ClubberSpeak: I Don't Care If Baseball Players Cheat

((HT: jimlangblog))

Nothing touches off a heated debate like voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Today the Baseball Writers Association of America voted in Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas as the newest members of the baseball Hall of Fame.

No sane person would ever argue the merits of the three newest inductees. All three, especially Maddux, boast a resume that is beyond reproach.

That leads us to the two biggest omissions; Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Both players possess some of the greatest career numbers in the history of the game. And both players are doomed to never be voted into the Hall of Fame.

Clemens was far and away the most dominant pitcher of my generation. Clemens won 354 games, had a staggering 4,672 strikeouts and won seven Cy Young awards.

Meanwhile Bonds all but obliterated the MLB record book. Bonds ended his career with 762 home-runs (1st all-time), 2,538 walks (1st all-time), a career OPS of 1.051 and seven MVP awards.

Now do I think both of them used performance enhancing drugs during their playing career? You bet your frozen polar vortex butt I do.

Do I care that they used PED’s during their career? Not at all.

Major League Baseball players are not role models. They are grown men willing to do whatever it takes to keep making money and help their team win.

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/cheaters/ballplayers.html

Back in the day pitchers used spit balls to gain an advantage. Then players took amphetamines to get up for games. Then they corked their bat to hit more home-runs. You name the method of cheating and I guarantee you somebody in baseball has thought of it in order to gain a competitive edge.

When I was in high school I watched “The Natural” and imagined all my baseball heroes were men like Roy Hobbs. Then reality quickly set in as I realized that baseball players live by the age old credo, “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying”.

To make a long story short, if I had a vote for the Hall of Fame I would vote for Clemens and Bonds. So many players were taking some sort of PED during that era that it is next to impossible to sort out the clean players from the dirty players.

Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands and beat up a man with no hands and he was still voted into the Hall of Fame.

I don’t need a baseball writer to tell me about morality. I just want them to vote for the finest players on the ballot and make sure the Hall of Fame is filled with the best of the best.

Why is it alright for pitchers to scuff the ball, doctor the ball and throw spitballs?

Is that not cheating?

According to the rules of baseball it is:

8.02
The pitcher shall not –
(a) (1) Bring his pitching hand in contact with his mouth or lips while in the 18 foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber. EXCEPTION: Provided it is agreed to by both managers, the umpire prior to the start of a game played in cold weather, may permit the pitcher to blow on his hand.
PENALTY: For violation of this part of this rule the umpires shall immediately call a ball. However, if the pitch is made and a batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a hit batsman or otherwise, and no other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed without reference to the violation. Repeated offenders shall be subject to a fine by the league president.
(2) expectorate on the ball, either hand or his glove;
(3) rub the ball on his glove, person or clothing;
(4) apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball;
(5) deface the ball in any manner

Despite all of this pitchers did it often and still do it to this day.

Prior to 2003 players were not tested for PED’s. Not that doesn’t make it right. But by taking them they were not violating any MLB rules at the time.

A few things emerged from the steroid era. First off the numbers posted by players, especially hitters, were greatly inflated. Secondly the television ratings and attendance were greatly inflated. The boost in TV ratings results in a massive financial windfall for Bud Selig and MLB.

Not only is MLB raking in the money, but individual teams have signed enormous regional television contracts that will ensure their financial stability for years to come.

Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds played a big role in reviving baseball after their labour shut-down in 1994. If baseball writers want to punish Clemens and Bonds for taking PED’s (allegedly) then that is their right.

I just hope the writers understand that fans don’t care if a player cheats. In they end they all cheat in some way, shape or form. Fans only care if their team wins or loses.

The writers can choose to do what they want when it comes to Clemens and Bonds. The fact remains they put up numbers that may never be matched, let alone broken. Those numbers will live on for all to see for years to come; whether or not they ever get voted into the Hall.

Clemens Throws Another 4 And Two-Thirds... Houston, Hello...???

((HT: ESPN))

Some folks think that Sugar Land Skeeters pitcher Roger Clemens pitched better than he did in his first start last month...

Some folks think he is still a 50 year old trying to figure out if he wants to postpone the idea of getting elected in the Hall of Fame...

