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Clemens Grilled for 5 Hours About Steroid Use

Among the 89 MLB players listed in the Mitchell Report is none other than Roger Clemens, who put off retirement last year to come back and play for the Yankees in June 2007, going 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA. House committee lawyers grilled him in a Washington courthouse yesterday for more than 5 hours. This is where he will testify on February 13th. Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, alleges that he injected Clemens over a dozen times with performance enhancing drugs. Do you think he did it? It would be nice to believe that a person could achieve such greatness with his own great determination and work. We shall see soon if this is a childish notion.

Will Sabathia Stay an Indian?

It’s fitting that C.C. Sabathia, who will become a free agent next winter, might not stick around with the Indians. Killer lefties are hot right now— Johan Santana just signed a deal with the Mets worth a little more than $150 million. Little was he thinking that his fortune could wreak havoc on the entire Indian team, which is scrambling to work out an extension for Sabathia. The team hopes to have this star player squared away before spring training starts. But that’s just 8 days away! One thing is for certain: Sabathia is in the best bargaining position of his life right now. He should definitely get what he deserves.

Freddy Sanchez’s Career in Full Swing

Freddy Sanchez is hitting it big time. With a new $11 million dollar 2-year contract with the Pirates he truly deserves, the former bench player has finally come into his own. After making the decisive play of the 2006 All-Star game, Freddy Sanchez began to make a name for himself. Says Freddy of his accomplishment, “A few years ago I was a utility guy, coming off the bench. To have the commitment that they want me here is very encouraging.” Here’s the breakdown of his newfound riches: He gets a $300,000 signing bonus, $4 million this year and $6.1 million in 2009. The deal also includes an $8 million option for 2010, with a $600,000 buyout. The option is guaranteed if he has 635 plate appearances in 2009 or if he is selected for the All-Star game and has 600 plate appearances.

Baseball Cards Take Liberty with Giuliani

The new Topps card with Rudy Giuliani cheering on the Red Sox after their World Series win goes on sale this week. You can have one, if you’re lucky enough to pick the 1 pack out of 70 that will contain it. The humorous card highlights Giuliani’s action that alienated a few New York fans. It’s not the first time Giuliani has appeared on a Topps card—he was on one all by himself in 2004. Topps brand manager, Clay Luraschi, says they didn’t mind that Giuliani pulled out of the presidential race—it wouldn’t effect their card. He just thought the photo would make for a funny card.

This isn’t the first time Topps introduced a goofy card into their packs; they have also stuck Micky Mantle into the dugout and President Bush into the stands in the background of Derek Jeter’s card!

Derek Jeter Settles Tax Inquiry

The details of Derek Jeter’s tax case settlement are unclear. The case was launched against Jeter by New York state for not paying resident income taxes between 2001 through 2003. An official said that it was likely that Jeter’s lawyers tried to settle because they didn’t believe he’d win in court. Jeter filed non-resident income tax returns in New York between 2001 and 2003, citing his off-season home in Tampa, Florida, as his main residence. (Brilliant because Florida has no income tax. And Jeter has quite an income.) We can’t wait for full details of the deal that was possibly reached today. New York income tax is over 7% for Jeter’s kind of money—and there’s also a New York City income tax of an additional 3.68%. That’s over $4 million he’d owe NY!

Pedro Martinez and Juan Marichal Cock Fighting

Americans like to get angry about all kinds of things, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it can bring about change. However, for New York Mets pitcher, Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer, Juan Marichal, who participated in a cockfight over 2 years ago in their native country of the Dominican Republic, which was caught on tape and recently released all over the internet, the American backlash is a nightmere. PETA wants a public apology. The Humane Society thinks the baseball’s Major League should condemn the two for their “shameful example”.

Coming on the heels of Michael Vick’s case for running a dog fighting ring, the Martinez and Marichal cockfighting case has been, perhaps, blown out of proportion. As cockfighting is legal in their country and part of the culture, and that is where they participated, perhaps the investigation should be dropped. It was bad judgment for two men who are role models in American society to participate in something they know is condemned in our country, however they did nothing illegal. Baseball spokesman, Rich Levin, said they would not comment on any individuals at this time.

Garrett Atkins Off to Lucrative Start

Garrett Atkins is a lucky guy. With a new 1-year, $4.3875 million contract with the Colorado Rockies and almost $100,000 awaiting in performance bonuses, he’s successfully avoided arbitration. Atkins could earn $17,500 for reaching 600, 625, and 650 plate appearances, and $20,000 for 675 and 700 plate appearances. In the past 2 years, he has reached 680. He also stands to earn an extra $25,000 if named to the All-Star game, which is highly likely given that manager Clint Hurdle is leading the National League.

Garrett Atkins’ final batting average for 2007 was .301, with 35 home runs, and 111 RBIs.

Rocker Claims Selig Knew About Doping

Former Major League Baseball pitcher, John Rocker, loves to be at the center of controversy. While playing for Atlanta, he repeatedly made sexist, racist, and anti-gay comments. Now Rocker, who has been retired for almost 5 years, has come back with another shocking statement. He says he took steroids while playing for the Major Leagues, and that commissioner Bud Selig, among others, knew all about it. The thing is, when Rocker was playing, steroids were not banned by Major League Baseball.

