The Sports Truth

When Upper Deck’s “Presidential Predictors” baseball card set was recently released, it lacked one of the prominent Democratic contenders.

Why was Hillary Clinton’s card yanked from the set? The Former First Lady - as Morganna the Kissing Bandit - was deemed offensive by some.

“There was some concern by some of the people that it might be offensive,” said an Upper Deck spokesperson.

The image that caused such internal concern? See below …

Upper Deck said in a statement that it will put a new, less offensive version of Hillary Clinton in Series II.

We hope it involves her getting an HGH injection from Brian McNamee.

The Sports Truth senior editor, Lucas Dwyer, provides us with his thoughts in a live-blog from the Roger Clemens/Brian McNamee congressional hearings.

2:42 PM: An utterly preposterous day. Did anyone learn anything we didn’t already know? Everyone keeps saying that someone lied, but we’re never going to know who and even though we all suspect it is Clemens, how are we ever going to prove it? With McNamee’s “evidence” of blood stained swabs and needles that he’s kept for seven years? Virginia Foxx summed it up best when she said that the proceedings were a waste of money. I agree.

2:41 PM: We’re adjourned! Four hours and 41 minutes! Also gotta love the chairman sushing Clemens as he attempted to interrupt the proceedings.

2:40 PM: The chairman has just apologized to McNamee for the conduct of the congressman who violated the rules by making comments about McNamee. Is anyone surprised Congress’ approval rate is below 25%?

2:30 PM: “If we had 89 players here, I’d feel better about this hearing, but we have one,” because he’s famous. Where’s Jack Cust, huh?

2:30 PM: “Mr. McNamee, you’re a drug dealer.” Thanks Congressman, REAL productive.

2:25 PM: The praise Pettitte is receiving is a little much. The guy seems to be telling the truth more than Clemens, but he confirmed yesterday that he’s already lied about his HGH use. In fact, the reasons he sighted for lying are basically the same reasons McNamee has sighted for lying, yet, McNamee is vilified and Pettitte is glorified. Amazing.

2:19 PM: Virginia Foxx really lights up the room with her revelation that she doesn’t know what evidence is. And then the chairman shuts her up. Well done chairman.

2:12 PM: Does anyone really believe that Clemens didn’t know that the Mitchell report wanted to talk to him? Seriously. They seem to have contacted everyone BUT Clemens? Right…

2:10 PM: Roger Clemens invokes the 1996 Dan Duquette comment that he was in the twilight of his career. This guy is STILL so angry about this comment. I love it.

2:10 PM: Virginia Foxx: “Roger, could you please talk about your training regimin with respect to these photos?” Roger Clemens: “why thank you, Virginia, I’d LOVE to talk about it. You see…”

2:09 PM: Gotta love when someone starts a line of questioning by saying ‘I’m not an expert, but…’

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The Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association has removed Roger Clemens as the keynote speaker at its state convention next month, citing Clemens’ inclusion in the Mitchell Report for having allegedly taken steroids and human growth hormone from 1999-2002. The association concluded that Clemens “was an inappropriate influencer to baseball coaches and students alike.”

Ironically - and certainly not coincidental to his dismissal from the state convention - the topic of Clemens’ speech was to be “my vigorous workout, how I played so long [in professional baseball].” Considering that Clemens’ alleges that his continued success in the twilight of his career is due to his work ethic when the Mitchell Report claims it is due to steroid and human growth hormone use, it is not surprising that he will no longer be speaking.

To view the Mitchell Report click here

Roger Clemens
During the Radomski investigation, federal law enforcement officials identified Brian McNamee as one of Radomski’s customers and a possible sub-distributor. After McNamee began working for the Blue Jays in 1998, he and Clemens both lived at the Toronto Sky Dome [hotel]. McNamee and Clemens became close professionally while in Toronto, but they were not close socially or personally.

Jose Canseco was playing for the Blue Jays in 1998. On or about June 8-10, 1998, the Toronto Blue Jays played an away series with the Florida Marlins. McNamee a lunch party that Canseco hosted at his home in Miami. McNamee stated that, during this luncheon, he observed Clemens, Canseco, and another person he did not know meeting inside Canseco’s house. Canseco [said] he had numerous conversations with Clemens about the benefits of Deca-Durabolin and Winstrol and how to “cycle” and “stack” steroids. Towards the end of the road trip which included the Marlins series, or shortly after the Blue Jays returned home to Toronto, Clemens approached McNamee and, for the first time, brought up the subject of using steroids. Clemens said that he was not able to inject himself and he asked for McNamee’s help.

