Mr. Clemens, meet Mr. Mitchell

409 pages later, The “Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an independent investigation into the illegal use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances by players in Major League Baseball” is not just a really obnoxiously long title but a surprisingly interesting read. This report was touted as being the apocalypse of Major League Baseball and received with countdown timers on CNN like it was a presidential address.

Like many, when I went to read this monstrosity looking solely for names. I wanted to see who was being named and would be forced to face the shame of a nation. Oh yea, who is Kirk Radomski? Suddenly, this former club house attendant is making a name for himself by painting the Hester Prynne’s with their own scarlet letter. But I digress, famous names were what I was looking for and this report provided just that.

We expected to find Barry Bonds, Jason and Jeremy Giambi and Jose Canseco included in the report but no one could have been expected to see Roger Clemens implicated. The greatest living pitcher in the game, achieved such greatness by using performance enhancing drugs? Hang on, was just another part of the witch hunt that was the Mitchell Report? I mean, all they wanted was to find one big name to prove that this investigation was worthwhile, right?

What makes the implication of Roger Clemens so shocking and disheartening is the manner in which he is discussed. This was not just a he said she said, but specific examples are given.

McNamee injected Clemens approximately four times in the buttocks over a several-week period with needles that Clemens provided. Each incident took place in Clemens's apartment at the SkyDome. (Mitchell, pg 166)

The jig is up right? There is no way that The Rocket could get out of this one, exact places and instances are mentioned. Currently, Clemens has elected to deny all of these allegations. “…adamantly, vehemently, and whatever other adjectives can be used, denies that [I have] ever used steroids or ... improper substances…” (cnn.com) Many, including myself find this hard to believe when the players that were named ( Brian Roberts, Fernando Viña and Clemens friend, Andy Pettitte) are slowly admitting that they did use HGH or some other form of performance enhancing drug, giving the these allegations found in the Mitchell Report more and more credibility.

The verdict on Clemens, like many other is still out. Last week’s release of the Mitchell Report is only the beginning of what is going a long process of, hopefully one day, removing steroids and other performance enhancing drugs from the game of baseball. Only time will tell what happens next…
-Matt Armstrong

ALDS: BoSox Sweep, Yanks Force 4

The New York Yankees saved Joe Torre's job - for now. The Bronx Bombers scored four in the fifth and three in the sixth to erase a 3-0 deficit last night. Roger Clemens didn't survive the third inning, leaving with an injured hamstring. Phil Hughes came on in relief to throw 3 2/3 shutout innings. Joba Chamberlain threw two innings to set up Mariano Rivera's perfect ninth.

Johnny Damon blasted his second home run of the series and drove in four. Alex Rodriguez broke an 0-for-18 playoff slump with two hits. He is still looking for his first post-season RBI since the 2004 ALCS, but raised his second season batting average to .275 (.235 in pinstripes).

Tonight, Chien-Ming Wang takes the hill for the Yanks. Paul Byrd opposes him. Wang was shelled in game one, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits in less that five full innings of work. He has a lifetime playoff ERA of 6.00 in three starts. Byrd is 1-4 all-time against the Yankees with a 4.44 ERA. He lost an Aug. 11 home start against New York allowing seven runs in two innings.

The Boston Red Sox will face the winner of the series. They swept the Angels 9-1 last night.