Huston Street's available?

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster


posted: Sunday, January 13, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: MLB

Roger Clemens will eventually be the baseball headliner in Washington, assuming that he testifies before Congress on Feb. 13. But commissioner Bud Selig, union head Don Fehr and former Senator George Mitchell will be the first to face questions from congressmen, on Tuesday. Here's what could -- or should -- be asked.

For Selig:

1. Former Senator Mitchell said, generally, that your sport developed a rampant drug culture, and that everyone was responsible. Among others, he meant you. Do you agree, and if so, what, specifically, do you think you, as commissioner, did wrong? If you disagree, please explain how and why.

2. The commissioners of the NFL and NBA chose to not open investigations into their sport, and you have been candid in acknowledging that your advisors told you that opening an investigation was not a good idea. What was it about baseball's situation, as compared to the NFL or NBA, that compelled you to commission your investigation?

3. How much did the Mitchell report cost Major League Baseball -- including any base fee paid to the former senator, the actual cost of the investigation and the costs incurred by teams as they dealt with inquires from the Mitchell investigators?

4. You say you are embracing the changes suggested within the Mitchell report, some relating to testing procedures. But some of these were outlined years ago by critics of baseball's drug policy. Why are you embracing the suggestions now, rather than before?

For Fehr:

1. Former Senator Mitchell said, generally, that your sport developed a rampant drug culture, and that everyone was responsible. Among others, he meant you. Do you agree, and if so, what, specifically, do you think you did wrong? If you disagree, please explain how and why.

2. On the day the Mitchell report was released, you indicated that in looking back, you believe action by the union did not come swiftly enough in dealing with the issue of steroids. First, can you elaborate on that? And secondly, given that history, do you believe it is prudent for the union, in dealing with the issue of performance-enhancing drugs, to continue to resist the kind of blood testing that is done in many other sports?

3. Gene Orza, the No. 2 officer within the union, is essentially accused, within the Mitchell report, of tipping off a player to a drug test. Can you elaborate on that, with details of whether this is what happened? And if it did occur, can you tell us whether other players were also tipped off, at other times? And if it did happen, do you think this has the potential for undermining the credibility of your union's drug-testing agreement?

4. Bud Selig has said he is committed to making the recommended changes contained within the Mitchell report. Are you? If not, what recommendations concern you, and why?

For Mitchell:

1. You did not have the ability to subpoena players during your investigation, but you had extraordinary power, nonetheless, because any player mentioned in your report was effectively damaged for life. You invited players to meet with you during your investigation -- but why did you choose not to inform them exactly what they were accused of?

For example: If you were confident in the information that trainer Brian McNamee provided, why would you not inform Roger Clemens, before the release of your report, of what McNamee was alleging?

2. In most cases within your report, you provide corroborating evidence. In some cases, however, you included an allegation based on interviews with a single source -- in most cases, either McNamee or former Mets batboy Kirk Radomski. Can you explain how you came to view this as sufficient evidence?

3. You received help from federal investigators during your own inquiry, which was a private investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball. How did it come to pass that federal investigators provided you with information that is not accessible to the public at large? In your view, why should a private investigator for Major League Baseball have access that other citizens -- whether it be baseball fans, journalists or even the players -- cannot have?

4. There must have been steroid pipelines in baseball during the era. How much investigating did you do about these possible sources:

A. Players obtaining the drugs while playing winter ball, particularly in the Dominican Republic.

B. Players obtaining the drugs in Mexico, after crossing the border in Texas or San Diego county.

C. Some player agents.

5. You have spoken generally about how baseball had a drug culture, and how everyone contributed to the problem. But there is very little in the report about the decisions made by the most powerful people in the sport -- the union leaders, the commissioner, the owners -- that helped to foster this culture. Can you elaborate on that here today? Can you characterize the conversations that took place in union meetings and owners meetings?