Later that summer, Clemens asked McNamee to inject him with Winstrol, which Clemens supplied. McNamee knew the substance was Winstrol because the vials Clemens gave him were so labeled. 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 Sky Dome. McNamee never asked Clemens where he obtained the steroids.

During the 1998 season (around the time of the injections), Clemens showed McNamee a white bottle of Anadrol-50. Clemens told McNamee he was not using it but wanted to know more about it. McNamee told Clemens not to use it. McNamee said he took the bottle and gave it to Canseco. McNamee does not know where Clemens obtained the Anadrol-50.

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To view the Mitchell Report click here

Lenny Dykstra
Dykstra reported to spring training in 1989 [and] “his increased size was noticeable.” When [Kirk] Radomski asked him about his increased size, Dykstra admitted to taking steroids. Radomski also recalled that Dykstra’s weight fluctuated during that spring training. He stated that members of the Mets’ management discussed Dykstra’s weight fluctuations with the team’s athletic trainers and that “the trainers would just laugh.”

After the Phillies lost the 1993 World Series, Dykstra called Radomski and asked whether Radonski could get Dykstra steroids. Radomski…recalled providing Dykstra with Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, and testosterone.

David Segui
In 1994, while Segui was playing for the Mets, he and Radomski became friends. According to Radomski, Segui admitted to him that he used steroids during that season. Radomski recalled that either at the very end of Segui’s time with the Mets (1995) or shortly thereafter, Segui showed him a bottle of anabolic steroids he had recieved from Mexico. In a subsequent meeting, Radomski gave Segui without charge a bottle of Deca-Durabolin and told Segui to try it.

Deca-Durabolin was Segui’s steroid of choice in the 1990s because it was safe, did not expire for three to four years, and was thought to help alleviate joint pain. Radomski said that Segui paid for the steroids by check although Radomski never asked him to pay for them.

Toward the end of his career, Segui told Radomski that he had a growth hormone deficiency and was getting human growth hormone from a doctor in Florida.

Segui is the only player who called Radomski after news of his plea agreement was reported in the media. Segui asked Radomski if there was anything he could do for him. Radomski told Segui that he likely would have to tell the government about Segui’s steroid and growth hormone use and Segui responded that he did not care.

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CNN has leaked the names of the players, both current and former, who were identified by the Mitchell Report as having used steroids…sometime in the past. By identified, the Mitchell Report means rumored to have used steroids based on unconfirmed testimony from “various sources” including reputable clubhouse attendants personal trainers

To view the Mitchell Report click here

The names identified are:

Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Aaron Boone, Rafael Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Wil Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose and Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsoworth, Ryan Franklin, Troy Glaus, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Troy Glaus, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Prior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez, Fernando Tatis, Maurice Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams and Kerry Wood.

Interestingly, Gary Matthews Jr. is not on the list.

Lenny Dykstra may have a hard time finding work after being identified in the Mitchell Report.

One of the best and worst avenues that covered the baseball winter meetings was espn.com’s live blog from Nashville. With its entire staff of baseball writers at the Opryland Hotel to cover the proceedings, the lay people who were unable (or not invited) to attend could live vicariously through Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, Jayson Stark, etc. with their hourly updates.

The updates were phenomenal entertainment, especially if your team was involved in any of the rumors. However, they also gave us some of the most absurd trade possibilities and potential free agent signings that had a shocking lack of logic to them. Obviously the Santana trade talks were the focus of most of the posts and we’ve covered that ad nauseum. We’ll cover the rest.

In no particular order:

A zany three-team trade with the Mets and Twins that would have featured Haren, Santana and Jose Reyes changing teams. Thoughts on this trade are aptly summed up by Billy Beane: “There’s a better chance of me breeding unicorns than there is of that deal happening.”

Billy Beane’s sarcasm did little to diffuse the notion that he despises baseball’s winter meetings.

Scott Rolen to the Brewers for Chris Capuano and a top prospect. This trade is absurd because the Brewers turned the Cardinals down. I’m sure you’re thinking they didn’t want to trade their top prospect. Nope. They wouldn’t part with Capuano. You know, the same guy who lost 21 straight appearances for the Brewers this year.

