Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that Andy Pettitte has been granted a request to report to camp on Monday instead of tomorrow.
Posted by: Patrick
Today, Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee testified in front of congress. Buster Olney liveblogged it and has a nice summary of the events. ESPN has some videos and WCBS 880 has the audio in it's entirety. Over at house.gov, you can find documentation related to the hearing, including interviews, affidavits and photos of the physical evidence that Brian McNamee has turned over, among other things.
We learned a number of things today. The biggest things came in the revelations tied to Andy Pettitte's affidavit. In it, he states that Clemens told him that he used HGH, stating:
Pettitte also goes on to say:
Pettitte also admitted to using HGH in 2004 while with Houston. Pettitte's attorney says that he withheld this because he obtained the HGH from his father, who had obtained it for his own health issues.
Brian McNamee also admitted to lying several times to different parties in addition to receiving a PhD and representing himself as such, when it was later found that the place that he got it from was a diploma mill, something he agreed on, in testimony.
Reviews are mixed as far as the winners and losers. Really, all things considered, I think that there are no winners here. McNamee comes off as a liar - you simply cannot trust anything that he says. Yes, he was more able to give concise answers, but that's helped by the fact that his path is mostly set and he's not on the defensive here. Public opinion is in his favor, by all accounts I've seen and everyone already looks at him as the bad guy liar who helped players get steroids and he agrees.
I thought Clemens and co. handled themselves alright, given the circumstances, but the real problem comes with the introduction of the Pettitte statements. While not infallible, they represent a serious question mark for Clemens as does the fact that both Pettitte and Knoblauch confirmed what McNamee said.
Personally, I reserve judgement because I don't feel it's fair to ruin someone based upon the testimony of Brian McNamee. Pettitte says that Clemens admitted it to him, but Pettitte didn't back up McNamee in the sense that he actually saw it happen or saw McNamee do it. So, though a majority of fans may be ready with the torches and pitchforks, I'm not ready to do that. What I'm ready for, however, is some baseball.
Via Peter Abraham.
We learned a number of things today. The biggest things came in the revelations tied to Andy Pettitte's affidavit. In it, he states that Clemens told him that he used HGH, stating:
In 1999 or 2000, I had a conversation with Roger Clemens in which Roger told me that he had taken human growth hormone ("HGH"). This conversation occurred at his gym in Memorial, Texas. He did not tell me where he got the HGH or from whom, but he did tell me that it helped the body recover.
Pettitte also goes on to say:
In 2005, around the time of the Congressional hearings into the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball, I had a conversation with Roger Clemens in Kissimmee, Florida. I asked him what he would say if asked by reporters if he ever used performance enhancing drugs. When he asked me what I meant, I reminded him that he had told me that he used HGH.
Roger responded by telling me that I must have misunderstood him; he claimed that he told me that it was his wife, Debbie, who used HGH.
I said, "Oh, okay," or words to that effect, not because I agreed, but because I wasn't going to argue with him.
Roger responded by telling me that I must have misunderstood him; he claimed that he told me that it was his wife, Debbie, who used HGH.
I said, "Oh, okay," or words to that effect, not because I agreed, but because I wasn't going to argue with him.
Pettitte also admitted to using HGH in 2004 while with Houston. Pettitte's attorney says that he withheld this because he obtained the HGH from his father, who had obtained it for his own health issues.
Brian McNamee also admitted to lying several times to different parties in addition to receiving a PhD and representing himself as such, when it was later found that the place that he got it from was a diploma mill, something he agreed on, in testimony.
Reviews are mixed as far as the winners and losers. Really, all things considered, I think that there are no winners here. McNamee comes off as a liar - you simply cannot trust anything that he says. Yes, he was more able to give concise answers, but that's helped by the fact that his path is mostly set and he's not on the defensive here. Public opinion is in his favor, by all accounts I've seen and everyone already looks at him as the bad guy liar who helped players get steroids and he agrees.
I thought Clemens and co. handled themselves alright, given the circumstances, but the real problem comes with the introduction of the Pettitte statements. While not infallible, they represent a serious question mark for Clemens as does the fact that both Pettitte and Knoblauch confirmed what McNamee said.
Personally, I reserve judgement because I don't feel it's fair to ruin someone based upon the testimony of Brian McNamee. Pettitte says that Clemens admitted it to him, but Pettitte didn't back up McNamee in the sense that he actually saw it happen or saw McNamee do it. So, though a majority of fans may be ready with the torches and pitchforks, I'm not ready to do that. What I'm ready for, however, is some baseball.
Via Peter Abraham.
