I hope it stays this way for a very long time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Have a happy and safe holiday!
Pete–Hope you enjoy your holiday. You really do deserve the break.
Pete and everyone … Happy Festivus!!!
happy holidays pete.
Merry Christmas and Happy 2008 Pete. Thank you for all you do all year long. There is no one like you and no other blog better than this one……
thank god I also needs a vacation !!!
Just to get the juices flowing how bout a make believe game between the 08 Yankees and 08 Red Sox? Game 7 of ALCS.
Scenario:
Great game: Yankees win 7-3, A-Rod 2 run homer off of Beckett
Yankees lineup:
Damon – LF – 1 for 4, walk, double, run scored, SB
Jeter – SS – 2 for 4, , walk, 2 runs scored, RBI
Abreu – RF – 0 for 5
A-Rod – 3B – 3 for 5, double, 2 run homer, SF, 3 RBI’s
Matsui – DH – 2 for 4, solo HR
Posada – C – 1 for 4, RBI
Giambi – 1B – 1 for 3, 2 walks
Cano – 2B – 2 for 4, double, 2 RBI’s
Melky – CF – 1 for 4
SP – Pettitte – 6 innings, 8 hits, 0 BB, 5 K’s, 3 runs
RP’s – Hawkins (7th inning) , Joba (8th inning), Mo (Save)
Bench:
Betemit (comes in for defense at 1b in 8th), Duncan, Gonzalez, Molina
Boston:
Ellsbury – CF – 1 for 5, SB
Pedroia – 2B – 2 for 4
Big Papi – DH – 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI’s
Manny – LF – 1 for 4, DP
Drew – RF – 0 for 4
Lowell – 3B – 2 for 4 RBI
Youkilis – 1B – 1 for 4
Varitek – C – 0 for 4
Lugo – SS – 0 for 4
Pitchers: Beckett, 5 1/3 innings, 10 hits, 5 runs, 3 BB’s, 9 K’s, Delcarmen, 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 BB, Timlin, 1 inning, 0 hits, Snyder, 1 inning, 0 hits.
Pettitte pitches gutsy game giving up 8 hits, but induces 3 DP’s. Melky has 2 great plays in CF and even though Giambi has a throwing error, he makes 3 great scoop plays at 1B.
Beckett has a very different season in 08 then 07 because of recurring blisters but is chosen to pitch game 7 and gives up 5 runs even though he strikes out 9.
Merry Christmas!
Yankees win 27th in 08
Happy Holidays Pete!
that’s a cool picture
I think that was opening day 2007 in Cleveland
Celebrate the holidays everyone … I always say ‘Everything in moderation, INCLUDING moderation’.
… cheers!
you should give daily non-baseball Christmas updates on the blog to make those people who cry when you mention Springstein “happy”
Merry X-Mas, Pete. Hoist an eggnog for us!
This would be the perfect time for Cashman to strike – while Theo is on vacation.
Thank goodness the NFL and NCAA are secular or, alternatively, part of the holiday commercialization.
Have a great vacation and holiday Pete! And thanks for the best blog going! And the Nor. Bull. could really use your outstanding work too!
Happy holidays all!
Sweet picture of the stadium!
Informed sources say that Santa(NA) Claus has no interest in being in Boston for this or any other Christmas. He says Manhattan chowder has New England chowdah beat by a ton.
Happy Holidays everyome!!!!!
To Pet and All my Fellow LoHud Bloggers -
Merry Christmas and Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year!
That’s Pete, not Pet. Oh, man, my wish for the new year is an edit button, PLEASE!
I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here, but Why is it every – f’ing – time SI.com or ESPN.com puts up a picture of a player with a story about HGH or Steroids, they’re in a Yankees Uniform??? SI.com has Jason Grimsley as a Yank… if I recally correctly, and I do, Grimsley ended his career as a DBack not a Yank. He was a Yank all of 2 of his 15 years. What the F is the hate going on for the Yankee organization?? Why not post his Dback picture for Cripes’ sake???
Happy Holidays all!!!!
And oh, by the way, Grimsley was also an Indian, Phillie and Royal longer than he was a Yank.
Clemens wins 2 Cy Young awards in Toronto, but he’s in a Yankee uniform in most spots on ESPN.. Clemens wasn’t exactly lightouts with the Yanks like he was in Toronto. All i’m saying..
http://modernrooters.blogspot.com/
Buch ranked top pitching prospect in baseball.
Hey Tim: in your game 7 above, how could Giambi have 5 at bats when the two batters above him only have 4?
Just wondering…
Haouli Makahiki Hou!!
Dear Pete, have a great holiday. Much appreciation for all you do here.
Happy holidays to all!
Merry Christmas Pete!
Pete, thanks for your tireless dedication to the blog. It’s the best there is.
I wish you health & love this holiday season and throughout the new year. If you have that, everything else is gravy….although I wish you lots of gravy too
Terry in N.H.-
you bring up a good point. Rocket also spent three years with Houston. 2004-2006.
Happy Holidays Peter and many thanks for an excellent blog well worth visiting and posting on. Your hard work has been well appreciated. Continued success to you.
A friend just e-mailed me this link. Apparently this site got hold of Boras’ A-Rod binder that was sent out when he was a free agent at the end of the 2000 season. Interesting comparisons and quotes in it:
http://youbeenblinded.com/wp-c.....binder.pdf
Whether Buccholz is the top pitching prospect is of course debatable, depending on where you go who you listen to, there is no debate however Buchholz he is the top kleptomaniac amongst all newcomers.
Thank you the great site Peter
Happy Holidays all.
Happy Holidays Pete and thanks for another great year.
Next year an edit button. Thanks again Peter.
Pete,
Enjoy your family and kick back for the next few days, and as you say, it will be here when you get back. Merry Christmas, pal!
thanks Pete! Long time reader…first time comment. Great blog, many different views, most… very well thought out. Everyone have a great christmas and happy Yankees new year!
I don’t feel like looking through that prospect list…is Hughes on there at all, or is he no longer considered a prospect? I think last year would have counted as his rookie season, and I’m pretty sure he’s not on other prospect lists either.
Hey idiots we know it is the same person posting crap about burc who cares about him. Go to sosh blog. Phil would be the top prospect, but he isn’t considered one anymore since he has service time in mlb.
whozat
He is no longer considered a prospect.
Pete, take some time OFF and I better not see any blog updates unless we get Santana or someone dies until January 2nd. you deserve it, and I’m sure like every other working person, this is much deserved time off.
Enjoy and GO YANKEES!
Hey Pete, thanks for ALL the work you do! Have a great holiday and enjoy some time off.
Hey guys,
This is Tino Martinzez, and yes its really me. I just want to say that a friend of mine recently sent me a link to this site and I have been cruising around it a bit. Its dedication like this that makes you fans the greatest in all of sports. I want to tell you that my time in pinstripes was the greatest part of my career and it was in large part to you fans. Hopefully the team will fare better this season, and I promise you i will be rooting for them just as hard as you are.
