Tracy Ringolsby On Curt Schilling

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7646494


by Ken Rosenthal
Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.
Updated: January 7, 2008, 11:44 AM EST 139 comments
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Either Roger Clemens is telling the truth, or he is convinced that he can not be caught in a lie.

No way Clemens would be this outspoken if he thought someone could prove that he used performance-enhancing drugs. No way he would file a defamation suit against his former trainer, Brian McNamee, unless he was confident that his word would prevail.

In adamantly denying that he used performance-enhancing drugs -- first in a video on his web site, then in an interview with "60 Minutes" Sunday night -- Clemens had to know that he was all but daring Congress to summon him to Capitol Hill.

Yet, the prospect hardly seems to bother him.

Clemens told interviewer Mike Wallace that he would say the same things to Congress that he said to "60 Minutes." His lawsuit against McNamee further demonstrates his willingness to continue the discussion.

His strategy -- deny, deny, deny -- previously was employed by Marion Jones, Barry Bonds and other athletes accused of using PEDs. In Clemens' case, the strategy actually could work, provided that no one corroborates McNamee's charges and fans eventually lose interest.

A casual viewer watching Clemens on "60 Minutes" might have believed him, even empathized with him. Clemens came across as passionate, a hard worker, a man betrayed. And, as he rightly lamented, it's "guilty before innocence" for those alleged to have used PEDs.

Still, Clemens should not be surprised that he isn't getting "the benefit of the doubt" or "an inch of respect" after providing nearly a quarter-century of elite performance and community service.

If he were the first athlete in this predicament, he indeed would merit sympathy. But not now. Not after all the lying by others.




Must-read:
# Kriegel: A task too tall for LSU?

# Rosenthal: Clemens' ultimate gamble

# Long: Great time for Eli to get hot

# Must-see: BCS Live: Ohio St.'s motivation

# Chargers finally get playoff win

# For more videos, click here. Must-know: Redskins expected to go after Briggs
For all of today's rumors, click here. Top headlines:
# Rocket sues ex-trainer for defamation

# Colts safety wins top defensive honor

# Shaq leaves Heat to get treatment

# For all of today's top stories, click here. Worth a thousand words: Sunday NFL Wild Card action

# Photos from the Orange Bowl

For more photos, click here.

Jones, after years of denials, finally confessed to using PEDs. Bonds is under indictment for perjury and obstruction of justice. Other baseball players, including Clemens' friend Andy Pettitte, confirmed allegations in the Mitchell report that they previously denied.

Whether Clemens likes it or not, the skepticism of him is warranted, and not simply because his late-career surge mirrored Bonds'.

Clemens already has changed his story once, saying initially that he did not give McNamee any drug to inject into his body, then admitting that he received shots of the vitamin B-12 and the painkiller Lidocaine. His statements to "60 Minutes," while forceful, echoed the refrains of others alleged to have used PEDs:

# "My body never changed." First off, the point is debatable. Second, it is not necessarily relevant; not every user's body inflates like Popeye's.

# "Why didn't I break down?" Clemens implied that PEDs frequently lead to injury, but some users monitor their intake carefully enough to avoid physical harm.

# "I listened to my counsel." When in doubt, blame the lawyers; Clemens said his attorneys advised him not to talk to Mitchell. If only he had known what McNamee had told Mitchell, Clemens said, he would have "been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it."

# "Andy's case is totally separate." Nevermind that Pettitte, by confirming his use of human growth hormone, strengthened McNamee's credibility. When Wallace asked why McNamee would lie about Clemens but tell the truth about Pettitte, Clemens had no answer.

# "Never happened." That's Clemens' story, and he's sticking to it. He will face a perjury charge only if he testifies before Congress and appears to lie under oath. Like Bonds, he would be playing the odds if he skirted the truth, knowing that perjury is difficult to prove.

Roger Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

The evidence against Bonds, the subject of a federal investigation, remains far more compelling than the evidence against Clemens, one of 87 players cited in the Mitchell report.

McNamee didn't produce canceled checks or other documentation that would provide stronger proof that Clemens used PEDs — evidence that the Mitchell investigators had on other players. All McNamee gave were his recollections.

Those recollections carry weight; McNamee, identified as a buyer and possible distributor of steroids, faced possible felony charges if he failed to tell the truth. McNamee hardly is emerging as a beacon of integrity. But that doesn't mean he's a liar.

