I watched the 60 Minutes interview with Roger Clemens last night. I couldn't help but think that he just might be telling the truth. He did seem a bit shaky. He looked like a man who'd not had enough sleep as of late. Otherwise, he seemed to say the right things. He talked about Lidocaine and B-12. He asked why, if the 'roids worked so well, would ha have only done them in the sporadic time frames that his accuser spoke of? He asked why, if he supposedly provided the juice and the needles, was there no one willing to say they supplied them to him, or that he'd purchased them, or any proof such purchases? All excellent points.

So, just as I'm about cross over and begin feeling sorry for him, something crossed my mind. That something was the 2000 Worlds Series. You all should remember that one, if for no other reason because that was the series where, in the first inning of game 2, Clemens picked up the large, pointed barrel of Mike Piazza's broken bat and threw it at the Mets' slugger as e jogged toward first. The ball had gone fowl, which had caused Piazza to slow up and avoid actually getting hit with the projectile.

All of this is old news, and given the animosity between Piazza and Clemens that year (Clemens had tried to turn Piazza into Rain Man in June with a fast ball to the skull) the idea of Clemens over reacting was not too surprising. What was a surprize, and what I'm thinking of today, was Clemens reaction when Piazza headed toward him after the bat throw. First, I think Piazza would have kicked Clemens ass. They are of comparable size, but Roger seemed a but puss-i-fied in that moment, actively dodging behind the home plate ump who came to head off Piazza. Either way, in replays (that you can only find on MLB.com, you can clearly see Roger mouth the words "I thought it was the ball" to Piazza.

Pardon me while I laugh uncontrollably. That part always gets me.

So, what we are to take from this then is that due to a reflex born of decades on the mound, Clemens pick up the two-foot, jagged section of lumber and thought he had the baseball.

Right. Sure.

Even if we suspend disbelief (And what a suspension that load of BS requires!) we are then supposed to think that he would, if he had the ball, throw it not to the first baseman for the out, but side-arm it at the runner as he went up the line?

So, what does all this mean to the current bit of Clemens news? Well, let's sum it all up:

Roger Clemens hates Mike Piazza (not really relevant)
Roger Clemens may have serious eyesight issues (bat looked like ball)
Roger Clemens can lie, but only when given time to think of something not moronic (very relevant)
Roger Clemens is a goof (pretty relevant)

Seriously, although he did not go through a comic book type transformation the way "heroes" like Bonds and McGuire did, Clemens did grow a bit after his career was about a third over (circa Blue Jays). Now, he says, as recently as last night's interview, that he has always had the same, hardcore workout regimen, so that can't be it, right?

Wht then? The B-12, of course!

Labels: baseball, Clemens, steroids

Barry Bonds has lots of answers for questions about his alleged performance enhancing substance use. Here's two I would like answers to:

Barry, how is it your head has grown from 7 1/8 to 7 3/4?

Barry, how is it that your feet have gone from a 10 1/2 to a 13?

My shoe size and hat size have not gone up since I was a senior in high school, even though I am about 80lbs heavier now than back then. On the other hand, if you had allowed a bobble-head to be done in your likeness, the proportions would be pretty accurate.

Please, Mr. Bonds, email your answer to philsox@spieles.com.

Thanks in advance.

Labels: Barry, Bonds, record, steroids

I've been away on vacation, which is why there has not been a "Boxed Up" in awhile. My apologies.

While I was gone, Barry hit #755 to tie Aaron. Nothing much I can say on this except to show this little bit of statistical info and some images and let it speak for itself.

Labels: 755, Barry, baseball, Bonds, photoshop, statistics, steroids

I hate to stand on convention (it has never stood on me,) but I have to weigh in on the Barry Bonds thing. What would a baseball blog be without at least mentioning the biggest story in baseball?

After sitting out for three games with bow legs or shin splints (or whatever), Bonds played today at Wrigley field and hit home runs 752 and 753. He's back on track again and looking to break Aaron's record in the next week or two. So, in honor of this dubious occasion, let me pause to answer some obvious questions as to my thoughts on the whole thing.

1. Will Bonds break Aaron's record? Without a doubt.
   
2. Will I be watching when it happens? If I can. I'm a baseball fan!
   
3. Do I think there should be an asterisk on the record? Only if it is proven that he used PEDs.
   
4. Do I think he used Performance Enhancing Drugs? Yes, I do.
   
5. What do I think, in general, about Bonds breaking this record? I wish it were someone who was a classier guy. Someone who is a little less miserable and mean to teammates and people in general. I will wait patiently for A-Rod to catch him and put this chapter of baseball history behind us.

I, for one, do not believe that alleged steroid use is the worst issue with Bonds. The worst issue is, by far, his attitude. Bonds is not a team player according to many people who have been on teams with him. He jogs to first when he grounds out, but then can steal a base in the next game, which leads me to believe that he dogged it not because of age or injury, but just because he felt like it. He is one of the only players (if not the only) who refuses to lend his name to video games that the Players Association sanctions. He continually blames everyone (fans, media, legal system, etc) for all his woes and never takes responsibility for anything (infidelity, tax evasion, PEDs, etc.) Bonds is one of those athletes who has forgotten the amazing fact that he gets paid to play a game and he should be thankful for that. He should accept his position as a role model for youth even though he did not specifically ask to be such.

At the same time, one cannot logically refute that the man is one of the most gifted/talented individuals to ever play the game. 756 will be an historical moment. I suppose I can put the animosity aside for a night and watch him circle those bases. And I sincerely hope that Bud Selig is there. It is his job!

Labels: Barry, baseball, Bonds, Hank Aaron, history, record, steroids