-Tino, #24
Tino Martinzez????
forget how to spell your own name??
get lost!
Okay if this is Tino, what is your real first name. No peaking.
Have a Happy Holiday Pete!
Same for the rest of you!
Its been great fun this past year sharing thoughts and listening to all you faithful members of the Lohud website.
Thanks for all your hard work, Peter!
Happy Holidays and to all may I offer the following
Holiday Wish:
May you never forget
What is worth remembering
Or remember
What is best forgotten.
Happy Holidays, Pete. Been a helluva year and you did yourself proud. I sincerely appreciate all the extra aggravation you go through to be the Mayor of our Little Village, keeping us informed and involved.
So again, Happy Holidays, Pete, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to you and all my fellow bloggies.
Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates, and Happy New Year!!
I have a busy weekend on tap, Shopping, holiday lunch, than baking all day Sunday and Monday than Christmas day!
JT, nice job. That was Tino. Baseball players aren’t known for their typing skills.
What a great fan you are.
fleas, email it to Pete, I’m sure he can check it out if it was really Tino. You never know.
Tino-
If its really you, glad to hear you will be coaching in Spring Training. If it’s not you, then I have been had.
Happy Holidays to all! See you on the flip side.
rather suspicious when the guy claims to be someone and mis-spells his own name
A z was added where it shouldn’t be. It would be nice if it was him. Although i suspect you are correct JT.
Hey, whether or not its the real Constantino, the message was respectful, so what the Heck- give the poster a break!
Pete,
Thanks again for all the hard work this year. Please enjoy a well-deserved break and great holiday season.
Tino, (if that was you)
Thanks for the memories.
jim
latham,
for impersonating someone, give him a break?
get real
Even if it’s not Tino, the idea of it is enough to warm my heart
….I killed the thread again. I get it. I’m hopeless.
Happy holidays, Rebecca!
Happy Holidays to all..especially you Pete.
If that is you Tino…glad to hear that you will be around in March at Legends!!!
Wish List 2008
1. Santanna
2. Cairo
I miss joking with Cairo, but he is not coming back. Your funny Miguelito.
Hint, you broke my camera because my sister forced me to take a picture of you.
P.S. I repeat, that was #24 Tino Martinez! Geez. Just take is word for it, all he did was wish you happy holidays and vanish.
Pete, there’s none better in the blogosphere when it comes to the Yanks. Thank you for working hard and being so good to us. Much respect to you, and here’s hoping the new year brings you many good things–and some tasty scoops for us!
Just got my season ticket package which also includes info on who may/may not have access to the ALL Star Game.
One thing the Yankees are doing is demanding that all season ticket holders purchase “must purchase a STRIP or STRIP of Tickets to the DHL ALL STAR FANFEST ” if they want to go to the All STAR GAME.
MY Bank Account is already barking
“Tino” used the website “yankees.com” with his post tonight.
The other day when a poster named “Hank Steinbrenner” stopped by, he also had his website show up as “yankees.com.” If these are imposters, will the Yankees file some sort of action for someone hijacking their website name?
Phil,
Interesting link on ARod. I thought the quotes from Bowa were kind of surprising. Bowa was the one who said ARod’s fielding problems in 2006 were all in his head.
All the comparisions with shortstops make you wonder how his career would have gone if he had stayed at that position.
Anonymity = Cowardess
“a STRIP of Tickets to the DHL ALL STAR FANFEST” ??
you mean they’re gonna be strippers at the All-Star-Game – YAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Wooo Hooo!!
I love New York!!!
Happy holidays to you, Peter, and to all the readers of this wonderful blog!
Tommy Byrne passed away yesterday in North Carolina at the age of 87.
Tommy will go to his grave wearing a Yankee cap. It was his life long dream to be a Yankee according to his son.
Byrne played fo the Yanks from 1943 -51 and from 1954 – 57. In 13 years, he was 85-69. He was an All Star in 1950, but his best year was 1955 when he went 16-5 with a 3:15 ERA.
Byrne was a top hitting pitcher who Stengel would occasionally use as a PH. His lifetime BA was 2:35 with 14 Hrs and 98 RBI’s in 601 AB.
While Tommy lived a long and fruitful life, our thoughts, naturally, go out to his family and friends. And all of us on this blog can hail another great and loyal Yankee.
Rest in Peace, Tommy Byrne, another true Yankee forever.
GB7
Thanks for your comments as well (my last post and yours obviously overlapped.) In any case, thanks for the further insights. I just really miss starting pitchers chucking into the ninth, as they so routinely did when I was growing up in the 50’s. But everything that you, Mel and S.o.S have said certainly makes sense.
Cashman…what about the bullpen…..you neglected the bench and backup catcher all off-season last year and it contributed to our dismal start until we strengthened it….now you are neglecting the bullpen, you should have signed Mahay, we need a lefthander, especially with the Viz gone…who is going to pitch in the 7th inning in Fenway when Hughes throws 100 pitches through 6 and we have a 4-2 lead…..I have to think about this b/c apparently you don’t, or else why was Will Nieves the Yankee back up catcher last year? The Red Sox didn’t think twice about trading Hanley Ramirez and Sanchez for Beckett…we need an ace…are you trying to prove your GM status by developing all prospects and proving you are a good GM by not spending the money to silence your critics who say you just spend money…..we need an ace and a bullpen, doesn’t the last 6 years show you that? Wake up and get Santana, or else we’ll be in the same position next year!!
Mahay for two years at that cost was not a prudent move. Statistics show an internal candidate can be just as effective for much less. Also, a LOOGY is not always a spot you want clogging up your bullpen make-up unless he is truly effective. A mediocre LOOGY is a waste of space and forces the manager to wear down other arms to eat up innings.
BAAAAAA …. Hamburg ! ! !
Nieves was given a shot to prove himself. He didn’t make it so they made a change. If the young guys aren’t given a shot, why have them in your system at all?
Keith FL
The Yankees as an organization have decided to use internal candidates to fill the bullpen. They have learned that relievers are incredibly unpredictable from year to year so its best to start camp with a bunch of internal candidates who will likely do as well as some over the ill reliever you have to give a 2 year 8 million contract. Please see Baltimore’s ‘07 bullpen: they spent a ton of money on middle relievers and they all sucked.
The key to the Yanks bullpen is making sure the starters go 6-7 innings once the season starts. Our starters were injured in the beginning of the season; no one went 6 let alone 7 innings and it killed the bullpen by May…
By the way the Red Sox traded more than Ramirez and Sanchez to get Beckett…they are just the players everyone remembers. Beckett beat the Yanks in a game 6 at Yankee stadium and was quite young …He was also incredibly cheap.
Santana on the other hand has a lot of mileage on the arm and has never gotton his team out of the 1st round. He will also cost more than a 3 year extention at 10 million per.
Some of you Yankee fans are like petulant children. The one year it looks you might not get a new highly price trincket and you start whining . The Yanks will wait out the Twins in my opinion
If that’s the real Bud Selig, then how could he misspell “humbug” ??