Posted by: Patrick
I don't think this is a surprise expectation, because of what Pettitte's been dealing with this offseason, but Buster Olney reports:
I'm not really concerned that Pettitte will be unable to get himself ready physically. I'm more concerned about what's going through his mind at this point as it's certainly been a trying offseason, self-inflicted or not.
Via Steve.
Andy Pettitte no longer has to go to Washington, and instead, he is scheduled to report to the Yankees' training camp in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday. But staff members expect that Pettitte will be behind in his preparation for the 2008 season, because of the off-field issues that have dominated his offseason.
I'm not really concerned that Pettitte will be unable to get himself ready physically. I'm more concerned about what's going through his mind at this point as it's certainly been a trying offseason, self-inflicted or not.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
Despite reports, Brian Cashman told Peter Abraham that nothing has been decided as far as Joba's role is concerned.
02/12: No Mench in N.Y.
Posted by: Patrick
Posted by: Patrick
The Post, citing team officials, is reporting on this season's preferred plan for Joba.
Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Phil and Kennedy would be the rotation. Joba would start the season as the setup man. If all goes well, Chamberlain will be sent down to the minors in June, to prepare to become a starter in the second half. During the time at the beginning of the season, where Joba is a reliever, the team would be auditioning other pitchers in lower pressure situations, with the hope that some of them step up and can then fill the 8th inning role when Joba leaves.
The Yankees need to limit Joba's innings pitched and this plan would allow them to accomplish that.
Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Phil and Kennedy would be the rotation. Joba would start the season as the setup man. If all goes well, Chamberlain will be sent down to the minors in June, to prepare to become a starter in the second half. During the time at the beginning of the season, where Joba is a reliever, the team would be auditioning other pitchers in lower pressure situations, with the hope that some of them step up and can then fill the 8th inning role when Joba leaves.
The Yankees need to limit Joba's innings pitched and this plan would allow them to accomplish that.
Posted by: Patrick
From Jim Baumbach and Robert E. Kessler:
In related news, Pettitte will not testify publicly on Wednesday. Neither will Chuck Knoblauch or Kirk Radomski. All have been excused.
The affidavit of Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte helps to support the account of Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens' former trainer, that he gave Clemens injections of banned drugs, according to a ranking member of the congressional committee investigating the use of illegal drugs in baseball.
Newsday.com first reported the story last night after interviewing Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) yesterday. Davis said that in an affidavit given to the House Oversight Committee, Pettitte's account matches McNamee's in most details, but that in a separate affidavit to the committee, Clemens said both are mistaken.
Newsday.com first reported the story last night after interviewing Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) yesterday. Davis said that in an affidavit given to the House Oversight Committee, Pettitte's account matches McNamee's in most details, but that in a separate affidavit to the committee, Clemens said both are mistaken.
In related news, Pettitte will not testify publicly on Wednesday. Neither will Chuck Knoblauch or Kirk Radomski. All have been excused.
Posted by: Patrick
The New York Times reports that Andy Pettitte has asked to be excused from the public hearing on Wednesday in Washington.
Via Ben.
The chairman of the House Oversight Committee is supporting Andy Pettitte’s request not to have to testify publicly against his former teammate Roger Clemens at a public hearing on Wednesday, a congressional staff person said Monday.
The chairman, Democrat Henry A. Waxman of California, wants to take Pettitte off the witness list but he is consulting with Republican members of the panel first, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
The chairman, Democrat Henry A. Waxman of California, wants to take Pettitte off the witness list but he is consulting with Republican members of the panel first, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Via Ben.
02/11: Guest Instructors
Posted by: Patrick
Bryan Hoch reports that the guest intructors at spring training this year include Yogi Berra, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Reggie Jackson, Hector Lopez, Tino Martinez, Stump Merrill and Graig Nettles.
02/11: Dave Eiland
Posted by: Patrick
Anthony McCarron profiles new pitching coach Dave Eiland.
Via Dave and Aziz.
In his own career, Eiland says, he was nothing like The Big Three. "I didn't have an arm like Phil or Joba; I worked really hard to be mediocre," Eiland says. "But I studied. When I lay my head on my pillow, I'm very satisfied, not so much with my record or my numbers, but I know I gave it everything I had every day.
"I didn't have the God-given ability to get over the hump, so to speak. I kept getting chances because I did my work and I think that helps me in the coaching aspect. I work with guys now who have ability. I can teach them how to work, how to study film, how to read swings, how to attack guys."
"I didn't have the God-given ability to get over the hump, so to speak. I kept getting chances because I did my work and I think that helps me in the coaching aspect. I work with guys now who have ability. I can teach them how to work, how to study film, how to read swings, how to attack guys."
Via Dave and Aziz.