The best way for Clemens to clear his name is to sue McNamee, and he took precisely that step Sunday night. While Clemens indicated on "60 Minutes" that such a course would be expensive, money should not be a problem for a player who earned a pro-rated portion of $28 million for pitching in 18 games last season. McNamee figures to have a far more difficult time paying for his defense.

The game is on. Clemens is daring Congress, McNamee's attorneys and anyone else who challenges his version of the truth.

Catch him if you can.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7645222



Updated: January 7, 2008, 2:32 PM EST 324 comments

NEW YORK (AP) - Roger Clemens beat Brian McNamee to court, filing a defamation suit against the former trainer who claimed to have injected him with performance-enhancing drugs.


Clemens, McNamee talk


Roger Clemens reportedly spoke with his accuser on Friday, having an 'emotional' talk with former trainer Brian McNamee.

Clemens filed the suit Sunday night in Harris County District Court in Texas, listing 15 alleged statements McNamee made to the baseball drug investigator George Mitchell. Clemens claimed the statements were "untrue and defamatory."

"According to McNamee, he originally made his allegations to federal authorities after being threatened with criminal prosecution if he didn't implicate Clemens," according to the 14-page petition.

Richard Emery, one of McNamee's lawyers, said he would seek to remove the case to U.S. District Court in Houston, then to possibly shift it to federal court in Brooklyn.

"I think it's dismissible on its face. I think it's a press release for Clemens and his career," Emery said. "The case is shoddy at best. The prosecutors acted completely professionally in this case. This is a very odd thing for me to be saying, but it's the truth. Sometimes you are bound by the truth."

The suit states that when McNamee told others that when he first was interviewed by federal law enforcement last June, he denied Clemens had used steroids or human growth hormone. The suit quotes McNamee as saying he was pressured by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella and IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky — key members of the BALCO prosecution — to implicate Clemens. The suit did not attribute where the quote from McNamee was obtained.



"After this exchange, and for the first time in his life, McNamee stated that he had injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001," the suit said. "Following his recantation, McNamee has relayed that he magically went from a 'target' in a federal criminal drug investigation to a mere 'witness,' so long as he continued to 'toe the line."'

The suit said that when McNamee initially refused a request from federal authorities that he speak to Mitchell, he was threatened with prosecution. Clemens said McNamee decided only then to cooperate with Mitchell, and the suit said McNamee told other the interview "was conducted like a Cold War-era interrogation in which a federal agent merely read to the Mitchell investigators McNamee's previously obtained statement and then asked McNamee to confirm what he previously stated."

Clemens asked that damages be determined by a jury.

"Clemens' good reputation has been severely injured," the suit said. "McNamee's false allegations have also caused Clemens to suffer mental anguish, shame, public humiliation and embarrassment."

Emery said McNamee was threatened with prosecution for steroids distribution unless he told the truth. That, according to Emery, was when McNamee implicated Clemens.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner, who was scheduled to hold a late afternoon news conference Monday in Houston, sounded indignant and defiant in a segment of CBS's "60 Minutes" broadcast Sunday night, his first interview since McNamee accused him. The two are approaching a potential confrontation if they testify under oath at a Jan. 16 hearing on Capitol Hill.

The most prominent player implicated in last month's Mitchell Report, Clemens steadfastly maintained his innocence and called McNamee's allegations "totally false."

"If he's doing that to me, I should have a third ear coming out of my forehead. I should be pulling tractors with my teeth," said Clemens, who wore a lavender button-down shirt during the interview, taped Dec. 28 at his home in Katy, Texas.

On Friday, when the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform invited Clemens and McNamee to testify, the pair spoke by telephone, an individual close to the situation said, speaking on condition of anonymity because public comments weren't authorized. The conversation first was reported Sunday by Newsday.

The individual would not say what was discussed.

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told the Houston Chronicle that it was McNamee who arranged to talk to Clemens on Friday but instead of getting back to Clemens the conversation was leaked "with spin" to Newsday.

During the "60 Minutes" segment, Clemens said he might be willing to take a lie-detector test and was "shocked" close friend Andy Pettitte used HGH. He said — again — that he probably will retire.

A fiery look in his eyes and stubble on his face, Clemens told CBS's Mike Wallace that he would have spoken with Mitchell had he been aware of McNamee's accusations.

"I thought it was an impassioned, disingenuous and desperate plea," said Earl Ward, McNamee's primary lawyer.

One of the few revelations in the much-hyped interview came when Clemens was asked whether he conceivably would take a lie detector test.

"Yeah," he answered. "I don't know if they're good or bad."