Using internal options in the bullpen is OK as far as righthanders are concerned but using Chase Wright or Sean Henn is scary as lefthanders.
What Yanks ”need” is a productive bridge to get to Rivera.
Phil
Thanks for the “book” on A-Rod. Most of Boras’ projections from 8 years ago seem to have played themselves out.
Using the numbers contained in there. Boras was projecting A-Rod to have an average of 184 hits, 115 RBI, 37 HR and 25 SB a year between the ages of 30 and 35.
I wonder if some Yankee fans would be disappointed if those numbers hold true for the next 3 years.
a “productive bridge” – but the toll both would be expensive
Jacob:
Here’s hoping you get some MetroCards for Christmas.
Sleep tight, my sweet Pete.
Thanks B-D-4,
plastic cards would cut down on some of the jingling.
Merry Christmas Pete! And Happy New Year!
All I want for Xmas is for Phil Hughes and Johan Santana to play catch together on opening day at Legends Field.
I usually don’t ever get the best present on my list, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for it. I think I have been ‘nice’ this year and not too ‘naughty’ so just maybe ..
Anyhow, Happy Holidays everyone! I can’t wait until pitchers and catchers reports to spring training, believe it or not, we are less than 2 months away!!!
Happy holidays to all, except to the steroid kingpins David Ortiz and George Mitchell.
MIght as well add this one in to make it an even 100 comments. Merry Christmas to all and thx Pete for another great year
If we aren’t getting Santana we need a solution for three rookies to give us 180 innings each.And only 2 barely got 100 innings.
Also to east side yankee Santana logged mileage after age 25.Unlike our three rookies who might end up like Prior and Kerry Wood who logged innings before 25.
Glad to see someone posted the Tommy Byrne passing.
“Whether Buccholz is the top pitching prospect is of course debatable, depending on where you go who you listen to, there is no debate however Buchholz he is the top kleptomaniac amongst all newcomers.
Thank you the great site Peter
Happy Holidays all.”
–Let’s just hope he doesn’t start looking to steal HGH or else Andy will have to start protecting his stash.
NYPD113th,
You mean you won’t arrest the both of them?
Have a great holiday Pete.
Buccholz is a great player but the reason their keeping him really so tight is because he threw a no-hitter and that is understanable but not the best reason out there
1. How many no-hitter pitchers turned out great There were a few but it’s not even close to a certain thing.
2. If it’s Buccholz or Santana who would you give up. If the sox give Buccholz for Santana and give 2 players with him that trade is worth it.
I am a Yankee fan but a team with Santana and Beckett is going to be hard to beat alot—-Unless the team playing the Sox are the Yankees (we have Wang Pettite Joba Hughes and IPK [we'll see if we can add Moose to that list after spring training, I still think Moose is a great pitcher that had a few bad starts and will be back to normal next year YOU CAN dissagree if you want But that's my opinion]and Mariano is back).
Next year over 100 wins for the Yankees.
Our off. is better than the Sox’s for sure.
Anybody know when the blog’s going Mobile?
One more thing how many Yankees in the All-Star team 2008 at Yankee stadium and which ones.
Gunther Toody
Buccholz doesn’t need to go into the Yankee locker room to find HGH, he can find it in quanity in Fenway.
I’m sure Big Sloppi had an irregular heart beat from over training, that buff body a testiment.
Drugs, including anabolic steroids, can cause heartbeat irregularities, but people should not jump to that conclusion because there are many possible causes, [Dr. Michael A.] Coady said. Stress and overtraining can also make the heart beat unevenly.
Pete, thanks for running such a terrific blog. You obviously work very hard to keep us constantly informed and entertained. It is very very much appreciated. Happy Holidays to you and your family! Peace on earth and #27 in 2008!!
NYPD113th-
shouldn’t you be out collecting the weekly pad?
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham.
Ho ho ho.
NYPD113th-
Did you ever have to walk Judith Nathan’s dog? what kind of pooper-scooper did you use? Talk about a Dog Day afternoon!
I’m pretty sure Brendan Donnelly or Eric Gagne could get any Sox player all the peds they need. Come to think of it, we’re all being naive if we think they already haven’t.
“I still think Moose is a great pitcher”
– Hittin the egg nog early are we?
“NYPD113th-
shouldn’t you be out collecting the weekly pad?”
Tomorrow
Yeah NYPD 113th. I miss all the cash payoffs you took in Queens for looking the other way and especially the fat ones at holiday times.
“Yeah NYPD 113th. I miss all the cash payoffs you took in Queens for looking the other way and especially the fat ones at holiday times.”
— Really no I-Talians in the precinct I worked in, more like Sicilians if you get my drift.
Yankees signed Free Agent Greg Porter to a one year minor league contract. He played RF/LF in 2007, 1B/DH 2006, and 3B in 2005. Split season last year between AA/AAA Finished Triple A with Angels Last year at .345/.510/.910.
“Yankees signed Free Agent Greg Porter to a one year minor league contract. He played RF/LF in 2007, 1B/DH 2006, and 3B in 2005. Split season last year between AA/AAA Finished Triple A with Angels Last year at .345/.510/.910.”
–How long til we hear the Porter, Melky, and Marquez for Santana suggestions?
Everybody in Queens knows who NYPD 113th is. Nothing worse than a cop on the take that rats out a brother officer.
You guys seen Brian Schneider’s wife? Not baaaad.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/200.....ou-go-huh/
Can’t really see ‘er, ET90210. She’s blonde and has a round face, if that’s all we need.
Hey, Merry Christmas.
Anyone working through Chrismas and New Year? (me)
Well, I guess “NYPD 113th” walked Judith Nathan’s dog.
Oh, how humiliating!
Anyone working through Chrismas and New Year? (me)
Which Gentleman’s clubs do you “work” ?
A happy Festivus for the rest of us!
Brian Schneider’s wife-
Thank you Santa!! The gossip pages haven’t been the same since Anna Benson became a free agent.
joltin joe-
I thought ya waz Catholic and such.
Omar Minaya signed free agent OF Feliz Navida. Official announcement will be on Dec. 26th at a Shea press conference.
Well at least, Ethan, you’re an objective source.
I could be going to a funeral on christmas.
Joy.
Best wishes and happy holidays to everybody that makes this blog what it is.
Let’s hope there’s more young pitching under the Yankee tree.
Merry new year!
I could be going to a funeral on christmas.
The Jets play on X-mas ???
I wasn’t talking about football.
Sorry to hear that Rebecca……..
All Yankee fans are equally shocked the Twins did not leap at Count Chocula and Lester.
Ethan Michaels
December 22nd, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Yankees are reportedly out on Santana. Am I the only one surprised that a package of Hughes/Melky/Marquez simply wasn’t enough?
Until we throw in a high schooler picked in the 5th round.