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The Sports Truth founder, Levi Matthews, and senior editor, Lucas Dwyer, Yankees and Red Sox fans, respectively, spent two days debating the merits of their teams’ efforts to trade for superstar pitcher Johan Santana. The debaters started their discussion on November 27th and concluded it on December 4th. For the first part, click here.

December 4th …

Levi: Do you wanna stretch before we talk about Santana?

Luke: First off, I love the Yankee ultimatums. Great subplot of this offseason

Levi: It boggles the mind. Just say it’s your final offer and chill the heck out. Why make a deadline?

Luke: Because they want to move on Haren instead?

Levi: But there’s NO way the Twins actually trade Santana for just Lester, right? Right?!? They have to just be drawing this out to get more from the Yanks.

Boston Red Sox LHP Jon Lester is rumored to be heading to Minnesota in exchange for Johan Santana.

Luke: The initial offer from the Sox was Lester, Crisp, Jed Lowrie (who’s good) and another minor leaguer.

Levi: But, how is that offer better than Hughes/Melky?!? Lester has a 4.60 career ERA.

Luke: In what, 15 starts? (editors note: Lester has 26 career starts)

Levi: He’s good, sure. But, is his ceiling as high as Hughes?

Luke: Probably not, but he is a lefty. I guess I agree that the Yankees offer is better. It depends on Lowrie who was the Red Sox minor league player of the year.

Levi: Right.. so I think/pray they’re trying to get Kennedy in it, too.

Luke: For whatever it’s worth, the Sox second offer was Ellsbury, Lowrie, and Masterson (basically where Buchholz was this time last year in terms of development).

Levi: They need a CF/pitcher and they’re asking for that from the Yanks - so I can’t see how thy can agree to any trade with Boston that doesn’t include Ellsbury AND Lester/Clay. If the Sox get Santana and keep Ellsbury and Clay…something is amiss dammit.

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The Sports Truth founder, Levi Matthews, and senior editor, Lucas Dwyer, Yankees and Red Sox fans, respectively, spent two days debating the merits of their teams’ efforts to trade for superstar pitcher Johan Santana. The debaters started their discussion on November 27th and concluded it on December 4th. For the second part, click here.

The rumor of rampant trade speculation, Johan Santana, could bring a World Series title to the team he’s traded to. However, the left-handed ace comes at an expensive price.

November 27th …

Levi: I’ve crafted a debate in my head between Santana and Haren. Do you know how cheap Haren is?? $15 million over the next three years. What if the Yanks can get him and keep either Hughes or Kennedy? Is that not better than Santana?

Luke: Why is he available?

Levi: Because the A’s are giving up, apparently. They’re starting completely over… without young, cheap pitching somehow.

Luke: How are they going to get Haren without giving up Hughes or Kennedy or Joba?

Levi: They’d give up one. I’m guessing it takes Melky, Kennedy and Hughes to get Santana, plus maybe one of their minor league pitchers. What if you can keep either, especially Hughes, and get Haren?

Luke: I would say that makes more sense. I don’t think the $ has much to do with it.

Levi: No, just the fan in me who wants to see young players and doesnt wanna hear the nonsense about the Yankees buying their championships makes it an issue.

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Much has been made of the tumultuous off season for the New York Yankees. Certainly we’re all aware of the A-Rod saga, but catcher Jorge Posada filed for free agency and returned, same for closer Mariano Rivera. Roger Clemens is expected to retire (again) and starting pitcher Andy Pettitte declined his option to stay with the Yankees for another year as he contemplates retirement.

Andy Pettitte keeps the Yankees in limbo as he decides his future.

Certainly not the best of off-season’s for the Bronx Bombers a sentiment Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown talks about in his column on November 19th, 2007.

Tim’s point is that the Yankees are not addressing their most pressing need: pitching. While he’s right, what do you want them to do, Tim? Sign Kyle Lohse (another Boras client, by the way)? Trade away every rookie for Johan Santana? Demand that Andy Pettitte not retire and stay with New York another year? Frankly, one of the best things they could have done for their pitching was make sure Rivera returned. Tim thinks the pitching is poor now, imagine if Rivera didn’t come back.

In typical terrible reporting fashion, Tim talks only about the problem and blames the Yankees for not addressing it without coming up with a solution of his own. The reason is, of course, there is not solution. In my opinion, the Yankees have two options. Either move one or more of the kids (Philip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, or Ian Kennedy) with Melky Cabrera for Johan Santana or stick with the aforementioned kids. The rest of the free agent pitchers out there aren’t worth paying for.