Cashman denies telling Giambi to use steroids

SI's Jeff Pearlman is releasing a book titled "The Rocket that Fell to Earth," obviously about Roger Clemens. However, there is an anecdote about Brian Cashman and Jason Giambi that has angered the Yankees' GM. Take a look:

The book said that when Giambi went through a slump in the 2002 season, his first with the Yankees, Cashman was heard yelling at a television in the Yankees’ clubhouse during a game. Citing “one New York player,” the book said that Cashman screamed, “Jason, whatever you were taking in Oakland,” get back on it.

The book said that Cashman then added, “Please!”

In a telephone interview Thursday night, Cashman said that the anecdote described in the book never happened.

“That is completely false,” Cashman said.

He added, in reference to the author: “This guy never even called me and asked me if it was true. You think he would have done some fact-checking.”
...

“The source was a Yankee player who was an eyewitness and in whom I have 100 percent confidence,” Pearlman said.

But he acknowledged that he should have called Cashman for his reaction. “He’s totally right,” Pearlman said. “I didn’t call him for comment and I should have.

“But that doesn’t mean the story isn’t correct.”

As an (aspiring) journalist, I hope that Pearlman did his homework here. I wouldn't be surprised if this story turned out to be true, but there's really no way to prove anything here. It's still an interesting revelation.

Happy birthday, Robinson Cano

Today is Robinson Cano's 26th birthday, so happy birthday wishes are in order.

It's ironic that Game 1 of the World Series will be played tonight. Cano's play this season is one of the many reasons why the Yankees will not be participating in this year's Fall Classic.

Meanwhile, looking back at happier times, today is the eighth anniversary of Roger Clemens tossing a broken bat at Mike Piazza. I can't believe that was eight years ago. Jeez.

Clemens has no hard feelings toward Yankees

Roger Clemens talked to a Houston television station today and said he harbors no ill-will toward the Yankees for their failure to mention him during the Yankee Stadium closing ceremony.

"The reports were false as many have been over the course," Clemens told Houston's KRIV-TV about reports he was unhappy the team didn't include him among those honored during the final game at Yankee Stadium. "I don't pay attention to them. We are trying to do things the right way.

"They had some story that I was watching it. I was actually in Florida in the instructional league at the time the game was going on, the last Yankee Stadium game was happening, I was on a plane flight coming home. So I never saw any of the game itself," he said.

That's nice.

Clemens also says he has no desire to play, he's happy at home and is willing to work for the Astros as soon as they're willing to let him.

Yeah, it's a slow news day/week/month/season.

A trip back to the circus

Paul Maholm, Pittsburgh's starter tonight, has been involved in two rather large moments in recent Yankees' lore.

Last year, on June 9, he was on the mound when Roger Clemens made another of his numerous comebacks. Clemens and the Yankees won 9-3, and Maholm was shelled over 5 1/3 innings.

With that loss, Maholm fell to 2-9 on the season. He eventually finished 10-15 with an ERA a shade over 5 that year. Clemens, overall, was a disappointment and is now a disgraced former pitcher.

Maholm will also be remembered as the only pitcher to ever face Billy Crystal in an actual game. This came on March 13 of Spring Training this year. Crystal, batting leadoff, actually made contact, lining a ball foul just past first base. He eventually struck out and left to a standing ovation.

Tonight, Mike Mussina is going for his 11th victory of the season. That's a pretty big deal, I guess.

Happy Anniversary!

It was one year ago today that Roger Clemens made his 2007 debut for the New York Yankees.

What a difference a year makes.

One year ago today

It was one year ago today that Roger Clemens announced his return to the New York Yankees during their 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. For your listening pleasure, here's Suzyn Waldman.

Clemens ended up going 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA in 17 starts (18 games) last year. He also had a bad start against Cleveland in the ALDS in which he was (partly) booed off the mound.

Since then, his life has been in a downward spiral, as he was named in the Mitchell Report and reportedly had a fling with a 15-year-old country singer.

In retrospect, he was better off not returning last season.

Hawkins changes his number

It's being reported everywhere that LaTroy Hawkins has changed his number from No. 21 to No. 22. This will certainly appease the idiots that booed him for wearing Paul O'Neill's sacred number.

Hawkins wasn't trying to annoy people by wearing No. 21. He was honoring Roberto Clemente by wearing his old number. However, there were people at Opening Day who decided to boo him during player introductions.

You boo people for poor performances on the field. He has a 9.00 ERA and gave up six earned runs in one game. That's perfectly "booable." The fact that he is trying to honor a baseball legend is not.