NYPD113th
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:59 pm
“Yankees signed Free Agent Greg Porter to a one year minor league contract. He played RF/LF in 2007, 1B/DH 2006, and 3B in 2005. Split season last year between AA/AAA Finished Triple A with Angels Last year at .345/.510/.910.â€
–How long til we hear the Porter, Melky, and Marquez for Santana suggestions?
Utilityman: I’ll probably get out of going to the funeral…but not the shiva call.
“Count Chocula” – you mean 38-donuts ??
Count Chocula=Coco Crisp
Sorry to hear your news Rebecca hope the remainder of your holidays are more pleasant.
I have been to too many of those lately myself.
Rebecca –
Condolences on your loss.
ThatWasMe – last year was that way for me. It sucks.
On a happier note – I just passed out in a food coma for the past two hours after taking my aunt to dinner. She hasn’t seen me since Thanksgiving. I wasn’t (John) Sterling company this evening
Well, as it turns out, the relative in question, who was supposed to die last night, hasn’t died yet….but I feel bad for my father, she is his aunt.
Well..
Seems a little late for the post, but everybody have a great holiday!
Rebecca-
Good thing to hear your relative is still alive.I had my Grandmother this year go through a brain hemmorage at age 81 and in a sort of a coma,doctors kept telling us she would not make it and told us she would pass on after a few hours after being in the hospital.
Two days later she was up singing church music with my uncle.She even remembered what songs he was sining to her when she was in the coma.Got to have faith.Because now she is still walking around 5 months later like nothing happened.Hope to hear good things from you Rebecca.
Maybe to late but Happy Holidays to you guys.
There’s an interesting story in today’s Daily News about one former role player on the 1999 Yankees, Dan Naulty, and his use of PEDs to move in from the fringes of the game to take an MLB roster spot. It is an unpolished, first-person account that rings true and in relatively few words provides a glimpse into the part of MLB’s PED culture that doesn’t involve the games’ top players.
To me, today’s Daily News piece points out the need for MLB/MLBPA to sponsor player education, starting in High School, to raise the level of awareness of the dangers of PEDs in the elite, competitive MLB world. Using and abusing PEDs is always a personal choice so individuals must always take responsibility for the decision. While a better understanding of PEDs will not stop all abuse, it may save a few players from themselves and help them acknowledge the right way to play the game and live their lives. Have a look.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....eri-2.html
murphydog-
i’m still annoyed about the bashing of the yankees by the mitchell report and that with all the money he had at his disposal that he couldn’t find a thread to pull from a former clubbie or personal trainer or street dealer in boston who supplied red sox players who used peds. he obviously didn’t try very hard.
the story of naulty is interesting, but something about it doesn’t seem right. i read about his story somewhere else this week . he simply said he would have never played a day of major league baseball if he hadn’t used peds. in that other article he said he bought from sources he met at gold gyms and other body builder centers.
i find it hard to believe that he went through his career buying only from these sources when he was around other relief pitchers who were also using. something doesn’t sound right about naulty’s story even though he’s supposedly telling the truth as a way of enhancing his new found christian life.
my understanding( from reading only a limited amout) is that he says that he used peds by himself with no help from anyone else in baseball. that seems unlikely. anyone who has ever been in a bullpen knows that anything and everything is talked about. i doubt that naulty used peds as extensively as he did without any involvement from anyone else in baseball.
that said,i don’t advocate him telling stories from the past about other players( my position is that baseball should move on with testing in place), but i think that the story he is telling is questionable. just because someone has a religious conversion doesn’t mean everything they say is true. in the world he’s in now, he has a career talking about what a bad person he was before. sometimes one addiction is traded for another.
i’m not so sure that everyone telling everything they know about the past is such a good thing. some things are better left behind. can you imagine if everyone from the 60’s who are in positions of power confessed to their “illegal activity” from that time. i suppose the truth sets you free, but it might set you free from your good job too. and i’m not sure that helps anything.
Derek Jeter Has A Man Crush
Posted by Steve Hulkower in The Clubhouse
December 20th, 2007
Derek Jeter wants everyone to leave Roger Clemens alone. “It seems right now people are rushing to judgment,†Jeter says. “You have to let it play out a little bit before you say he is guilty or not guilty.â€
Sure, Jeter is right that we are rushing to judgment, but this is how it works in today’s world of sports. Barry Bonds never received the benefit of the doubt from the media or the fans, so why should Roger Clemens? Jeter never said a peep to defend Alex Rodriguez as the media conditioned Yankee fans to boo him for his .290 35 home run season. So why, exactly, is Derek choosing to defend Clemens in this situation?
According to the NY Post:
Jeter never has disguised his feelings for Clemens. When Clemens joined the Yankees in 1999, Jeter, who wasn’t a fan when Clemens pitched for Boston and Toronto, gravitated toward the legendary pitcher. During the 2006 World Baseball Classic, they shared a house in California.
It’s a shame that people think Jeter is a team leader. Today he’s shown that he is nothing if not selfish about when he speaks and when he doesn’t. That’s not a quality that defines leadership. Just like the myth that Jeter is a good fielder, his leadership ability should be considered defunct.
As the unprofessional journalist that I hope to be one day, a Derek Jeter article is not complete without a mention of his being a tax cheat.
New York State tax officials say that the Yankee star Derek Jeter claimed he lived in Florida to avoid paying city and state income taxes for several years, when he was actually living in New York.
Isn’t it sad when a professional athlete making millions of dollars per year tries to avoid paying taxes while the rest of us blue-collar suckers always contribute our fair share (and likely much more than that)?
Well, it’s not. We don’t actually know that Derek Jeter is a tax cheat. All he has to do is prove that he qualifies for residency laws in Florida – I think if you own Marlins memorabilia you automatically qualify – and this tax cheat business will turn into him being called a tax genius. However, if he were, say, Barry Bonds, every sports radio show and sports website would be railing against him for being a tax cheat. So, in that vain, you’re a tax cheat Mr. Jeter. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Of interesting note, the New York state division of tax appeals has included in legal papers as proof of Jeter’s residency in New York the following two quotes:
“He has made numerous public statements professing his love for New York.â€
“He keeps items near and dear in his New York apartment,†the lawyers wrote. “He became immersed in the New York community.â€
Sounds like a strong case.
http://www.bugsandcranks.com/t.....man-crush/
randy:
“just because someone has a religious conversion doesn’t mean everything they say is true.”
I agree with that. I find a lot of 12 steppers and recovery people talk in religious tones because of the program’s central tenet of surrendering to a higher power in order to break addiction’s grasp. Naulty strikes me as a person who was easily led and kind of rootless, and I could understand someone thinking that maybe religion is merely his latest refuge.
But I’m trying not to judge Naulty. My point was that in the Mitchell fallout the media is (surprise) obsessed with the big names. Thus, I find interesting the perspective of how PEDs helped marginal players become 40 man or even 25 man roster guys. (Thankfully, MiLB’s current testing program is in some ways stronger than MLB’s).
I also really believe that MLB/MLBPA have an obligation to one of their heavily scouted talent pools, High School athletic programs, to provide education and the right message about PEDs, and to take some responsibility for the effect they have on one of their most vulnerable constituencies.