His son, Koby, got to catch his dad. And Roger gave up two hits and struck out one along the way in a win over the Long Island Ducks...

Here's some sampling of his handiwork this time around...


Skeeters advisor Tal Smith thinks Clemens can pitch in the majors now, as does his wife Debbie... which, of course, is all the second opinion we need to see him back pitching in one of the Houston Astros last two home stands of the year...

Right...???

Clemens Debuts As A Skeeter

((HT: G4SportsNews))

At the age of 50, Roger Clemens was throwing in the high-80's in the independent Atlantic League's Sugar Land Skeeters...

He even struck out Joey Gathright...
Wait, what...???

OK, kids... do the search engine of your choice to figure it out...

But, for whatever it's worth, Clemens was more than happy to contribute to a crowd of 7,724 (standing room only)... and the Skeeters... well, we don't quite recall what the final score was...

And the Skeeters want it that way...

Here's a pitch or two and a soundbite...

Is Roger Clemens coming back with the Astros?

((ht: myfoxhouston.com))

Well, the thought of Roger Clemens coming back to pitch for the Houston Astros has at least been discussed.

We know this because Astros owner Jim Crane admitted as much to Fox 26 TV in Houston on Thursday.

Crane says he and his staff are preparing for the possibility the multiple Cy Young winning 50-year old shows up on the mound at Minute Maid Park. Though Crane says he'll "Have extensive discussions with Major League Baseball" before he pulls the trigger.

Oh, he also made it a point to say "This isn't a Publicity Stunt".

Yeah...sure it isn't.

Read the entire story from MyFoxHouston.com RIGHT HERE

Clemens will pitch for the Sugar Land Skeeters on Saturday and no, he isn't denying the talk. He thinks if it goes well, it "Could lead to bigger things", things he says he'll discuss later. 

Crane just basically confirmed the speculation by opening his pie hole. And since his Astros are by a LARGE margin the worst team in baseball and closing in on worst team in history territory, they've got nothing to lose. It sure sounds like he's planning on doing this...unless Clemens looks terrible on Saturday.

Why not trot out a 50-year old legend who can still throw in the mid 80's and see if he can put some butts in seats? Crane says most of the money will go to local charities which is nice, but it is still all about getting attention. Attention for his woebegone franchise and more importantly, a chance to provide Clemens an opportunity to rehab his image. (Unless he gets shelled)

Stay tuned, we're guessing this story will be around awhile.

Here's a story on Clemens's re-emergence from CBS News (because Fox doesn't believe in video on their websites)

50-Year-Old Roger Clemens In Independent Leagues

((HT: ABC13 Houston))

He's not taking a job from another kid trying to make it to the major leagues... at least, we think he's not for now...

But after throwing for Sugar Land Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti in the high-80's... Roger Clemens is suiting up at the age of 50 for the Independent Atlantic League franchise in Sugar Land, Texas...

Here's the story... in all it's PED-less glory...


And here's what the locals think about it...


The HQ doesn't really have an opinion on it...
We dig the independent leagues and understand the idea that it's all about marketing and putting butts in seats...

And it's no real skin for Clemens except the whole ego thing...
Which is what it's all about in the end...

Clemens Round Two: Jury Says Not Guilty

Former major league pitcher Roger Clemens was indicted in August of 2010 before his first trial ended in a mistrial last summer when the federal prosecutors attempted to disclose evidence that had already been ruled inadmissable...

The second time around as Clemens was accused of lying to Congress (six counts of perjury, making false statements, and obstructing Congress), the verdict came back "not guilty" on all counts...

CSN Bay Area's Ray Ratto put it well on his Twitter feed...

And that is why Rusty Hardin gets paid.

Here's the original testimony, in part from 2008...
((HT: CNN/youtube))


More when we know more...

1845 UPDATE: Here's team coverage from our friends at MyFoxDC

Clemens Trial v 2.0- Day Five

((HT: MyFoxDC))

So, let's try this again...

Roger Clemens, trial, perjury, Washington DC, blah, blah, blah...

There was a victory by the defense in that when Andy Petitte testifies, he can talk about his taking HgH, but he can't say where he got it from...

The prosecution told the jury that Clemens told "other lies to cover up lies."