• Roger Clemens' effort to clear his name may have spun the wrong way, writes Alan Schwarz. At the moment, writes Richard Justice, Brian McNamee seems more believable. Clemens did not speak about the steroid flap when he met with Texas coaches, writes Bart Hubbuch.

Meanwhile, his former trainer, Brian McNamee, is reportedly opening up in a way he did not last summer.

Baseball is to blame for its troubles, writes David Steele.

• The guys named in the Mitchell report will have no trouble from teammates, as Nick Cafardo writes.

PED-FREE ZONE

Neither the Blue Jays nor the Cardinals are getting a sure thing in their swap of third basemen Troy Glaus and Scott Rolen.

Glaus has missed at least 47 games in three of the last five seasons, and he's a subpar defensive third baseman when he does play -- but if healthy, what he gives St. Louis is somebody who might be more apt than Rolen was to make opponents pay when they pitch around Albert Pujols, who drew 99 walks last season, including 22 intentional walks. And the Cardinals are assured of a spring training and season without the sideshow issue of whether Tony La Russa and Rolen would speak to each other again (and that was unlikely to happen, after La Russa sent what was perceived to be a blistering letter to Rolen after the season and after La Russa criticized Rolen during the winter meetings).

Rolen has missed 176 games over the last three seasons, largely because of shoulder problems, and there is real doubt among executives with other teams about whether he will ever come close to being the kind of offensive player he used to be (Rolen batted .258 with eight homers in 392 at-bats last season, and a .398 slugging percentage). But Rolen should be, at the very least, a significant defensive upgrade over Glaus, on a team built around sinkerballers like Roy Halladay. Vernon Wells, who had a poor season in 2007, must hit in 2008 to make up for the offense lost with the departure of Glaus, but this deal could be good for Toronto.

It's a gamble for both teams, has a chance to work out for one or both teams and has a chance to blow up for one or both teams.

The deal solves the Rolen-La Russa spat, writes Bernie Miklasz.

• Ryan Braun made immediate changes to his workout regimen after hearing about the Mike Cameron signing, as Tom Haudricourt writes.

• Miguel Cabrera appeared at a Tigers function Saturday, and Michael Rosenberg reports that he looks good. In this picture, it does looks like he has lost weight. He acknowledged that he's lost "maybe" 20 pounds, as Lynn Henning writes.

Dave Dombrowski thinks Brandon Inge should catch, writes Jon Paul Morosi.

• Athletics owner Lew Wolff says Oakland is not throwing away 2008, and is looking for a season with a record over .500, writes John Shea.

• It's been 99 years of waiting for the Cubs -- and counting, writes Murray Chass.

• Some Pittsburgh players like the status quo with the Pirates, writes Dejan Kovacevic. Ronny Paulino is trying to put himself in position for a comeback, writes Rob Biertempfel.

• The Rockies are still looking for a left-hander, writes Troy Renck.

• Spring training is five weeks away, and the Orioles have many unanswered questions.

• The Red Sox still have some questions about their bench.

• Mark Kotsay is a quality major leaguer, Chipper Jones tells David O'Brien, in the aftermath of the Braves' agreement to deal for the center fielder.

• The Rays are dangerously close to being competitive, writes Joe Henderson. Their payroll has increased by 70 percent, writes Marc Topkin.

• Maybe Walt Jocketty can help the Reds find their Chris Carpenter, writes John Fay. Jocketty lacks an ego, writes Fay.

• Bud Shaw muses about Progressive Field and concludes: It could have been worse.

• Gene Conley had twice as much fun, writes Stan Grossfeld.

• Phil Rogers writes that he forgot to put Harold Baines on his ballot.

• Vanderbilt is no longer unbeaten, as Maurice Patton writes. Next up: the University of Tennessee.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/COL22/801130665/1048/SPORTS

MICHAEL ROSENBERG: New Tiger Miguel Cabrera is shaping to be perfect
A good fit: Cabrera looks in shape to have a dynamic season

January 13, 2008

BY MICHAEL ROSENBERG

FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

One strange part of being a baseball fan in 2008 is that you want baseball players to be fit, but not too fit. Muscles are good, but really big muscles arouse suspicion.