Geez, Sully
Sounds like ya never got over your Rocket-crush and you’re envious of Jeter.
There, there, don’t cry Sully, just cuz Rocket loves us more than the sardine can.
ps it’s on 9:00 AM and you’re already drunk? What’s Santa gonna say? You know he’s checking his list!
“As the unprofessional journalist that I hope to be one day, a Derek Jeter article is not complete without a mention of his being a tax cheat.”
sullivan-
hey good news. you are well on your way to being that “unprofessional journalist. maybe you are ready to apply for that globe or herald job.
ti the season to be jolly, so don’t forget to wish a merry christmas to all of your red sox friends for me.
Buster Olney is free today at ESPN and in his column links to a LA Times story that admits it blew the Grimsley reporting.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/.....;cset=true
Gotta be careful with those informants and sources.
murphydog-
it goes without saying that mlb and the mlbpa should invest heavily in letting amateur players know about the dangers of steroids. just think how much education could have taken place with the money invested in the mitchell report.
also, i agree that the naulty story is an interesting one. i’m not sure it’s a good idea telling young players that he made it to the majors only because of steroids. some young players could take that message the wrong way. he might have made it anyway if he would have been disciplined enough to have worked harder instead of taking the easy way of illegal peds.
i noticed that naulty did not mention donating his mlb payers pension that he will have coming at some point. it’ll amount to millions if he lives long enough. if he’s really serious about his belief that he cheated his way to a mlb career, he should donate it to funding education of amateur players about the perils of illegal peds.
if he did that, now that would really be a story.
That he is today. Everyone has an opinon and a agenda.
As the unprofessional journalist that I hope to be one day,
randy:
I hear you about the potential for hypocrisy in Naulty’s story and circumstances. But I would let him have a go at the kids even though he cheated his way to the roster. It’s an insider perspective, a cautionary tale that is the life story of any former drug abuser or alcoholic. His message is that even though he achieved, he spent the night his team won the World Series wanting to kill himself because his achievement was fraudulent. I think high schoolers are still idealistic and open enough to respond to a guy with a Yankee WS ring who says “Don’t do what I did because if you wind up with a ring by cheating, it won’t mean a thing.”
True, making Naulty forfeit his pension deprives him of the benefits of ill gotten gains and there is a seductive symmetry in that. But it would also deprive his otherwise innocent family; turning them into collateral damage really doesn’t serve the greater good.
I think the jury is still out on Naulty. He outed himself, inviting everyone’s scorn and derision. He’s in school, trying to go in a different direction. For the time being at least, I suspect he’s available to address youth groups and send the right message. But for the rest of his life Naulty will have to contend with the doubt you described: “he might have made it anyway if he would have been disciplined enough to have worked harder instead of taking the easy way of illegal peds.”
Former MLBer Doug Glanville had an interesting perspective in his Dec. 20 ESPN.com essay.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3162061
“The physical effects of this enhanced shortcut may pale in comparison to the spiritual impact on a society that doesn’t want to experience setbacks, doesn’t want to age, doesn’t want to cope with weaknesses, and doesn’t want to ever deal with diminishing skills. We end up missing out on the fact that even when we lose something, in one respect, we gain something else.”
my yankee christmas wish list:
- a stronger bullpen
- a real first baseman
-a world class conditioning coach
- a two strike swing for arod with a runner on third with less than two outs in a close game
- a new offensive approach by girardi that can score runs consistently instead of by the bucketful at the wrong time
- a healthy year for pettitte and wang to have the innings to protect the kids
- hank letting hal speak just once
Did the Yanks sign Greg Porter? If so, does anyone have a link?
Oh yeah, Happy Holidays!
No mentions of Clemens’ video denial yet? Or did I just not see it when scrolling through comments?
http://rogerclemensonline.com/
murphydog-
i agree that the naulty story is a poignant one. in my younger days, i threw a lot of batting practice to triple a players in florida and caught a lot of triple a pitchers . there is a huge temptation to take short cuts because the player may be in his late twenties and have a wife and three kids and be on the brink of either making the majors or being released. sometimes both at the same time.
on thinking about it, i’m sure that someone like naulty could have made it without steroids. he doesn’t describe himself as having been extremely disciplined and dedicated to training in his younger days. i think the message needs to be put out that steroids cheat the player himself out of learning to did deep enough to find the way to the skills it takes to be a major league player.
the cheater really cheats himself. i think that’s the message naulty should be pushing. naulty seems like a genuine guy. i hope his message gravitates to something similar to this. it’s an awful message that if it wasn’t for steroids, he wouldn’t have made it. he could have made it. he just wasn’t working hard enough or smart enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD0GHx980CU
How about shipping Igawa to SD for 26 yr old lefty RP Joe Thatcher. He was not bad in minors and brief stint in majors with an era of 1.29 and would solve the lefty rp conundrum for 08…
Or the Yanks could make things a bit more interesting, and add Matsui to Igawa for Chase Headly, Thatcher and Justin Hampson. Padres need help in LF and the Yanks would 2 cheap lefties rp and a good hitting 3b/1b stud.
rocco-
thanks for the link on clemens.
well, that’s the most straightforward denial yet.
as a baseball fan i hope he’s telling the truth. with the spotlight that is going to be put on him by going on 60 minutes, it’s likely the truth will come out. not to mention roger putting himself squarely in the crosshairs of the congressional hearing coming up.
as much as we’d all like to move on to just baseball, this story isn’t going to go away for a long time. the mitchell report is going to be on trial itself if clemens is cleared by further investigation. mitchell made mention of the la times article that said clemens was involved in steroid use. now that the times has issued a retraction and apology, doesn’t mitchell also need to? if he’s wrong there , how many other times was he wrong?
if clemens is cleared, the mitchell report goes down the tubes. it’s going to be interesting to see mitchell’s reaction to this. his reputation is at stake.
leave it to roger to send a high hard one at the mitchell report.
Curt Schilling has acknowledge that Roger Clemens gave him advice that helped his career.
Once Clemens takes his case to courst. I’d like to see Schilling subpoenaed to testify.
Clemen’s lawyer should ask Schilling if he thought Clemens’ performance was enhanced with steroids or peds. When Schilling answers in the negative, he should then be asked what exactly would he look for in a chemically enhanced player and how does that compare to Clemens.
Then he should be asked for specific players that he’s played with and compare their physical characteristics to Clemens.
Since Theo Epstein was traced to an e-mail questioning Eric Gagne’s steroid history, he should be subpoenaed as well and questioned similarly. Let them defend their players while under oath if need be.
The same goes for the other General Managers’ who’s names were mentioned. Since George Mitchell and Selig opened the door, why not be fair about it and complete the job? It was Mitchel’s decision to name names in his incomplete report. Once he made that decision he should have finished the job. It’s not fair to those that were named that they are watching other users get off Scott free.
According to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Twins front office is expected to solicit “final best offers” on Johan Santana shortly after the New Year.