After Monday's news conference will come the congressional hearing. Pettitte, former Yankees teammate Chuck Knoblauch and former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who allegedly supplied McNamee with performance-enhancing drugs, also were asked to appear before the committee.

Lawyers for Clemens and McNamee have said their clients are willing to testify but Hardin wouldn't commit to the date.

Emery said he wanted to hear testimony from Clemens.

"If Congress calls him, he pretty much has to take the Fifth, and if he takes the Fifth, nobody will ever believe him again and all this effort has gone down the drain," Emery said. "And if he doesn't take the Fifth, it's very hard to imagine that a prosecutor isn't going to pursue this. So I think he's put himself in a terrible corner."

Clemens said his lawyer advised him not to speak with Mitchell, who spent 20 months on his investigation.

"If I would've known what this man, what Brian McNamee (had) said in this report, I would have been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it," Clemens said.

Only two active players, Jason Giambi and Frank Thomas, spoke with Mitchell, a Boston Red Sox director and a former Senate majority leader.

In excerpts of the CBS interview that were released Thursday, Clemens said McNamee injected him with vitamin B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine. In the full 14-minute broadcast, Clemens also said he was given an injection of toradol under the supervision of the New York Yankees.

McNamee told Mitchell he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH about 16 to 21 times during 1998, 2000 and 2001 — before baseball players and owners agreed to ban performance-enhancing substances.

Eighth on the career list with 354 wins, the 45-year-old Clemens said he was angered McNamee's accusations have been accepted as truth by some.

"It's hogwash for people to even assume this," Clemens said. "Twenty-four, 25 years, Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch."

Clemens said the descriptions McNamee gave Mitchell of injections "never happened."

"If I have these needles and these steroids and all these drugs, where did I get 'em?" he said. "Where is the person out there (who) gave 'em to me? Please, please come forward."

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080107&content_id=2340641&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Why all the talk about Hideki Matsui as a designated hitter? Isn't he an "iron man" with a better arm than Johnny Damon? As far as I can tell, the only bad thing Matsui ever did in left field was break his left wrist in May 2006. It seems to me that with the production the Yankees can expect from their outfield personnel, a rotation might suit them best.
-- Brad B., Temple, Texas

It does seem that ever since Matsui broke his wrist, his "iron man" status has taken a hit and it could be a thing of the past. Injuries slowed Matsui for much of 2007, starting with the strained hamstring on that chilly April day in the Bronx, and his arthritic right knee required a surgical procedure after the season.

At the same time, Damon's energy made a real difference down the stretch, the same way Melky Cabrera represented an upgrade over Damon in center field. Damon seemed to take well to playing left field, even though it was clear that he would have preferred to play center.

Having Matsui healthy changes the dynamic a lot, and it will be curious to see how manager Joe Girardi handles the situation. With his consecutive-games streak long over, Matsui still offers the Yankees a professional hitter, whether he's in the field or serving as the DH. But part of the reason why he was able to log so many at-bats as a DH in 2007 came from Jason Giambi's absence due to injury.

As of right now, the Yankees project to have Cabrera starting every day in center field and Bobby Abreu doing the same in right. That leaves Damon and Matsui for left field and DH once again, but with Giambi back in the mix, someone is more than likely going to be left out.

The deal for Johan Santana has come down to a matter of dollars and cents. Twenty million a year for an ace pitcher in three or four years will seem like a bargain deal. In six or seven years, an ace pitcher will easily be able to demand $30 million yearly. If it's just about the money, it looks like a steal for the Yankees.
-- Larry K., Lewiston, Idaho

Senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner has made very little secret of the fact that he'd like to see Santana in pinstripes, but he and general manager Brian Cashman have been reported to be among the organizational voices of dissent. If the Yankees do move forward on their trade for Santana, it would likely have to come packaged with a contract extension that has been reported to be as much as six years and $120 million.

Hypothetically, that only plays out to be a good deal if Santana is still pitching -- and effective -- well into the next decade. Sure, $20 million may well be a bargain for a top-flight starting pitcher in 2013, but is there any guarantee that Santana will be filling that role when he's 34?

To be clear, if you're going to commit that kind of money to anyone, it might as well be to Santana, who is dominant, in the prime of his career and seems to be at the top of his game.

But here's something to think about -- relatively few big-money deals for five years or more for starting pitchers have worked out in favor of the clubs over the past 30 years. Mike Mussina's $88.5 million deal has been pretty helpful for the Yankees since 2001. But for every Mussina, there's a Denny Neagle (five years, $51 million), Mike Hampton (eight years, $121 million) or Chan Ho Park (five years, $65 million) to make you consider a future with Phil Hughes intact.

