Tom Williamson's MLB Baseball fan blog

In case you haven't noticed, the truth has come out.  Roger Clemens used steroids.  The image of the pitcher who arguably is the greatest to ever play the game of baseball has forever been tarnished.  The man who won seven Cy Young awards, and twice struck out 20 batters in a game, the man who has over 300 wins and over 4,500 strikeouts took steroids.  He denies this of course, unlike many of his other counterparts who were named in the Mitchel Report.  Brian Roberts who was only alluded to, admitted to his steroid use.  How does this make Roger Clemens look, the man who was named second most, for his connections to performance enhancing drugs, in the Mitchell Report to Barry Bonds look?  Guilty.  One of the other players named in the report was Roger's buddy Andy Petite who was named by the trainer he shared with Roger Clemens.  Petite admitted his use and although he claimed it was only briefly in hopes of recovery from elbow problems more quickly, it was more than Roger Clemens did. 

Continue reading "Clemens' bloody Sock"

The outcome was expected.  The means was a little unconventional.  The New England Patriots won another game yesterday by beating the New York Jets 20-10 in Foxboro.  With the win the Patriots moved to 14-0 and clinches the number 1 seed in the AFC.  Punts were the reason for three scores in the game accounting for or leading to 21 of the 30 points scored by both teams combined.  In the first quarter Chris Hanson punted a ball that was down at the Jets own three yard line.  Two plays later Kellen Clemens threw an interception to Ellis Hobbs who returned it for a touchdown.  Seven points, a direct result of a good punt, with a little help from a strong pass rush from Richard Seymor (who happened to injury Clemens on the play)
 
In the second quarter the importance of the kicking game continued.  Down 10-0 the Jets blocked a Chris Hanson punt and returned it for a touchdown.  Ironically enough, moments earlier there was an in-game highlight of a botched punt by the Bills that the kicker punted through the end zone to take the safety instead of risking the touchdown.  Hanson mishandled what seemed like a good snap.  He just caught it wrong, and bobbled and tried to recover and David Bowens managed to block and recover the punt for a touchdown.  That’s 14 points off of punts.  

Continue reading "The Foot Was Important In This Game of Ball"

Overshadowed by the Mitchell Report was the fact that the deadline to tender contract to unsigned players on teams rosters has come and passed.  Three important names on the list that Red Sox fans should concern themselves with are Brendan Donnelly, Akinori Otsuka, and Mark Prior.  Donnelly played with the Red Sox last years and was having a good season until injuries shortened his 2007 campaign.  He was also the only member on the Red Sox major league roster to not be tendered a contract by the team.  The other 20 were all offered contracts.  Because the Red Sox did not offer a contract to him he is currently a free agent.  The team is still negotiating with the reliever and is hopeful to reach terms on a new deal for lesser money due to the Tommy John surgery he had in August that will keep him out until at least the second half of 2008.  There may have been another reason he was non-tendered however, Donnelly was mentioned in the report released by Mitchell today.  With Gagne gone, Donnelly is the most recent member Red Sox to be linked to the report and it is possible they want to be clear of players with such allegations attached.  He was, however, a member of the Angels when his name was linked to his steroid use.

Continue reading "Bring Back Donnelly - Take in Otsuka"

For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, Eric Gagne has recently signed a one year contract for the Milwaukee Brewers for $10 million.  Consider his performance with the Red Sox last season and that is a ridiculous.  Add in that he was mentioned in George Mitchell’s report on steroids that was released today and that was laughable.  It seems we now know why Gagne had shoulder problems a couple years ago.  Steroids aside though, I am glad to see him go.  Though it can’t be determined for sure (it will take a few years to know) the Red Sox trade for him last summer has to be one of the worst ones in recent history.  The Red Sox gave up a starting pitcher, and two outfield prospects for basically a few losses and a sandwich draft pick.  If they didn’t make that trade last summer, it makes you wonder what the team would look like right now.

Continue reading "Good Riddance Gagne"