I am pleased to report from Saturday's TigerFest that Miguel Cabrera looks excessively ... good. He is fantastically ... healthy.

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The Tigers acquired Cabrera in November, but there is less Cabrera now than there was then. He doesn't know how much weight he lost. But he sure looks like he is in great shape.

"I feel like I had to lose," Cabrera said. "I feel more comfortable."

When Cabrera is comfortable, pitchers get fidgety. His first four full seasons look like misprints. He is one of the best hitters in baseball -- and since he puts up huge offensive numbers while playing a difficult position, third base, he is one of the most valuable players in the game.

That's why it was so important for Cabrera to lose weight. He would be a great player anywhere, but he is exceptional at third base. With Cabrera playing third, the Tigers can leave Carlos Guillen at first base and Gary Sheffield at designated hitter and still have the only lineup in baseball that might make the Yankees jealous.

It is a lineup of stars, and Cabrera should be the brightest. I know Magglio Ordonez is coming off an extraordinary year. But Cabrera is the best pure hitter on this team.

Dontrelle Willis, who arrived in the same trade with Florida, called Cabrera "the best player in the league, hands down." Willis is biased, of course, and last I checked, Alex Rodriguez was still in the American League. Still, Cabrera will be in the conversation.

When reporters asked Guillen to talk about Cabrera, he said, "Again?" Guillen was kidding, but who can fault him? Guillen and Cabrera grew up in the same city in Venezuela, and there is no doubt about which one is the bigger star.

Cabrera is one of those no-doubt players. He seems to have arrived on the planet as a fully formed baseball player, like he left the womb and immediately hit a triple off the doctor.

"Everyone knows Miguel in Maracay," Guillen said. "Even when he was 12, 13, 14 years old, everybody talk about Miguel."

According to Baseball-Reference.com, the three batters whose stats were most similar to Cabrera's at age 24 were Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Robinson. Those are not just Hall of Famers. Those are Hall of Famers who can look down on other Hall of Famers.

Of the 10 batters who were most similar at that age, six are in the Hall of Fame. Griffey will make the Hall when he becomes eligible. And so, probably, will the No. 10 man on the list, Angels star Vladimir Guerrero, who happens to be Cabrera's role model.

"To me, he's a complete hitter," Cabrera said. "He can hit for average, for power. He can do everything."

So can Cabrera. The man has averaged 31.5 homers over the past four years, and that's not even the best part of his game. Cabrera has contended for a batting title, finished in the top five in his league in on-base percentage and pounded 50 doubles in a season.

I should probably point out that Guillen also said "if you have to pick one player in a clutch situation" he would happily take Cabrera. And I figured, "Yeah, sure, of course."

But then I looked it up on that same blessed Web site, Baseball-Reference.com. And you know what? Cabrera's worst performances, by far, come in the ninth inning and extra innings. His numbers in "late and close" situations are significantly worse than his numbers the rest of the time. That's not necessarily a terminal problem, but it's worth noting.

OK, so the guy isn't perfect.

Yet.

Contact MICHAEL ROSENBERG at 313-222-6052 or rosenberg@freepress.com.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/13/Rays/Payroll_blows_past_pr.shtml


ST. PETERSBURG - Three interesting things to come out of last week's spring-training-is-closer-than-you-think media session:

- The payroll most likely will exceed $40-million, a significant increase nearly 70 percent from last season's opening day $24-million.