I've read that Jorge Posada started his career as a second baseman. Did he and Derek Jeter team up for double plays in those early years or did Posada move positions before they started playing together?
-- Mike S., Monterey, Calif.

Have a question about the Yankees?
Bryan HochE-mail your query to MLB.com Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch for possible inclusion in a future mailbag column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content.



Posada led all New York-Penn League second basemen with 41 double plays turned for the Oneonta Yankees in 1991 before making a successful transition to catcher with Class A Greensboro in '92. By the time Jeter was drafted by the Yankees that June, Posada was already honing his catch-and-throw abilities behind the plate, though they would play on the same team when Jeter joined Greensboro late in the year.

I have not heard much about Doug Mientkiewicz. Do you know if he will be coming back next season? I think that he is still a solid first baseman.
-- Marcin K., New York

Few are as enjoyable to watch defensively as Mientkiewicz, but he does not appear to be on the Yankees' radar. Cashman said recently that he is not in the market for a first baseman. By allowing Mientkiewicz to enter free agency and also cutting Andy Phillips loose, the Yankees appear primed to head into the season with Shelley Duncan, Giambi and Wilson Betemit as their primary first-base personalities.

What is the status on Juan Miranda? Will we see him in a Yankees uniform or is he more suited for trade bait?
-- Hugo G., Miami

Miranda might be a wild card for the Yankees' first-base situation later in the season. Lauded as a professional hitter, Miranda batted .264 with 16 home runs and 96 RBIs in 446 at-bats for Class A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2007. Since Giambi really projects more as a DH anyway, it comes down to what Betemit and Duncan produce at first base. If it's less than what the Yankees would like, don't rule out seeing Miranda by mid-summer.

Whatever happened to Humberto Sanchez? If healthy, is he projected to be a member of the Yankees' bullpen?
-- Keelan L., Avon, Conn.

Coming off Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, Sanchez will be a touch behind the rest of the Yankees' pitchers and catchers when he reports to Tampa, Fla., next month, but he's expected to be on a mound and throwing sometime in March. With success, Sanchez could be an option for the Yankees' bullpen before the All-Star break.

Do you think we will see Jose Tabata, Andrew Brackman or Jesus Montero in the Bronx any time soon?
-- Rafi G., Monroe, N.Y.

Tabata, for all his offensive promise, won't turn 20 until August. He might have a slight chance of seeing New York by year's end, but it's not as though the Yankees have any reason to rush him, especially with 40-man roster spots at a premium. Montero has already shown good progress, but he'll need to continue in the lower Minor League ranks. Brackman is slated to miss most or all of 2008 after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in August.

Will there be a museum at the new Yankee Stadium? I went to a Texas Rangers game in Arlington and wandered into their museum and thought it was very well done. A team with the history and legacy of the Yankees should have something like this as well. Any room in the new stadium?
-- Bryan L., Terryville, Conn.

Plans for the new stadium do include a Yankees museum and many of the historical touches that you would expect from a facility meant to evoke the original "House that Ruth Built." As an aside, having watched the new stadium rise on a near-daily basis during the season, it has been quite striking to see an updated version of the same entryway modeling that is so prominent in photographs of the pre-renovation facility.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2008/01/07/2008-01-07_dad_on_henrik_lundqvists_mind.html


BY JOHN DELLAPINA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Monday, January 7th 2008, 4:00 AM
Henrik Lundqvist insists his father's health has not been a distraction. Keivom/News

Henrik Lundqvist insists his father's health has not been a distraction.

Henrik Lundqvist insists it is neither a valid excuse for anything that has happened over the last several weeks nor a reasonable explanation for any particular goal against or subpar performance.

But then, the Rangers' franchise goaltender concedes that his father's health - slowly improving but still a matter of major concern - is on his mind constantly.

Peter Lundqvist underwent brain surgery in mid-December. Henrik doesn't want to discuss the details. But his father apparently suffered an aneurysm that required the surgery shortly after he returned to Sweden from a late-November visit to the United States to see his twin sons Henrik and Joel of the Dallas Stars play against each other at the Garden.

According to one account, which Henrik did not want to discuss, Peter Lundqvist underwent the surgery without Henrik or Joel knowing until after it was over. The procedure was successful. But the recovery has been slow.

And monitoring it from across the Atlantic has not been easy.

"I think about it every day, of course," Lundqvist told the Daily News. "But it's not that he's that sick. He's just recovering from a tough operation - a tough surgery. And it's going to take awhile for him to get back.