I just hope there isn't a contingent of Roger Clemens' loyalists out there who are now miffed at Hawkins for wearing No. 22.

Clemens' jersey removed from Yogi Museum

The Yogi Berra Museum's director David Kaplan announced that museum has taken down Roger Clemens' jersey from a display honoring the Yankees teams of the late 1990s.

From the AP via Yankees.com:

Kaplan said the decision to remove the jersey was not made to generate publicity, but was done in response to allegations of steroid use by Clemens that resulted in Wednesday's Congressional hearing where the seven-time Cy Young Award winner testified.

"It was the fact that there are a lot of unresolved issues involving Roger and it was difficult for us to give answers to the kids coming through the museum," Kaplan said.

This makes sense. It's always about the kids.

Pettitte admits to more HGH use

In December, I wrote that Andy Pettitte had "come clean." He admitted to using HGH in 2002 for two days to recover from an elbow injury. Well, we learned today that Pettitte wasn't being entirely truthful.

From a statement released by Pettitte's lawyers, via the AP:

"In that affidavit, Andy informed the committee that in addition to the two shots a day of HGH he took for two days in 2002, he also took HGH for a one-day period in 2004, shortly preceding season-ending elbow surgery," Pettitte's lawyers, Jay Reisinger, Thomas Farrell and James Sharp, said in the statement.

"Andy had not previously mentioned this usage because he acquired the substance from his father, who had obtained it without Andy's knowledge in an effort to overcome his very serious health problems, which have included serious cardiac conditions.

"Andy did not want his father, whom he deeply respects and loves, to be brought into this matter and sought to shield him from publicity. In both cases, Andy used HGH in a misguided effort to recover from injury."

I don't know what to believe anymore. Pettitte received credit for admitting what he had done in the past, and then this comes out.

The Congressional hearing today was also a disgrace. Either Roger Clemens or Brian McNamee were lying through their teeth. The more I hear from Clemens, the more I believe he's lying.

This whole thing is a mess. Good thing pitchers and catchers report tomorrow so we can get back to baseball.

Yankees concerned about Pettitte's preparation

Andy Pettitte's name appearing in the Mitchell Report has the Yankees worried about his off-season preparation, according to Buster Olney.

Pettitte was recently deposed by Congress and asked out of testifying yesterday.

Olney says that Pettitte usually began throwing in January, sometimes with Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. Since both Clemens and McNamee were implicated, the Yankees don't know where Pettitte stands in training. As a result, the Yankees will assume that Pettitte is behind the Yankees' other starters in terms of conditioning.

Hopefully this doesn't affect Pettitte during the season. The Yankees will have a very young pitching rotation, and will need the veteran leadership of Pettitte. Also, with the young starters likely having innings caps, Pettitte's 200+ innings will be crucial.

Yankosphere: January 7

There is no news in the papers today other than a recap of the Roger Clemens interview, and I'm tired of talking about that.

• The only baseball-related item regarding Clemens is that he told Mike Wallace that he will not make a comeback. [New York Post]
• Bryan Hoch answers readers' questions. [Yankees.com]
  
• Mike from Canyon of Heroes was Peter Abraham's guest blogger today. [LoHud Yankees Blog]
  

Chronicle: Clemens sues McNamee

From Alyson Footer at MLB.com:

Roger Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit Sunday night against Brian McNamee, claiming his longtime trainer was threatened with jail if he didn't connect the seven-time Cy Young winner with steroids.

According to a Houston Chronicle report, the lawsuit was filed electronically with the Harris County civil courts Sunday evening, just before CBS aired Clemens' interview on "60 Minutes."

After releasing several statements claiming his innocence, posting a video denial on his personal Web site and speaking out on "60 Minutes," the lawsuit is Clemens' next strategic move in an effort to clear his name.

"I don't know if I'll ever get the naysayers back. I don't know what I'm going to get. Maybe some of my name back," Clemens said to the Chronicle Sunday. The report also revealed Clemens' stance that the lawsuit will not keep him from testifying before Congress on Jan. 16, which he plans to do without asking for immunity or invoking any rights.

And the circus continues.

I really can't wait for these 38 days to pass. I need to see some real baseball news before I go crazy.

The report also mentions that Clemens has asked the court to declare that Clemens has not defamed McNamee. The lawsuit includes quotes from McNamee that came from a conversation with private investigators hired by Clemens' attorney, including the fact that McNamee was persuaded to talk about Clemens after he was threatened.

Clemens on '60 Minutes'

I wasn't home to watch the Roger Clemens interview on 60 Minutes tonight. Apparently he didn't say much (not like that wasn't unexpected).