Furthermore, this statement is a complete 180 from what he claimed in a March interview with ESPN, when he said “less than 10 percent” of baseball players doped while he was playing and that the scandal was “a lot of media propaganda”. Now, he’s claiming “between 40 to 50 percent of baseball players are on steroids”. Could these claims be Rocker’s own media ploy?

Drugs Got Baseball All Fouled Up

The Mitchell Report could be the end of Baseball as the great American pastime as we know it. With one of baseball’s most recognized superstars testifying before congress on his supposed drug use tomorrow, it seems baseball has fallen to a new low. By the end of 2008, there’s a possibility that 2 of baseball’s living legends, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, may be thrown in jail. And commissioner Bud Selig, who has been credited with increasing MLB revenue over 400% during his tenure, has been put in the spotlight during this “Steroids Era”. Was he complicit in the doping scandal? Did he know and do nothing, even though he has repeatedly promised to rid baseball of steroids and HGH? Tomorrow stands to be a great downer for a great sport.

Clemens a Doping Liar?

Roger Clemens vehemently denied that he has ever used HGH or steroids to gain an athletic advantage in his baseball career. This statement contradicts what his former trainer, Brian McNamee has claimed. It also goes against what his good friend and former teammate, Andy Pettite, said in a deposition given last week.

Things are not looking good for Roger Clemens, as lawmakers have ripped him apart for discrepancies in his testimony. In a touching statement, representative Elijah Cummings told Clemens, “It’s hard to believe you. It’s hard to say that because you are one of my heroes. But it’s hard to believe you.”

Can baseball recover from this scandal? Will the hearings help clean up baseball’s drug culture once and for all, or will they tarnish our national pastime beyond repair?

Fall in Love with Baseball on Valentine’s Day

Want to get your love a diamond for Valentine’s Day? Take your sweetie to a day of baseball’s spring training! Starting today, baseball tries to redeem itself from the blockbuster stories of steroids and the downfall of pitcher Roger Clemens. Now is when the champions of tomorrow are made. Pitchers throw endless balls, learning to cover 1st base on slow rollers that bend right. Sluggers practice their killer swings. And smart fans get the autographs that could be worth millions in the future in an intimate setting with their favorite stars. Baseball is back. Will there be any new shining stars who will turn our attention away from the Congressional hearings on drug use?

Seattle Mariners Broadcaster Inducted into Hall of Fame

So what if Seattle Mariners fans went 15 years before they were treated to a winning season…or 31 years with no World Series. Seattle Mariners broadcaster, Dave Niehaus, is just happy to be a part of baseball culture. He has endeared himself to all Mariners fans, and after 31 years of broadcasting Mariners games, he’s going to be inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. The happy-go-lucky broadcaster says, “"It's never been a downer to me to do losing baseball. Because every night you think this is going to be the start of a winning streak." His story is certainly a breath of fresh air among all of the steroid stories muddying up baseball at the moment.

Scott Spiezio Pleads Guilty to DUI

The 35-year-old Spiezio agreed March 31 to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. “The penalty … is fair, and permits Scott to move ahead with his career,” Spiezio’s attorney, Paul S. Meyer, said in a statement. “Scott appreciates the opportunity to demonstrate his good faith and his commitment to a successful season.

A-Rod Back Into the Starting Lineup for Yankees

A-Rod received treatment on his leg while in Florida and rejoined the Yankees on Thursday in Chicago.

The AL’s reigning MVP is batting .308 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 20 games.

Barry Zito Demoted by The San Francisco Giants

“I’m certainly not happy with it, by any means,” Zito said. “But this is the bed that I’ve made. I have to lay in it for the time being and I have to overcome. I trust management and I trust what their decisions are.”

The left-hander has lost his first six starts this season and has a 7.53 ERA that jumped considerably after Zito was tagged for eight earned runs in a 10-1 loss Sunday to Cincinnati.

A-Rod Out Another Week

He had an MRI exam Monday, then worked out at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa for an hour. A-Rod took batting practice, fielded grounders and ran for about eight minutes in the outfield.

MLB: Mike Piazza to Retire After 16 Seasons

"I knew this day was coming and over the last two years. I started to make my peace with it. I gave it my all and left everything on the field." The 39-year-old Piazza batted .275 with eight homers and 44 RBIs as a designated hitter for Oakland last season, became a free agent and did not re-sign. He was not available to discuss his decision, according to Josh Goldberg, a spokesman for Lozano.

Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10 consecutive times starting in 1993.

Will Baseball formulate instant replay proposal?

Baseball is developing tentative plans to experiment with replay during the Fall League and likely would continue testing, if it's successful, during the 2009 World Baseball Classic, ESPN.com reported Thursday.

The use of replay in major league games likely would need the approval of the Major League Baseball Players Association and the World Umpires Association.

Dodgers’ Jones has knee surgery

Torre added that there was no additional damage found in Jones’ knee during the procedure.

The Dodgers got some more good news when right-handed pitcher Jason Schmidt, working his way back from shoulder surgery last season, threw 3 1-3 innings in a rehab start with the team’s Class A affiliate. Schmidt threw 45 pitches and gave up three runs—two earned—and three hits while striking out three.