"It was something on the brain. I don't want to go into too much on it. Knowing that he's getting better, you see improvements every week. So that's good. It makes me relax."

Lundqvist was anything but relaxed coming off the ice in Edmonton on Saturday after yielding the only goal of the shootout to Sam Gagner in a 3-2 loss that completed a winless Rangers road trip. Lundqvist repeatedly lashed his goalstick into anything that crossed his path, splintering it to pieces.

And he has not been the same goaltender over the last month that he was through the season's first two months.

In his first 24 starts, Lundqvist allowed more than three goals just once, while holding opponents to two or fewer 17 times. He played to a 1.82 goals-against average and .930 save percentage over that stretch, which ran through the Dec.1 victory at Ottawa that completed a 12-3-1 surge.

Lundqvist has allowed four goals or more in half of his 12 starts since while holding opponents to two or fewer just four times. Over that stretch, he has played to a 3.17 goals-against average and .867 save percentage.

THAT HURTS: RW Brendan Shanahan said after Saturday night's game that the left knee injury he suffered in an unintentional center-ice collision with Edmonton's Dustin Penner 9:01 into the third period was "just a contusion." There was no update from the Rangers Sunday, as they spent the day flying back from Edmonton.

After writhing on the ice for several seconds, Shanahan attempted to walk and skate it off. He returned for one 20-second, penalty-killing shift but didn't play anymore.

Rangers coach Tom Renney said LW Martin Straka suffered "a stinger" from slamming into the backboards 1:10 into overtime. Straka did not return to the game and was hunched over and hurting in the Rangers' dressing room afterward.

Vitamin B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 and its role in correcting anemia were discovered in 1934. Since then, doctors have administered vitamin B12 injections to treat fatigue and anemia.

Why vitamin B12 injections? Why not a pill? Early on, doctors noted that taking a pill or increasing the amount of vitamin B12 in the diet (usually by eating liver) didn't always help. Vitamin B12 injections were more likely to make people feel better and to correct anemia. Ever since, there has been an ongoing debate over which is better, vitamin B12 injections or pills.

http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_news.jsp?articleID=20080107230943810000101-a&docType=news&sports=baseball&league=mlb&team=yankees&newsgroup=null


Jan 07, 2008

CINCINNATI (AP) -Pete Mackanin, who ended last season as the Cincinnati Reds interim manager, has taken a job with the New York Yankees as a major league scout.

Mackanin was Cincinnati's advance scout when manager Jerry Narron was fired on July 1. He got the job on an interim basis, and was hoping to stay on as manager. Instead, the club hired Dusty Baker on Oct. 13.

It was the second time that the 56-year-old Mackanin managed in the majors on an interim basis. He also led Pittsburgh for the last 26 games in 2005 after Lloyd McClendon was fired.

The Yankees expressed an interest in Mackanin after baseball's winter meetings in December.

"We had a nice discussion," Mackanin said Monday, in a phone interview. "Fortunately they were looking for somebody, and I fit the bill."

Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky made an open-ended offer to Mackanin after he was passed over for the managing job in Cincinnati. The two are close friends, but Mackanin felt it was best to move on.

"We never got into specifics, really," Mackanin said. "It's all about timing. If nothing had come up (with another team), I think Wayne would have had something available for me. But we never got around to exactly what that was.

"I enjoyed my time with the Reds. I was just hoping it wouldn't be too awkward if I went back there."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star took home the Rumor Royalty trophy for the Royals. We did some Q&A as part of the series. Click here to read the other parts of the Dutton Q&A.

MLBTR: What would you consider a reasonable trade return for David DeJesus? Does he have more trade value than Mark Teahen?

Dutton: DeJesus is a proven, reliable player who is under contract for favorable terms through 2011. In other words, he's a long-term piece in the club's plans. Not an All-Star but a good player capable of helping any club.

The Royals are willing to trade him because they have a reasonable alternative in Joey Gathright and have two solid CF prospects (Jose Duarte and Derrick Robinson) who played last year in A-ball. But the only way they trade DeJesus is if they get similar value in return -- a young, proven, reliable player with a favorable contract.

That could be a No. 3 starter -- someone closer to a No. 2 than a No. 4; a corner-position player with some pop; or a long-term fit at catcher. Personally, I don't see that deal out there at the moment, but the Royals are willing to listen.