The Rays have more than $20-million committed to seven players (Carl Crawford, $5.25-million; Troy Percival, $4-million; Cliff Floyd, $2.75-million; Akinori Iwamura, $2.4-million; Al Reyes, $2.3-million; Rocco Baldelli, $2.25-million; Gary Glover $1.075-million); four players remaining in arbitration (Carlos Pena, Scott Kazmir, Dan Wheeler and Jonny Gomes) who could make $13-million to $14-million; 12 or 13 players who will get the $390,000 minimum or slightly more; and openings for a backup catcher, super-utility type and left-handed reliever. Plus millions in incentives.

The increase is considerably larger than the 20 percent promised by principal owner Stuart Sternberg but won't be a problem or force other cuts, executive VP Andrew Friedman said.

"From the original thoughts that all of us had, we're a good bit above that number and it's just the way things worked out," Friedman said. "It's the opportunistic approach that we had this offseason."

Friedman is confident all four arbitration cases will be settled by Friday's filing of figures - his deadline to cease talks and proceed to a hearing.

- It would seem an unusual way to do things, but Friedman said the Rays might decide before 3B prospect Evan Longoria gets to spring training whether or not he's on the team.

The thinking is that the Rays already know enough about him, that talent evaluations during the spring are often skewed by circumstance and level of competition, and that deciding beforehand would reduce scrutiny (and pressure) on his day-to-day play.

But doing so would seem to make sense only if they decide Longoria, 22, isn't going to make the team. That way, it eliminates the question from being a daily issue, as well as a potential controversy if Longoria were to put up huge spring numbers.

- No matter what else the Rays have done, a huge key remains Baldelli's health.

The official plan is for the oft-injured Baldelli to DH while Gomes and Floyd share rightfield, but manager Joe Maddon acknowledged he'd prefer to use Floyd, 35, as the DH as much as possible with Baldelli in the field. Plus, in some roster configurations, Baldelli is needed as the backup centerfielder.

Baldelli said he has been working out and running three days a week with no problems from his previously troubling hamstrings and plans to "turn it up a notch" after returning to Florida at the end of the month. "If I can hit and kind of take it easy running, I think everything will fall right into place after that," he said.

RAYS RUMBLINGS: C Dioner Navarro joined the La Guaira team for the Venezuelan league playoffs. ... The preferred profile for the wanted "super-utility" player is a left-handed hitter who can play first and third and fill in at the corner outfield spots, and likely would be acquired via trade. ... Ex-Rays OF Damon Hollins returned from Japan and signed a minor-league deal with Kansas City. RHP Lance Carter did the same with Toronto. LHP Jon Switzer signed with Boston. ... Fred Repke, whose signees include P James Shields, Longoria and P Jake McGee, was named scout of the year and roving hitting instructor Steve Livesey the top player development man. ... And for those who keep asking, the Trop can't be "converted" to an outdoor stadium by removing the roof and some walls because it was built with no drainage or weatherproofing (and would be very costly to do). ... Triple-A Durham also has started a fund (accessible through durhambulls.com or by calling (919) 687-6555) for manager Charlie Montoyo, whose son Alex was born with a heart defect.

MISCELLANY: The Orioles are exploring moving their spring base from Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach as a replacement for the Dodgers. ... Tampa's Luis Gonzalez, a free agent, is talking to the Marlins about a reserve OF/1B job, and maybe the Mariners. ... Ex-Ray Aubrey Huff had sports hernia surgery but is due back when the O's start full-squad workouts Feb. 19. ... The Mets seem the front-runners for Johan Santana.
Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

FAST FACTS

How they're looking/33 days till spring training

An occasional guess at the Rays' projected opening day lineup (vs. Baltimore lefty Erik Bedard) and roster based on their current composition. Players in bold are set, in light type are likely and in italics are current top choices with more moves expected:

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B

2. Carl Crawford, LF

3. Carlos Pena, 1B

4. B.J. Upton, CF

5. Rocco Baldelli, DH

6. Jonny Gomes, RF

7. Joel Guzman, 3B

8. Dioner Navarro, C

9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Reserves

Cliff Floyd, OF

Mike Difelice, C

Ben Zobrist, INF

Justin Ruggiano, OF

Starters

Scott Kazmir, LHP

James Shields

Matt Garza

Edwin Jackson

Andy Sonnanstine

Relievers

Troy Percival

Al Reyes

Dan Wheeler

Gary Glover

Scott Dohmann

Jason Hammel

Kurt Birkins, LHP



[Last modified January 12, 2008, 19:40:56]

http://www.twincities.com/ci_7956099?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

Via Charley Walters

As predicted, Minneapolis native Walter Jocketty, who was general manager for two St. Louis Cardinals' World Series clubs, has been named special adviser to Cincinnati Reds CEO Bob Castellini. Insiders say Jocketty declined similar positions with the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Had he wanted, it's a good bet he could have been the GM in waiting (two years) of the Yankees. But he's much smarter than that.

Interesting. I wonder who it was in the Yankees chain of command that made the offer to Jocketty?

what is a li-ah?

is there any ACTUAL PROOF that McNamee lied??

pssst why didnt mitchell let hailin investigate again????????

http://www.miamiherald.com/591/story/344322.html luis perez



The Mitchell Report revealed steroid and other drug use on the Marlins from 1998 to 2001, when bullpen catcher Luis Perez was providing them.

Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada might have been the biggest names released Thursday when the Mitchell Report -- a 20-month investigation into big-league baseball's steroid era -- finally was made public.

But the Marlins had their own chapter in the report, which revealed that bullpen catcher Luis Perez, who was with the Marlins from 1998 through 2001, supplied steroids and other drugs to just about every member of the Marlins.

However, the report did not name any Marlins connected with Perez from that period of time.

In an interview with Kevin Hallinan, the commissioner's senior vice president for security, and his deputy, Martin Maguire, Perez admitted he was the main source for not only steroids but other illegal drugs to just about every Marlins player.

The report states that Perez said ``two players asked if he could obtain steroids for them. After he was successful in doing so, word spread and he became a source of players to acquire steroids and other drugs.

``Perez alleged that he had witnessed widespread use of steroids and other drugs. According to Hallinan's memo, Perez told baseball officials ``that virtually every player on the Marlins was doing something from steroids to greenies to marijuana etc.''

The report also states that after Perez became the bullpen catcher in Montreal in 2002 that he ``also claimed that every pitcher in Montreal's bullpen was on some form of steroids.''

UGLY DETAILS

The report said Perez told Hallinan that when ``teams were in San Diego, players often crossed the border into Mexico to obtain illegal substances. He said he knew of other clubhouse employees with other teams who were similarly called upon to obtain drugs for players -- Perez also claimed he was paid as much as $500 by certain players to carry their bags to and from Canada.''

The report states that Perez's attorney gave Hallinan and Maguire a ``typed list of players and their drugs of choice. The list identified eight players [Astros, Marlins and Expos] who had acquired anabolic steroids and 12 others who had obtained other drugs.''

The report said 'Hallinan told us [Mitchell] the Perez incident could have been the most important in the `steroids investigation.' But to his disappointment, he was not given permission to interview the major-league players on the list.''

Major League Baseball never would have interviewed Perez about steroid use, but in 2002 while working with the Expos, Perez asked a Marlins clubhouse attendant to take a bag back to Florida for him.

The bag was padlocked, which caused Marlins equipment manager John Silverman to be suspicious. Silverman opened the bag to find one pound of marijuana. Montreal police were called in and Hallinan interviewed Perez, who later was fined $5,000 for the incident. It was in a later interview that Perez opened up to Hallinan and Maguire.

The report also goes into detail about another steroid incident in the Marlins' clubhouse involving former Marlins pitcher Ricky Bones.

THE BONES SITUATION

In late June 2000, six syringes and six vials containing two types of anabolic steroids were found in Bones' locker in the team's clubhouse. Bones claimed he had the medication from his physician in Puerto Rico to self-administer for pain because of his degenerative hip. After Bones left baseball, he had hip-replacement surgery. Then-Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski informed the commissioner's office and was told they would ``take it from there.''