Cafardo goes on to say that if the Yankees don’t add Ian Kennedy to their offer, which supposedly includes Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and some other minor leaguers, the Red Sox will land Santana. Boston is still offering Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie.
Source: Boston Globe
When thought about, Boston hasn’t won fair and square with total legitimacy since the Schilling sock event of 2004.
Various factors pre-dated 2004 but that was the defining year.
Odds will be established at 7 1/2 to 5 with a Clemens vs. Mitchell showdown in litigation.
The list of cooperating witnesses on behalf of the defense will punch further holes in the Mitchell Report and render it a virtual farce.
Boston won’t get Santana for Boston’s proposed package, I guarantee it. Unless they get 2 top prospects for him, they’d be crazy to move Johan. Once again, just another writer coming up with another story during a boring time in baseball.
Drive 4-5, the first name that comes to mind is Curt Schilling. Long career as a power pitcher (into his 40s), added size. A series of injuries, coinciding with sharp dropoff in performance and then a late career improvement. Sounds suspiciously like Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan. Seems like it fits Schilling, too.
Unless both Ellsbury and Lester are included in a deal, they are not getting Santana.
Plain and simple.
Personally, I think the Yanks and Red Sox are perfectly content with the idea of Santana starting 2008 in MIN.
whether or not the red sox get santana, i think the yankees need to start going after players that match up well with what the red sox have. i think it’s safe to say now that the red sox are good enough that they are worth aiming at as far as beating them.
for example , ted lilly would have been a good signing last winter because he has a reputation as a red sox killer. for the last three years he has a 3.08 era for over 50 innings against them. all other things equal the yankees should be built to beat the red sox.
signing igawa and not lilly last winter made no sense when the red sox are the yankees biggest rival. hopefully cashman made note and will keep that in mind when making future signings.
Please tell me that you’re kidding about Ted Lilly.
Signing Lilly made no sense last season and I’m thrilled Cashman didn’t entertain the offer. It would have taken four years of commitment to get him and he would be blocking the progress of the young kids over the next few years.
The Yanks don’t need anymore dead weight on this team. Lilly was a career .500 pitcher with a 4.60 ERA and 1.48 WHIP for a reason going into 2007. He’s an average AL pitcher.
I hated the Igawa signing from the get-go and said as such on this blog a year ago. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise that he was so bad and unreliable in 2007 that it forces the Yanks not to depend on him going forward.
Merry Christmas! Go Red Sox!
shilly-shally v.i.waver. -n. wavering,in-decision.[redupl. on shall I]
conspicuous resemblance to a blog in Boston …
“Signing Lilly made no sense last season and I’m thrilled Cashman didn’t entertain the offer. It would have taken four years of commitment to get him and he would be blocking the progress of the young kids over the next few years.”
i’ll give you that igawa isn’t blocking the kids so cashman did a good job in that regard . you’re missing the greater point that i’m making saying the yankees need to specifically get players who can beat the red sox. it’s not just enough to have stats across the league. they need to have players that have had success against the red sox.
Re: Dan Naulty, according to Baseball Reference, Naulty was not on the 1999 World Series Yankee team. He made some appearances in the regular season, but does not appear in the ALDS, the ALCS, nor the World Series. His ‘confession’ states he was in the “dugout” when they clinched for the regular season. Then he says after “we won” the World Series he left the ’stadium’ which is fine but he wasn’t on the post season roster.
Hard to believe it will be 33 years since the Yanks signed Catfish Hunter to the unheard of contract of 2.75 million dollars for 5 years…I’ll always remember that Christmas Eve press conference….It was the beginning of the Yankee’s return to prominence…They also traded Bobby Mercer for a one year rental of Bobby Bonds, who will be spun a year later for Mickey Rivers and Eddie Figeerou.. Then came Reggie and as they say the rest is history…..Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the best fans in the world, N.Y. Yankee fans……Damn, it’s great to be a Yankee fan…..A birth rite of sorts….
randy l.
You are forgetting that the reason Cashman decided against Lily was the cost. His contract would have made the Yankees even more inflexible financially they they already were. His 40 million contract would have equaled 52 million in luxury tax dollars. It would have been a mistake.
Giuseppe is absolutely right
By the way: The Yanks had a team that was built to beat the Sox. The Sox and their fans wanted nothing to do with the Yanks in the 07 playoffs. Our problem was we couldn’t beat anyone else.
The Yanks just have to focus on themselves
Randy :
Success is a state of mind. Winning breeds confidence. Boston’s success in recent years is a fleeting thing. They predicate all they do with the Yankees in mind.
The Yankees have their own identity and don’t measure their success with what Boston does.
Boston’s lineup is media fed and soon the heart of that lineup will be gone once Manny Ramirez leaves and Ortiz has no protection.
Take Beckett out of their pitching rotation and Boston is close to mediocre. Beckett was 80% of their playoff success.
The Yansk already have players with success against the Red Sox and will have three more with Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy if they turn out anything like we all hope.
Besides, for the exception of 2004, the Yanks have beaten the Red Sox head-to-head in 6 of the last 7 years.
“They (the red sox) predicate all they do with the Yankees in mind.”
that didn’t seem to hurt them since they’ve won twice in 4 years. with the yankees having to give 100 million a year in revenue sharing to other teams, i think the yankees just thinking about themselves is over. i think the red sox are for real as a permanent threat in this day of revenue sharing.
i realize it would have been beneath the yankees in the past to think about what other teams do, but the yankees have to beat the red sox to a pulp every year like they did with the 5 game sweep in 2006 .
if the red sox get santana, the yankees would be wise to see who across the league has had success against santana and think about acquiring some of these hitters. if they are going to have a platoon at first, they might as well have players who hit beckett and santana for example.
the days of the yankees thinking they are too good to pay attention to the red sox are over.
Good afternoon all. Finally sitting down after baking all day. Phew I’m tired. And there is more baking tomorrow.
Re: Clemens, I believe him. I can’t see him issuing such a strong denial and being guilty. He would look like a huge fool if he lied, and surely would never get into the Hall. I only hope he sues, and puts Mac in prison.
Few care to remember what the Yankees accomplished in 2007 with what the cicumstances were at the start of the season. They managed to win 94 games in the regular season with more question marks than they presently have. They finished just 2 games out in the division and Boston was on the ropes with Cleveland in the playoffs just like the Yankees were. Boston caught an overly rested Colorado team in the WS. By no stretch does Boston resemble a dynasty. The Yankees start ‘08 with a better managed team and contract questions resolved along with experience under their belts from farm products. There’s a lot to like about 2008.
I saw a site with the most overpaid players in the league, by position. Pretty cool. Obviously, I might change a few, but solid list nonetheless. Yanks managed to have a couple…
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/200.....paid-team/
Clemens Set to Appear on ‘60 Minutes’
Posted: 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Clemens on 60 Minutes..
Roger Clemens will take his case to the airwaves. Clemens, who was the highest profile player named in the Mitchell Report, again denies using steroids in a video on his Web site and announces that he’ll be interviewed on “60 Minutes.”