DeJesus should have more trade value, right now, than Teahen because he's much more of a proven commodity. He also has that club-favorable contract. That said, Teahen has more upside. He can play first, third, left, right and even center. He showed an ability to drive the ball in 2006 before experiencing a power dive in 2007.

Teahen has the tools to be an All-Star, but lots of guys with tools never turn them into skills. This is a big year for Teahen.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/yankees/Clemens_issues_denial_into_live_cameras.html?c=y&page=1


Monday, January 7, 2008
BY PETE CALDERA
STAFF WRITER
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Video: Clemens angrily defends his name
(please enable pop-ups)

While staring daggers at reporters in an afternoon press conference, Roger Clemens presented his angriest denial yet as to his alleged use of steroids. Clemens’ lawyer attempted to back up his client’s assertion with a taped phone conversation between Clemens and Brian McNamee, the former personal trainer who identified Clemens as a steroid user in the Mitchell Report.

Also during the question-and-answer period with reporters, Clemens said that Andy Pettitte — who admitted to Human Growth Hormone use under McNamee — remains his friend, and that he was unaware of Pettitte’s involvement with HGH.

Clemens said he would testify at the Ccongressional hearing on Jan. 16, and continue his vigorous defense. “I’m going to Congress, and I’m going to tell the truth.”

During the taped phone call, which was played at the press conference in Houston, McNamee repeatedly asks Clemens, ‘What do you want me to do?’

Clemens never gives a specific answer, though there is no mention of steroid use by Clemens during the 17-minute conversation taped Friday night, which was conducted in the presence of Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, and other associates.

It is unclear if McNamee knew that the conversation was being recorded. Clemens said that McNamee initiated the contact via text-messaging, and at one point in the telephone conversation, McNamee states that he’s firing his lawyers.

“I’m in your corner,” McNamee tells Clemens early in the conversation. “I’d also like not to go to jail too, but it has nothing to do with you.”

Late Sunday night, Clemens’ lawyer filed a defamation suit against McNamee, whose lawyers already have already threatened suit against Clemens.

Clemens denied again on “‘60 Minutes’” on Sunday night that he took steroids, and painted McNamee as a steroid pusher who was attempting to avoid prosecution with his testimony to the Mitchell investigators.

Clemens has said he was injected only with B-12 and a pain killer by McNamee and other trainers, doctors and nurses.

Video: Clemens angrily defends his name
(please enable pop-ups)
AP
Roger Clemens listens while his attorney, Rusty Hardin, answers a question during Monday's news conference.

While staring daggers at reporters in an afternoon press conference, Roger Clemens presented his angriest denial yet as to his alleged use of steroids. Clemens’ lawyer attempted to back up his client’s assertion with a taped phone conversation between Clemens and Brian McNamee, the former personal trainer who identified Clemens as a steroid user in the Mitchell Report.

Also during the question-and-answer period with reporters, Clemens said that Andy Pettitte — who admitted to Human Growth Hormone use under McNamee — remains his friend, and that he was unaware of Pettitte’s involvement with HGH.

Clemens said he would testify at the Ccongressional hearing on Jan. 16, and continue his vigorous defense. “I’m going to Congress, and I’m going to tell the truth.”

During the taped phone call, which was played at the press conference in Houston, McNamee repeatedly asks Clemens, ‘What do you want me to do?’
AP
Roger Clemens maintains that his former trainer, Brian McNamee, never injected him with steroids or HGH.

Clemens never gives a specific answer, though there is no mention of steroid use by Clemens during the 17-minute conversation taped Friday night, which was conducted in the presence of Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, and other associates.

It is unclear if McNamee knew that the conversation was being recorded. Clemens said that McNamee initiated the contact via text-messaging, and at one point in the telephone conversation, McNamee states that he’s firing his lawyers.

“I’m in your corner,” McNamee tells Clemens early in the conversation. “I’d also like not to go to jail too, but it has nothing to do with you.”

Late Sunday night, Clemens’ lawyer filed a defamation suit against McNamee, whose lawyers already have already threatened suit against Clemens.

Clemens denied again on “‘60 Minutes’” on Sunday night that he took steroids, and painted McNamee as a steroid pusher who was attempting to avoid prosecution with his testimony to the Mitchell investigators.

Clemens has said he was injected only with B-12 and a pain killer by McNamee and other trainers, doctors and nurses.