Several former Marlins are mentioned in the report. Outfielder Gary Sheffield and catcher Benito Santiago both were linked with the BALCO investigations that came well after Perez left the Marlins; pitcher Kevin Brown and catcher Paul Lo Duca were with the Dodgers at the time they were linked, according to the report and catcher Greg Zaun was linked when he was a member of the Royals. Veteran pitchers Ron Villone and Matt Herges also were named in the report, which mentions no current Marlins



In a piece he wrote for this week?s ESPN The Magazine (subscription required to read), Crawford admitted to using steroids and HGH while with Boston from 2000-01. Check out this excerpt, which also seems to shed a controversial light on the Sox clubhouse at that time.

?During minor league spring training with the Red Sox in 1999, some of the other guys saw I was hurting. They told me that if I took this stuff, it would make the pain go away and cut my recovery time in half. Shoot, why not? I'm just a country boy; I didn't even think twice.

?I was probably using the most back in 2001, when I made the Red Sox rotation out of spring training. About that time I was getting pretty big, and another player introduced me to human growth hormone, which had started to make the rounds in the majors. I got a kit with two bottles: One was filled with some kind of water, and the other was filled with these tiny crystals. I put a few drops into the crystals and -- poof! -- it became liquid. I thought, Boy, what the h*ll are you putting into your body? But I did it anyway.

?Back in 2001, I thought I was the man. I had no shame, and I thought nobody could touch me. One time, I walked right into the Red Sox clubhouse with a bunch of needles wrapped in a towel and left them on my chair. A few minutes later, one of my teammates came running over, saying, ?Paxton, someone knocked your chair over and your freaking needles are all over the floor!? Man, we just died about that. He said it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen, told me I was nuts. But that's the way it was back then.?

The 28-year-old Crawford went 5-1 for the Red Sox in 2000 and 2001, but never pitched at the major league level after that.

end except

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/06/crawford_comes_1.html



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/david_epstein/01/07/clemens.questions/index.html

The McNamee Quote

Much of the pre-news conference chatter among reporters focused on the defamation lawsuit that Clemens filed Sunday night against McNamee. In the suit, McNamee is quoted at length talking about his interview with federal investigators. McNamee says federal investigators told him he had "three strikes to go to jail" and they demanded information specifically regarding Clemens' use of steroids.

Clemens' suit uses the quote to suggest that McNamee was pressured by federal investigators to make untrue statements about Clemens, and goes on to say McNamee was pressured to reiterate the statements to former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell for his report on steroids in baseball.

McNamee's attorney, Earl Ward, was present during his interviews with federal investigators and has said McNamee was not pressured or bullied.

Question Raised: Where did McNamee's long quote in the lawsuit come from?

Answer: Clemens' attorney, Rusty Hardin, said that McNamee talked at length to two private investigators -- both former Houston police officers -- hired by his firm. McNamee told them about his interview with federal investigators and Mitchell and said that assistant U.S. attorney Matthew Parrella, who is working on the BALCO case, told him "we know [more] about you than you know about yourself. You're going to jail. Let's go back to when you first met Clemens in '98."

Question Raised: Why would McNamee talk to private investigators?

Answer: According to Hardin, eight days before the Mitchell Report was released, McNamee called Hendricks Sports Management, the baseball agency that represents Clemens and Andy Pettitte, looking to get in touch with the pitcher. According to Hardin, McNamee told a Hendricks representative that he had told Mitchell's investigators that Clemens used steroids and human growth hormone. "He said that he wanted to apologize to Roger and Andy," Hardin said. On the day before the Mitchell Report was released, McNamee agreed to talk with two private investigators from Hardin's office. According to Hardin, McNamee spoke with them cooperatively for hours, telling them about his interviews with federal and Mitchell Commission investigators.

