Here's what I wrote in a May 7 blog entry about Roger Clemens. This was the day after his regal return to the Bronx:
"For now, however, we've got absolutely nothing concrete on Clemens. Even if Jason Grimsley named Clemens last year, when Grimsley was caught receiving human growth hormone _ and whether he did so remains unclear _ that's a second-hand indictment. Jose Canseco's batting average was pretty high in his book "Juiced," but he took his foot off the gas when writing about his buddy Clemens, asserting that he knew nothing for sure."
Now, that has changed in my mind. As each day passes, the Mitchell Report looks better when it comes to the accuracy of its allegations _ even though we'll continue to publicly question why Mitchell's allies (Bud Selig, the Red Sox and the Cubs) got off easy. In my mind, Brian McNamee's allegations that he repeatedly injected Clemens with steroids pass the smell test, despite Clemens' denial.
I dropped my Hall of Fame ballot in the mail last night, and I didn't check Mark McGwire's box, just like last year. I don't intend to check the boxes for Barry Bonds or Rafael Palmeiro, either, and for now, Clemens is on my "no" list, too.
Ideally, we'd like to know everyone who cheated. But that's never going to happen. I don't buy the "It was the Steroids Era, so let's give everyone a free pass" theory. When you catch someone, you punish him, even if others get away with the identical crime.
If Clemens goes to Congress and repeats his denial, under oath, then I'll give this some more thought. I'm not betting on that occurring, however.
What would the Hall of Fame be like without Bonds, Clemens and Pete Rose? I think it would be just fine.
Comments (13)
I care, Ken. I look forward to reading about your ballot. Thanks for the note about the Met tickets. It is a real concern for the non corporate fans.
"I play 20 years, work my tail off, they're not going to tell me what hat I'm wearing. I promise you that.... Somebody told me there are a couple of guys who don't even have a hat on, but that would be disrespectful to what Mr. Steinbrenner has given me: an opportunity to come here and continue my career, to be able to achieve these moments and become a Hall of Famer. I became a Hall of Famer here. If I'd have listened to people there [in Boston], then I'd have been done. Not people. One person that evaluated my skills and he didn't take the time to get to know me."
-- Roger Clemens, June 14, 2003 (from ESPN)
Ken I care about everything you write. I think your blog is outstanding and I have been spreading the word about it. I look forward to seeing you at the BBWAA dinner in January.
I think the rise in Mets ticket prices is excessive, especially considering the team's collapse and their lack of action in the off-season. I'll say it again: The Wilpons are cheap as far as New York owners go.
Concerning Clemens: I want to think he is innocent. He has built up some good will with me. The evidence is pretty believable at this point. Anyone that used anything illegal, that could have been produced in some back alley lab, was extremely foolish. If Clemens is innocent, I hope this accusation doesn't ruin him. I have learned before that some people that looked guilty as sin were in fact innocent. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it's not looking too good for Roger right now.
Ken - when wil the reporters who missed the steroid and supplement era (but wrote glowing books about the new golden age of baseball) and pocketed some good money - like Mike "well, I would have a therapeutic need for HGH" Lupica - give the cash back?
As I said last week, the feds and MLB are co-operating from now on regarding steroids - thereis no doubt that they will be asking reporters to "snitch" on the lcoker room.
rmt, the feds can ask, I doubt they will, but they can not compel. The government would have a fairly high standard to meet, and they simply can't here on the face of it. If you recall the Scooter/Judy Miller/DOJ fiasco, Miller was the only person in the world who could give that critical information. Or so it was argued. In this case the reporters would be asked for hearsay and rumor, not first hand knowledge. A first year law student could have that quashed before lunch.
Craig, thanks for responding to resident rabble-rouster RMT. ;) Thanks for the kind words, guys. I'll share my HOF ballot tomorrow.
Ken - Questions:
Is Guidry being offered another job (minor leagues) in the Yankees organization? Is any other organization interested in him? What is Lee Mazzilli doing and will he be working this year? Do you think Congress will subpeona Roger Clemens during a hearing and put him under oath to force him to admit, deny or plead the 5th Amendment to steroid use?
Jim, answers:
1) I'll ask around about Guidry, but my educated guess is a) he shows up as a Yankees spring-training instructor, the job he used to do, and b) no other clubs have inquired about his services.
2) Mazz could have been the Dodgers' bench coach, but he opted to say home in Connecticut and work for SNY so he could be near his ailing mother.
3) Right now, I'd bet that Congress will subpoena Clemens, but there are sure to be some backroom negotiations among Congress, Major League Baseball and the Players Association before that decision becomes final.
Congress has already taken actions worse than leaning on reporters. They have gone out and taken drug tests related to MLB first testing policy - and also taken ones that were not covered by the subpoena. Imagine if they can do that to any employee assistance paln?
I am also concerned that newspaper articles, books and other media sources that were used in the construction of the Mitchell Report.will now become the reason to punish players.
This will pollute the media/athlete relationship.
I am not convinced that Selig is going to do too much of anything with most of the people on "the list." I am not sure what he can do that would stand up to a legal challenge. I also continue to be amazed that he apparently is getting off the hook and will now sit in judgment of others despite the fact it is pretty much a given that he knew for 16 years about the problems documented in the report and didn't do very much about it. SELIG IS A STIFF!! He has absolutely nothing to do with the popularity of baseball, which has survived mismanagement and poor decisions for decades. Fans came back to the game after strikes, cancelled seasons/World Series', tie All-Star games, etc. It's the game that attracts them not a former car salesman from Milwaukee.
Ken: Thanks for the updates and for reminding me about Mazzilli. I think it says a lot about him to do what he is doing with his mother. If I recall, Girardi and his wife did something similar with his father. Nice to see rich athletes being good kids to a parent.
Ken,
Did you vote (or would you have voted) for Gaylord Perry? I think you know where I am going with this.
Ben, I didn't yet have a vote when Perry attained induction. Would I have voted for him? Probably not.
Regarding Roger Clemens: Just say no!