Corey Webster
BigBlue2005Eli2Plax Post #1: 9:28 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 2222
What got into this guy yesterday? He looked like Charles Woodson in his prime. Perfect coverage all day long, MVP of the game. I apologize to him for calling him in thr worst in the NFL, but he literally looked like a different person yesterday. Where did that come from?
bcetiger24 Post #2: 9:32 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 2749
He played the best game of his career, and I am not sure that his second best game thus far is anywhere remotely close to how he played yesterday. Sometimes the challenge of the playoffs brings out the best in guys.... he played an awesome game.
NYGiantNDC Post #3: 9:38 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 68


I must apologize as well...I haven't been a big CW fan, but I will admit he's been on roll lately.

All of BIG Blue Nation would agree, it is about time...

It looks like every since the Buffalo game, he's been playing with an unbelievable confidence and is actually challenging the opponents top receivers and that's all you want from a corner is to make the receiver work for anything they are going to get....

The media can talk about Galloway's shoulder which is a very legit topic, but CW was in his jockstrap yesterday...so I applaud his effort






doubleyec Post #4: 10:58 am Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 51


He went from elvis (toast) patterson to deion sanders.
Rebelsins2 Post #5: 12:15 pm Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 63
It look like he decided to not play 10 yards off the wr.
bcaban92 Post #6: 1:13 pm Quote | Report Violation
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Corey Webster played a banged up Galloway with the Giants pass rush abusing Garcia all game long. I'm not ready to jump on any Webster bandwagons just yet but he had a good game. Also noticed he seems a bit faster then before. His real test will be against Owens or Crayton with them having solid pass protection for Romo.
DSTFU Post #7: 1:14 pm Quote | Report Violation
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What got into this guy yesterday? He looked like Charles Woodson in his prime. Perfect coverage all day long, MVP of the game. I apologize to him for calling him in thr worst in the NFL, but he literally looked like a different person yesterday. Where did that come from?

he did miss some tackles, but overall i was impressed

NLW2006 Post #8: 2:49 pm Quote | Report Violation
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Corey Webster played a banged up Galloway with the Giants pass rush abusing Garcia all game long. I'm not ready to jump on any Webster bandwagons just yet but he had a good game. Also noticed he seems a bit faster then before. His real test will be against Owens or Crayton with them having solid pass protection for Romo.



What does a shoulder have to do with running routes and speed ? I can see where you could have problems with catching but he could not get open at all.
BigBlue2005Eli2Plax Post #9: 3:00 pm Quote | Report Violation
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Corey Webster played a banged up Galloway with the Giants pass rush abusing Garcia all game long. I'm not ready to jump on any Webster bandwagons just yet but he had a good game. Also noticed he seems a bit faster then before. His real test will be against Owens or Crayton with them having solid pass protection for Romo.



Galloway had his legs and Webster was step for step with him all day long. That was the best game a Giants cornerback has played since Sehorn in the 2000 playoffs.
Tmac50 Post #10: 3:10 pm Quote | Report Violation
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What got into this guy yesterday? He looked like Charles Woodson in his prime. Perfect coverage all day long, MVP of the game. I apologize to him for calling him in thr worst in the NFL, but he literally looked like a different person yesterday. Where did that come from?



One answer: Spagnola is what lit the fire under him I guess sitting his butt down he must of had time to think about his play!



SMJenkins_10 Post #11: 3:25 pm Quote | Report Violation
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Webster's play has been extremely exciting. This isn't groundbreaking, but confidence is integral to success at the cornerback position and, as a previous poster mentioned, Webster has been playing like he has nothing to lose of late. This is particularly noteworthy because Webster, hands down, is the most physically gifted defensive back that the Giants have had in quite some time (A.Ross is certainly close though).

I thought that Webster was a superb second round choice in 2005 and hope that he can continue his recent upswing. I like the Jints' chances with Webster over Owens instead of Madison in any case.




rjparga Post #12: 3:36 pm Quote | Report Violation
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What got into this guy yesterday? He looked like Charles Woodson in his prime. Perfect coverage all day long, MVP of the game. I apologize to him for calling him in thr worst in the NFL, but he literally looked like a different person yesterday. Where did that come from?


umm..maybe you don't know this but it was joey galloway he was going against...not TO..didn't TO destroy this guy when the Cowboys-Giants played this year ??
rjparga Post #13: 3:36 pm Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 576


Webster's play has been extremely exciting. This isn't groundbreaking, but confidence is integral to success at the cornerback position and, as a previous poster mentioned, Webster has been playing like he has nothing to lose of late. This is particularly noteworthy because Webster, hands down, is the most physically gifted defensive back that the Giants have had in quite some time (A.Ross is certainly close though).