Sadly, the Red Sox are a threat in the revenue-sharing world. The reason I started the sentence with sadly is because there should be more consistent threats if some of the wealthy, cheap-skate owners cared about winning.
The Steinbrenner family is nowhere near the wealthiest owners. Not even close to the Twins, for example.
The Yanks and Red Sox are just a few of the teams willing to spend to get results on the field. Too many owners are more happy turning a profit. Such is their right, as owners. But they are disappointments to the fans.
Clemens has a smart lawyer.
If you read the Mitchell report, it states that the injections were all done in Clemen’s apartments in New York and Toronto. Therefore it is Clemen’s word against MacNamee.
In that case a staunch denial can not be refuted.
How, exactly, did Green Bay LOSE to Chicago?!
WTF?!
Brett, you disappoint me! The Pack is so totally my NFC team!
green bay had 3 punts blocked..
Igawa for Thatcher would be a good trade for the ynaks, save money and get rid of a mistake…
Clemes with a strong denial on video, Man what is he up to if he is lieing he is pathaological..
Santana update from earlier. Is anyone else tired of these rumors? haha I know that makes me a small hypocrite, but still. haha
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/200.....-new-year/
Clemens has agreed to be interviewed for 60 Minutes.. Following A-Rod…
After the New Year is 364 days..
Based upon what I have read in the newspapers and heard on TV, the Red Sox offer for Johan Santana is the only one in play. The Yankee offer with Phil Hughes and Lekly Cabrera proabably is half-on the table but the third player is not. Who knows what the Yanks will do.
The Red Sox, at this point, are not giving up Ellsbury or Buchholz and they have no reason to do so if they are the only player for Santana. Unless someone comes and sweetens the deal, the Red Sox don’t have to budge.
What’s scaring off teams is not Santana or giving up talent, it is the salary Santana will command and the years – 7 years is a long time for a 28-old-year and 140M, to start, is a big investment. Only a pennant contender need apply. The Twins may have to settle for less (Red Sox deal isnt that bad), sign Santana or keep him for the next season and then lose him.
If Red Sox were going to give in they would have already, it seems to me.
December 22nd, 2007
Yankees Not In On Santana? Why Their Package Isn’t Enough
http://modernrooters.blogspot.com/
Earlier today, Newsday cited a source “with knowledge of the situationâ€, who on behalf of the Yankees said, “I don’t see it happening with us. We pulled out in Nashville, and we haven’t put an offer back on the table.†Now I don’t know about you, but I find it highly unlikely that the Yankees are completely out.
My personal opinion, is that the Yankees at this point aren’t willing to give up Hughes and another quality prospect. They’ve demonstrated a strong unwillingness to include a player such as Chamberlain or Kennedy. And such unwillingness seems rather intelligent. They’ve also been unwilling, however, to include less valuable prospects such as Alan Horne, Jose Tabatha, or even Austin Jackson.
Whether that thinking will be best for the organization has yet to be seen, but what’s clear now is that it’s likely not the type of thinking that could land them Santana. I don’t think any reasonable fan doubts the value of Phil Hughes. He projects as an ace, and is likely to be better than anyone offered in a Red Sox package. But the Yankees best offered package of Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Jeff Marquez offers very little talent in addition to Hughes.
Melky Cabrera’s greatest asset is his price. He will be cost controlled for years to come. But his abilities as a baseball player aren’t very impressive to anyone outside of New York. Melky’s power is very limited, he’s slugged only .391 the past two seasons and his patience at the plate is inconsistent. Last year, among center fielders who qualified, Cabrera ranked 10th out of 13th in OPS. And even if he does eventually live up to his minor league line, an OPS of .769, his offensive output would be average for the weak hitting position of a center fielder.
On the defensive side, Cabrera has a rocket for an arm. But I don’t think it quite makes up for his limited range and poor instincts. I play softball with some Yankees fans, and when someone takes a poor route to a fly ball, they dub that “pulling a Melkyâ€. When someone misjudges a ball at the wall that used to be a “Milledge†but after Delmon Young misjudged a David Ortiz walkoff home run last year, it’s now more popularly known as a “Delmonâ€.
As far as Jeff Marquez, it’s not as if he doesn’t have potential. Marquez is a 23-year-old sinkerball pitcher in the Yankees farm system. He typically throws in the low 90’s and has a plus change but he needs much more development. Marquez doesn’t have the ability to strike many batters out, and throughout his minor league career he’s allowed more hits than innings pitched, which is concerning considering he’s only in Double-A. He also has an injury history, which sidelined him for much of his 2006 season.
If the Yankees were serious about Santana, they’d definitely have to add more value to their package. It takes more than one high quality prospect to acquire any ace in a trade, let alone one considered the best pitcher in baseball. But as of now, it looks like they’ll be content to go with the players they have, even if that means the Red Sox may acquire the Twins ace.
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Roger Clemens posted a video Sunday repeating his denials of the steroids use alleged against him in the Mitchell Report and plans to be interviewed for a future episode of “60 Minutes.”
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was accused in the report of using steroids, an allegation made by his former trainer.
In October last year, the Los Angeles Times reported Clemens was linked to steroids in the May 2006 sworn statement of a federal agent who cited former big league pitcher Jason Grimsley. At the time, the names of players in the public version had been blacked out. When the full affidavit was unsealed Thursday, Clemens’ name was not in it, and the paper issued a correction and an apology.
“I faced this last year when the L.A. Times reported that I used steroids. I said it was not true then, and now the whole world knows it’s not true, now that that’s come out,” Clemens said in the video, which was posted Sunday on the Web site of his foundation and on You Tube.
George Mitchell, a director of the Boston Red Sox and a former Senate majority leader, wrote in his report that former Toronto and New York Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Blue Jays, and in 2000 and 2001 while with the Yankees. McNamee also claimed he injected Clemens with Human Growth Hormone in 2000.
“Let me be clear, the answer is no. I did not use steroids, or human growth hormone and I’ve never done so,” Clemens said. “I did not provide Brian McNamee with any drugs to inject in to my body. Brian McNamee did not inject steroids or Human Growth Hormones into my body either when I played in Toronto for the Blue Jays or the New York Yankees. This report is simply not true.”
Baseball players and owners did not jointly ban steroids until September 2002. They did not ban HGH until January 2005.
While Clemens has released a written and video statement since Mitchell issued his report on Dec. 13, he has not answered questions.
“After Christmas, I’m going to sit down with Mike Wallace of `60 Minutes,’ and I’ll do an interview, and he’ll ask me a ton of questions on this subject, and I’ll answer them right there in front of him, and we’ll do all of this again,” Clemens said.
CBS spokesman Kevin Tedesco said the interview is scheduled to air Jan. 6.
“I’m angry about it,” Clemens said of the allegations. “To be honest with you, it’s hurtful to me and my family, but we’re coming upon Christmas now, and I have been blessed in my life. I’ve been blessed in my career, and I’m very thankful for those blessings.”