Question Raised: Roger Clemens told Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes that he was caught by surprise when his name appeared in the Mitchell Report and that had he known the allegations that would be made against him in the report he would have gone to Mitchell to refute them. If Clemens' legal team dispatched investigators to talk with McNamee before the report came out, doesn't that mean Clemens did know that he would be accused of using steroids and human growth hormone?

Answer: According to Hardin, it was not until the day before the report was released that Clemens learned what McNamee had told Mitchell, and there was no time to give Mitchell a reply. Hardin added that Clemens still did not know whether McNamee's statements would be included in the report until it came out.

Question Raised: But why didn't Clemens come out with a denial as soon as the report was made public?

Answer: Hardin said that he advised Clemens not to make public statements until his legal team could adequately acquaint itself both with Clemens himself, who was a new client, and with the Mitchell Report. "I didn't know Roger from Adam before this," Hardin said, "I didn't know if he was telling the truth ... after spending three weeks with him, I believe he's telling the truth."



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Question Raised: What do McNamee's lawyers make of the fact that he spoke with Hardin's investigators?

Answer: "It was incredibly foolhardy of Brian to have spoken to them," said Richard D. Emery, one of McNamee's attorneys. The quote is "taken out of context. Brian is trying to be conciliatory to Clemens." As far as the conduct of prosecutors in their interviews with McNamee, Emery reiterated that Earl Ward was a witness to the interviews, and said that prosecutors "acted completely professionally throughout."

The Clemens/McNamee Tape

The most unexpected development in the news conference came when Clemens' team played a 17-minute tape of a phone conversation between Clemens and McNamee that occurred last Friday. On the tape, Clemens expresses his displeasure with the scrutiny he is undergoing, and tells McNamee that "I just don't know why you did it." McNamee, whose voice is breaking at times, repeatedly implores Clemens to "tell me what you want me to do ... you treated me better than anybody."

Question Raised: Where did this tape come from?

Answer: Clemens was with his legal team during the phone call, and they recorded the conversation.

Question Raised: Why were McNamee and Clemens talking on the phone Friday?

Answer: Lawyers for Clemens and McNamee agree that McNamee sought the audience. McNamee's 10-year-old son, Brian Jr., who idolizes Clemens, is sick, and McNamee e-mailed Clemens hoping that Clemens would talk to Brian Jr. and perhaps soothe some of his distress over the maelstrom that has engulfed his father and favorite player.

Question Raised: What did the tape show?

Answer: Not surprisingly, that depends which side you ask. Hardin characterized the conversation as bizarre behavior for someone who claims to have told the truth. "The guy makes allegations against someone," Hardin said incredulously, "and then calls and asks for his help and asks what he wants him to do." Hardin said he wanted to play the tape to give people who had not already condemned Clemens more information with which to consider McNamee's credibility. On the other side, Emery was disgusted by the use of the tape. "Here's Clemens getting on the phone with his former friend whose son [is both seriously ill and upset] ... and in a cynical and calculated way he sat on the phone with his lawyers trying to lure Brian to say something that Brian didn't say."

Question Raised: What did Brian say?

Answer: Mostly that he was sorry and upset for all the pain that had been caused, and that Clemens had "treated me like family." He did not, however, directly address the veracity of his statements about Clemens' use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Question Raised: If Clemens knew McNamee was lying, why didn't he push him more in the conversation to admit it?

Answer: Hardin said he advised Clemens to be very careful about baiting McNamee. McNamee "is a federal witness now," Hardin said, adding that Clemens had to be careful not to appear to persuade a federal witness or to offer McNamee anything in return for him saying he had lied. Both Clemens and McNamee largely steered clear of any direct discussion of McNamee's allegations. At one point, Clemens said, "I just know I didn't do it." But McNamee responds only with "tell me what you want me to do," as he had several times earlier, including when he offered to attend the Monday news conference.



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Question Raised: If McNamee offered to attend the news conference, why wasn't he there?

Answer: Clemens got off the phone with McNamee saying he would get back to McNamee. Hardin says Clemens then sent McNamee an e-mail saying he was no longer comfortable talking unless McNamee's lawyers approved it. (Emery says he had no knowledge of that e-mail.) Hardin claims that McNamee had not responded by the time Newsday reported on Sunday that a conversation had taken place between Clemens and McNamee. At that point, says Hardin, "We said, 'OK, he leaked it to the media instead of getting back to us,'" and they decided to go forward with playing the tape.

What's Next?

Emery said the defamation lawsuit that Clemens' lawyers filed and the news conference Monday have not yet persuaded him to file a defamation lawsuit on behalf of McNamee.

Emery had previously suggested that Clemens' defamation suit could be an attempt to avoid testifying before Congress on Jan. 16. According to Clemens on Monday, he will testify before Congress, and, said Hardin, "he will not hide behind the Fifth Amendment."

So, it appears likely that Clemens will testify under oath later this month and then perhaps again in a defamation lawsuit, if not in two defamation lawsuits. (McNamee's lawyers will continue to consider filing a defamation suit).

In what has became a crazy game of "he said/he said," it appears that both men will soon have put themselves on the line with statements (McNamee to federal investigators and Clemens to Congress) that, if false, could lead to criminal prosecution.

http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=719394

By Scout.com Wire Services

Posted Jan 12, 2008


Who will the Yankees' starting first baseman be this season? It depends who's pitching.

Against a lefty, it could be right-handed-hitting Shelley Duncan. Jason Giambi could split time at DH, first base and as a bench player. Switch-hitter Wilson Betemit, a novice first baseman, might be the club's best defensive option.

A sleeper candidate is lefty-hitting Juan Miranda, a Cuban exile who had a combined 16 homers and 96 RBIs at Class A and AA last season.

Giambi has put up some impressive numbers in his career—he has 364 home runs, to name one statistic—but he is reaching the end of the line at age 37. Injuries have forced him to miss about half of the season two of the last four years.

When Giambi stays healthy, his numbers have been consistent. Starting in 1999, he has not had fewer than 32 home runs in a season he has remained in the lineup regularly, and his low RBI total during the span is 107 except for his 87 in 2005.

Duncan had seven home runs and 17 RBIs in only 74 at-bats last season. Betemit had 14 homers and 50 RBIs in 240 at-bats split between the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.


NOTES, QUOTES
—RHP Roger Clemens will not pitch for the Yankees if he comes out of retirement again. The New York Daily News quoted club vice president Hank Steinbrenner as saying that Clemens would not be re-signed.

—RHP Carl Pavano might be ready to pitch in the big leagues by late June, according to a report quoting his agent. Pavano had one victory in two starts last year before undergoing season-ending reconstructive elbow surgery.

—RHP Mike Mussina is headed into possibly the final year of his big-league career (his contract runs out after '08), but he's in manager Joe Girardi's plans. "If you were to say that you were going to design your rotation today, Mike Mussina would definitely be in the mix," Girardi said recently, though he added the caveat that "you have to perform."

—3B Alex Rodriguez has more home runs (220) over the past five seasons than anyone in baseball. Albert Pujols (211) is second. Over that same span, only Boston's David Ortiz has more RBI (642) than A-Rod (631).

—C Jorge Posada has started 1,019 games at catcher since 2000, more than any receiver in the AL during that period. He's one of only eight catchers in major league history to reach the 20-homer plateau in at least seven seasons.


BY THE NUMBERS: 47—Total number of games played at first base in the major leagues last season by players on the Yankees' current 40-man roster. Jason Giambi leads the field with 18 games at first base.


QUOTE TO NOTE: "They learned how to compete at this level. Now, you have to be able to do it over a six-month period...and then you see where you're at." —Manager Joe Girardi