I thought that Webster was a superb second round choice in 2005 and hope that he can continue his recent upswing. I like the Jints' chances with Webster over Owens instead of Madison in any case.



why ?/ TO killed him already this year...Webster can't cover TO



bcaban92 Post #14: 4:14 pm Quote | Report Violation
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What got into this guy yesterday? He looked like Charles Woodson in his prime. Perfect coverage all day long, MVP of the game. I apologize to him for calling him in thr worst in the NFL, but he literally looked like a different person yesterday. Where did that come from?


umm..maybe you don't know this but it was joey galloway he was going against...not TO..didn't TO destroy this guy when the Cowboys-Giants played this year ??


Actually, I think Webster held him catchless in the first half in the first game so he is capable of covering Owens.
UgotMossed Post #15: 7:46 pm Quote | Report Violation
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Webster played well no doubt. But it is kind of a similar situation that Eli was in. When the pass rush is there the new york DBs have to cover for shorter periods therefore making their job easier. The pass rush is the most important thing on defense for a defense back. Just as pass blocking is the most important thing for a QB on offense. When both of these things are working Eli and Webster are able to show off the skills that got them where they are now. It isn't like Webster didn't have skills coming into the NFL, but for whatever reason up till this point Webster and Eli haven't been able to display these skills consistently. I for one thought Webster was done but maybe there is still hope for the kid, yesterday he did the one thing that he hadn't been able to do up until now and that is turn and find the ball when it was in the air. On the INT it actually looked like he was the WR on the play I was amazed. But it wasn't just him on that play, Garcia couldn't just sit back there on the play he was still hit after taking a short drop. So maybe now Webster can prove alot of people wrong with a repeat performance against Dallas, much the same way Eli has done.

http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.com/Blogs/SWBYankees/tabid/552/Default.aspx

Deric McKamey is the director of minor league analysis at BaseballHQ. He's a graduate of Major League Baseball's scout school and he's been an advisor to the St. Louis Cardinals since 2004. He's also the author of the annual Minor League Baseball Analyst, and it's that book that's at the heart of this post.

McKamey agreed to give us an early look at his Top 15 Yankees prospects, along with their potential ratings. He has also agreed to a Q&A. In the comments section of this post, feel free to comment on the list and offer up some questions you'd like me ask. I'm going to email questions to McKamey later this week and I'm planning to post his answers either Sunday or Monday.

Here are his Top 15 Yankees prospects, along with his potential ratings key. This is the tip of the iceberg, and I still highly recommend the book. I bought the 2007 edition and kept it with me throughout the season. The book goes into detail -- pitch repertoires, speed ratings, etc. -- for more than 1,000 prospects and offers quick, easy to understand information, from a guy who knows what he's talking about.

New York Yankees Top 15 Prospects

1. Joba Chamberlain (RHP) - 9B
2. Jose Tabata (OF) - 9C
3. Ian Kennedy (RHP) - 8B
4. Austin Jackson (OF) - 9C
5. Alan Horne (RHP) - 8C
6. Andrew Brackman (RHP) - 9D
7. Dellin Betances (RHP) - 9D
8. Jesus Montero (C/1B) - 9D
9. Humberto Sanchez (RHP) - 8C
10. Jeff Marquez (RHP) - 8C
11. Kevin Whelan (RHP) - 8C
12. George Kontos (RHP) - 8D
13. Ross Ohlendorf (RHP) - 7B
14. Shelley Duncan (OF/1B) - 7C
15. Kelvin DeLeon (OF) - 9E


PLAYER POTENTIAL RATING
Scale of (1-10) representing a player's upside potential
10 - Hall of Fame-type player
9 - Elite player
8 - Solid regular
7 - Average regular
6 - Platoon player
5 - Major League reserve player
4 - Top minor league player
3 - Average minor league player
2 - Minor league reserve player
1 - Minor league roster filler

PROBABILITY RATING
Scale of (A-E) representing the player's realistic chances of achieving
their potential
A - 90% probability of reaching potential
B - 70% probability of reaching potential
C - 50% probability of reaching potential
D - 30% probability of reaching potential
E - 10% probability of reaching potential


The 2008 Minor League Baseball Analyst profiles over 1000 minor league prospects and includes detailed scouting reports, sabermetrics, Major League Equivalencies, organizational lists, Top 100 list, and Potential Ratings. The book can be purchased through Baseball HQ at http//www.baseballhq.com where the purchaser will also receive a free update to the lists in the book. People may also purchase the book through any of the major on-line bookstores. The Minor League Baseball Analyst is expected to arrive mid-January.