Mitchell said McNamee, a former personal trainer to Clemens and Yankees and Houston Astros teammate Andy Pettitte, told him Pettitte had used HGH two-to-four times in 2002. Pettitte issued a statement Dec. 15 saying he used HGH twice in 2002.
___
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Roger Clemens posted a video Sunday repeating his denials of the steroids use alleged against him in the Mitchell Report and plans to be interviewed for a future episode of “60 Minutes.”
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was accused in the report of using steroids, an allegation made by his former trainer.
In October last year, the Los Angeles Times reported Clemens was linked to steroids in the May 2006 sworn statement of a federal agent who cited former big league pitcher Jason Grimsley. At the time, the names of players in the public version had been blacked out. When the full affidavit was unsealed Thursday, Clemens’ name was not in it, and the paper issued a correction and an apology.
“I faced this last year when the L.A. Times reported that I used steroids. I said it was not true then, and now the whole world knows it’s not true, now that that’s come out,” Clemens said in the video, which was posted Sunday on the Web site of his foundation and on You Tube.
George Mitchell, a director of the Boston Red Sox and a former Senate majority leader, wrote in his report that former Toronto and New York Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Blue Jays, and in 2000 and 2001 while with the Yankees. McNamee also claimed he injected Clemens with Human Growth Hormone in 2000.
“Let me be clear, the answer is no. I did not use steroids, or human growth hormone and I’ve never done so,” Clemens said. “I did not provide Brian McNamee with any drugs to inject in to my body. Brian McNamee did not inject steroids or Human Growth Hormones into my body either when I played in Toronto for the Blue Jays or the New York Yankees. This report is simply not true.”
Baseball players and owners did not jointly ban steroids until September 2002. They did not ban HGH until January 2005.
While Clemens has released a written and video statement since Mitchell issued his report on Dec. 13, he has not answered questions.
“After Christmas, I’m going to sit down with Mike Wallace of `60 Minutes,’ and I’ll do an interview, and he’ll ask me a ton of questions on this subject, and I’ll answer them right there in front of him, and we’ll do all of this again,” Clemens said.
CBS spokesman Kevin Tedesco said the interview is scheduled to air Jan. 6.
“I’m angry about it,” Clemens said of the allegations. “To be honest with you, it’s hurtful to me and my family, but we’re coming upon Christmas now, and I have been blessed in my life. I’ve been blessed in my career, and I’m very thankful for those blessings.”
Mitchell said McNamee, a former personal trainer to Clemens and Yankees and Houston Astros teammate Andy Pettitte, told him Pettitte had used HGH two-to-four times in 2002. Pettitte issued a statement Dec. 15 saying he used HGH twice in 2002.
___
Happy Festivus everybody!
http://scottproctorsarm.blogsp.....tivus.html
Does anyone out there remember that old margarine commercial where Mother Nature was fooled by the taste into thinking it was really butter? Mother Nature got mad and kicked off a tornado saying, in so many words, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”
The Clemens denial looks pretty strong. Right now it’s just Roger against McNamee and maybe a denial plus some good dirt on McNamee coupled with the LA Times’ bad reporting will earn Roger a win against Mitchell in the court of public opinion. But Federal Investigators, MLB and some sports writers are a lot like Mother Nature; they are notorious for making a lifelong project out of you once they think you beat the rap. What if Roger really is innocent? Maybe he is, but it’s almost impossible to prove a negative. Even if he beats McNamee’s allegations, Roger will always wear the mark of Cain in the eyes of some.
Finally, there’s this wild card: people who are currently staying quiet because they think it’s none of their business may not remain quiet if they think Roger is trying to get away with something. “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”
“After the New Year is 364 days…”
Actually…
After the New Year is 365 days since it is a Leap Year
Murph :
It wouldn’t be a pretty scene to see Roger in a nice NYC restaurant with Lupica seated at the table across from him.
Keith:
There’s an old saying: you know you’re having a really bad day when… Mike Wallace shows up at your office with a camera.
I guess it’s only a little better when you get to make an appointment with him.
Call me crazy, but after finding out the LA Times story about Clemens and Pettitte was fabricated, I’m tending to believe Clemens more and more.
He’s setting himself up either for vindication or a long stay in jail for perjury. There won’t be temporary truce in this war.
I think if Clemens wins out, the least they should do for him is set Mike Lupica up on his soapbox and let the Rocket knock him off it with fastballs.
Jimbo
December 23rd, 2007 at 6:58 pm
“After the New Year is 364 days…â€
Actually…
After the New Year is 365 days since it is a Leap Year
_____________________________________________________
A Leap year has 366 gays and a regular year has 365…to be precise it has 365 and a quarter days.
actually, it may have more gays than 366, but it does have 366 days.
Enough of your shameless self promotion already. Yankee fans don’t care about reading a Red Sox blog.
I write for a blog too, but I don’t plug it – especially in forums dedicated to the enemy.
I think blogs as a whole right now aren’t getting a whole lot of hits because of the holiday…
Drive 4-5:
Now, now. The LA Times story wasn’t fabricated. It just wasn’t true or accurate ; ) As for Lupica, GB7 already hit him hard enough for a TKO when he referred to Loopy Lupica as a “malignant little dwarf.”
The day may come when Lupica gets that key out of his back but not anytime soon …
http://enough-Lupica.com/index.htm
Except for ESPN’s Sports Reporters, arrogant Lupica isn’t seen much on TV but if he had his own spot, a good scenario would be one like Jim Rome once had :
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dOVxitMy47c
ironically, i think pettitte could be clemens biggest problem if clemens had any ped involvement.
when i was a little kid, my best friend’s parents would pay him a quarter whenever he told the truth. that kid got me in more trouble than anyone since. i soon learned that best friends can cause more trouble than enemies.
pettitte and clemens were so close that pettitte would probably know about it if roger used peds or not. i don’t think pettitte would cover it up if asked by any official authority. even if clemens just dabbled, pettitte would likely know about it .
if pettitte comes out and says roger is clean, i’ll believe it. if he says nothing, then i’m gonna be wondering.
roger better not be bluffing. it is entirely possible that he’s never used steroids. he hasn’t had any of the kind of tearing tendon injuries that steroid abusers seem to have. i’m pulling for clemens on this one.
and for all you youngsters on the blog who know a lot about stats but not much about playing, it’s ageism to say anyone over 40 who performs athletically well must be on peds. it’s not necessarily true.
Ethan–You write well. And most of us, anyway, welcome intelligent discussion.
ethan-
plus it’s the holidays so why not keep it in that spirit at least for another week.
if you notice, even yankee fans here are being nicer than usual to each other.
on the clemens video, i was just glad he didn’t say ” i never touched that woman”.
clemens has set things up for a big win or a big loss. if he can somehow prove his innocence( i’m not sure how anyone proves they didn’t do something), shilling needs to be the first one in line to apologize to clemens. actually the second; behind mitchell.
I may not have a chance to get on the computer the next couple of days so I just wanted to wish everyone a great holiday!