For those who also missed it, here is the transcript from Boston.com.

For those who saw it, what did you think of it?

Yankosphere: January 6

• Brian Cashman feels has job has changed since the emergence of Hank and Hal Steinbrenner [LoHud Yankees Blog]
• Goose Gossage will be a Spring Training instructor. He also feels that Joba Chamberlain is more valuable out of the bullpen. [New York Post]
• Roger Clemens and his legal team thought about attacking the Mitchell Report before it was even released. [New York Post]
  
• The Star-Ledger scored an interview with Hank. [The Star-Ledger]
• Mike from High and Tight was today's guest blogger. Reminder: I will be guest blogging on Jan. 9. [LoHud Yankees Blog]

Clemens will be on 60 Minutes tonight as soon as CBS' football coverage ends.

Until then, go Giants!!!

Clemens and McNamee speak on the phone

From David Lennon at Newsday:

In a surprising twist to their public war of words, Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, spoke by telephone Friday night, Newsday has learned. It was their first contact since the Mitchell Report was released Dec. 13, and a person close to the situation described the hourlong conversation between the longtime friends as "emotional."

It is unclear whether Clemens or McNamee initiated the call, and attempts to reach representatives for both of them Saturday night were unsuccessful. Clemens and McNamee have been friends since 1998, when the two were together on the Blue Jays, and it was Clemens who got McNamee hired by the Yankees after he was obtained from Toronto at the start of the 1999 season.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any stranger, this happens.

Clemens will appear on 60 Minutes whenever the late football game ends tonight. He has already stated that McNamee injected him with legal drugs.

Also, Clemens and McNamee, as well as Andy Pettitte and others were asked to testify in front of Congress on Jan. 16.

Yankosphere: January 5

Today has been relatively quiet.

• Jim Leyritz's attorney believes that his client is innocent. Big surprise there. [New York Daily News]
• More on Roger Clemens' and Andy Pettitte's court date. [The New York Times]
• Peter Abraham answers your questions, in his seventh installment of the off-season mailbag. [LoHud Yankees Blog]
• Mark from The Bronx Stop was today's guest blogger. [LoHud Yankees Blog]

Clemens, Pettitte and McNamee asked to testify to Congress

ESPNEWS is reporting that Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Brian McNamee have been asked to testify in front of Congress on Jan. 16. Kirk Radomski and Chuck Knoblauch have also been asked to attend.

This is now getting very interesting.

Clemens: McNamee injected legal drugs

Roger Clemens proclaimed his innocence in the upcoming 60 Minutes interview with Mike Wallace.

From the CBS website:

Baseball superstar Roger Clemens denies he cheated by using banned substances and says his accuser, former trainer Brian McNamee, only injected him with the painkiller lidocaine and the vitamin B-12.

...

When asked by Wallace if McNamee had ever injected him with any drugs, Clemens responds: "Lidocaine and B-12. It’s for my joints, and B-12 I still take today."

Clemens calls the accusation "ridiculous" and says he "never" used any banned substances.

"Swear?" asks Wallace.

"[I] swear," says Clemens.

It will be interesting to see the rest of the interview and the news conference the next day. I'd like to believe Clemens, but I really don't know what to believe anymore.

Hank: No Clemens in 2008

Hank Steinbrenner is on a roll today.

After mentioning that the Yankees are preparing a final offer for Johan Santana, he spoke about the possiblity of a Roger Clemens return.

From the New York Daily News:

"I'm not signing Clemens," Steinbrenner, the Yankees' senior vice president, said in a telephone interview yesterday. He said the Yanks are not looking for rotation stopgaps - like they were last season - because they are so enamored of their young starting pitchers. And Steinbrenner feels the Yanks already have a strong mentor to the young arms in Andy Pettitte, whom Steinbrenner praised for his "veteran leadership.

Well, I agree with his reasoning. That's also why he doesn't need to trade for Santana.

Steinbrenner also believes that Clemens won't make a return anyway.

I know Santana and Clemens have been beaten to death, but they are pretty much the only two stories out there now.

(Louis Lanzano/AP)

More Clemens drama

Apparently, Roger Clemens is facing a lawsuit if he says in his 60 Minutes interview that Brian McNamee was not truthful in his allegations, according to Duff Wilson of The New York Times.

The interview with Mike Wallace is schedule to air Sunday night after the football games, and I am definitely interested to hear what Clemens has to say. Hopefully Wallace asks the tough questions that baseball fans want to hear answers to.

Clemens will also answer questions from reporters the day after the interview airs at a 5:00 ET news conference.