Here's the quick version...

Prosecutor: Roger Clemens told 'lies to cover up lies': MyFoxDC.com

Clemens Round Two: Jury Selection Begins

((HT: MyFoxHouston))

And the number of prosecutors has increased so there won't be another mistrial like Round One.

The reason for more man-power...???

On the second day of testimony last time, prosecutors showed evidence to the jury that had been ruled inadmissible. And that was that...

Remember why we're here in the first place...???

Clemens was accused of lying under oath when he testified before Congress four years ago when he said he had never used PED's during his career.

Right...
ERA's decrease naturally as we all get older...
Here's Kristin Kane...

Jury to Be Selected for Clemens Retrial: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

OSG's Memory Of Mike Wallace

((HT: CBS/60 Minutes))

Two words: Roger Clemens


His style and personality will be missed and we can only hope to keep with his efforts...

DEVELOPING: Judge Declares Mistrial In Clemens Case

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial in the Roger Clemens perjury case over inadmissible evidence shown to jurors.

Walton said Clemens could not be assured a fair trial after prosecutors showed jurors evidence against his orders in the second day of testimony.

A September 2nd hearing will be held to determine whether to hold a new trial.

More when we know more...

Here's the latest from our friends at MyFoxDC

Judge Declares Mistrial in Clemens Case : MyFoxDC.com

"There are rules that we play by and those rules are designed to make sure both sides receive a fair trial," Walton told the jury, saying such ground rules are critically important when a person's liberty is at stake.

"If this man got convicted, he would go to jail," Walton said.

Clemens Trial Day 1: Jury Selection

((HT: MyFoxDC/CSNWashington))

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton started into the jury selection phase of the trial against Roger Clemens- trying to trim 125 to 12 and four alternates. The judge has said he hopes to start by early next week for a trial that is expected to last a month or so.

Clemens has not been charged with drug crimes, but is accused of lying about drug use-telling a House committee under oath in 2008 that he never used performance-enhancing drugs. That self-assessment flies in the face of testimony from trainer Brian McNamee and teammate Andy Pettitte.

Clemens is charged with six felony counts, including perjury, false statements and obstruction of Congress, which carry a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine. Just know, though, that he won't go that long in prison if convicted since he doesn't have a criminal record...

Just good ol' fashioned Texas bravado...

Here's enthralling video of Clemens walking into the courthouse this morning...

Roger Clemens Trial Begins in DC Wednesday : MyFoxDC.com

TJ Quinn was outside the courtroom when the day was done...
((HT: ESPN))

Roger Clemens heads to court

Roger Clemens-circa 2000 or so

We will soon know probably a little more than we might like to about retired baseball superstar pitcher Roger Clemens.

That's because Clemens' perjury trial starts today in Washington D.C.

For the few of you unfamiliar, let's catch up with things. Clemens was accused a couple years ago of using steroids to enhance his performance. His former "Personal Trainer" Brian McNamee was the man making the accusation. The investigation was a part of a federal investigation into steroid use by professional baseball players, something roughly akin to what Barry Bonds was dealing with.

During the series of investigations, and really before McNamee came out and made his allegations, Clemens spoke to Congress about an anti-steroid lifestyle. According to the government investigators and NcNamee, he lied about it under oath.

Read a brief primer from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE

FBI Investigators have spent 3-years trying to dig up evidence against Clemens and quite honestly, nobody is really sure what they've found.

We know McNamee says Clemens began taking steroids some 10-years ago while pitching in Toronto. And according to the variety of stories done on him, there's a pretty big trail of evidence. Clemens himself hasn't helped his case by giving often confusing or conflicting statements about whether or not he did anything wrong.

Over the next couple of weeks, we should find out if he lied about it and we are a bit conflicted over this. While yes, we probably want to know if he was "Juicing" to make himself a superstar longer, it's been a long time since it happened. It's over with. And the government is spending an awful lot of money to prove a case that will just essentially say Clemens lied.

Really, for that, Clemens will get probation, a fine or at worst, spend a few months at Club Fed. And we wonder, aside for tarnishing memories, what really will it prove?

Here's the testimony that kind of got this whole thing going back in 2008: