Happy Hearings Day

[Frayed Knot]

I'm not really sure what the purpose of this current dog-and-pont show is.
At least last time Congress could claim that they were trying to push MLB into a stronger testing policy (and could claim some influence there). But this one seems to be totally a hearing to determine which among Clemens or MacNamee is lying about the other and I don't understand why they care all that much.

That said, this should be fun theatre - especially since the guest list is essentially down to the two protagonists. The best part is that not only is someone lying here but one of them is doing so SPECTACULARLY !! No nuanced difference in interpretation here, it's a choice between labeling Rajah as a hard-working, milk-drinking jock or a raging, 'roiding, bullying asshole.

And, this time, the revolution will be televised.

[Gwreck]

Apparently the building where he was to testify was evacuated this morning due to an unclaimed bag.

[Guest AG/DC]

Shit. That's where I left my bag.

[Guest AG/DC]

Meanwhile, the substance of Pettitte's affadavit is leaking like the roof of a beach house.

In an affidavit for the committee, Pettitte said that Clemens told him nearly 10 years ago that he used HGH, a person familiar with the affidavit told The AP. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the document had not been made public.

BAM!

According to the person familiar with the affidavit, who said it was signed Friday night, Pettitte also said Clemens backtracked when the subject of HGH came up again in conversation in 2005, before the same House committee held the first hearing on steroids in baseball.

Pettitte said in the affidavit that he asked Clemens in 2005 what he would do if asked about performance-enhancing substances, given his admission years earlier. According to the account told to the AP, the affidavit said Clemens responded by saying Pettitte misunderstood the previous exchange in 1999 or 2000 and that, in fact, Clemens had been talking about HGH use by his wife in the original conversation.

Great. He's tossing the missus over to save his skin. This can get ugly.

Check that. This will get ugly.

[metirish]

Clemens tells panel " I did not use performance-enhancing drugs
"...

Clemens rolls out all time chestnut - " "If I am guilty of anything, it is of being too trusting of others"

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Debbie Clemens: "So, THAT'S what the underside of a Greyhound looks like."

[Benjamin Grimm]

McNamee looks a bit like Andy Dick, doesn't he?

[metirish]

From a Newsday blog.

] 11:23 a.m. Davis' line of questioning reads as if it's coming from a script from Rusty Hardin.

[Guest AG/DC]

"Mr. MacNamee injected me three times with B-12 in Toronto, twice in New York."

"Mr. MacNamee, do you concur."

"The first I ever heard of Roger taking him B-12 was on 60 Minutes. I have never injected Roger Clemens with B-12."

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mr. McNamee "injected Mrs. Clemens in her bedroom."

[Guest AG/DC]

Caught in a lie, cover the mic, speak to the lawyer.

Nice.

[Guest AG/DC]

Con. Burthon grilling MacNamee on why he kept the syringes. "Gee whiz, are you kidding me?!"

I think it's a viable explanation.

[Guest AG/DC]

Burton is being a dick. He's adding up MacNamee's lies, but those lies are clearly all the ones he told when he was trying to protect the players.

[Guest AG/DC]

Burton is a complete ASSHOLE!

He's ripping MacNamee because his lies are destroying Clemens, but the only lies he's catching MacNamee in are the lies he told defending Clemens.

[Benjamin Grimm]

AG/DC wrote: Burton is a complete ASSHOLE! He's ripping MacNamee because his lies are destroying Clemens, but the only lies he's catching MacNamee in are the lies he told defending Clemens.

He also pretends not to understand the distinction between things said under oath to Congress and to reporters from the Daily News and Newsday.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I just hope they don't break out photos of the "palpable mass on Mr. Clemens' buttocks."

[Centerfield]

Someone ask him about throwing at Piazza while he's under oath.

[Guest AG/DC]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ="AG/DC"]Burton is a complete ASSHOLE! He's ripping MacNamee because his lies are destroying Clemens, but the only lies he's catching MacNamee in are the lies he told defending Clemens. He also pretends not to understand the distinction between things said under oath to Congress and to reporters from the Daily News and Newsday.

And MacNamee is too humilated and/or unsophisticated enough to spell these distinctions out for him.

[Frayed Knot]

Dr. Ron Taylor gets cited

[Guest AG/DC]

I object. Davis is calling for speculatoin.

[metirish]

Interesting , from Newsday blog.

] 11:53 a.m. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass) just revealed that, based on the testimony of a leading expert in MRIs, an abscess that was on Clemens' buttocks in 1998 is "more capatible with Winstrol injections" and not a B-12 shot, as Clemens insists. McNamee states he injected Clemens with steroids, which led to the abscess. (The Blue Jays handed over medical records to the committee, and Clemens' attorney on Monday handed over an MRI of that abscess after pressure from the committee, Lynch said.) Rep. Tom Davis came to Clemens' defense, saying Lynch's question was out of line. Davis' defense of Clemens is interesting; it's seems he is taking Clemens' side. 11:36 a.m. Now Rep. Dan Burton (R-Indiana) is pushing McNamee on the Canseco party, why he kept the syringes, vials, etc. Burton really went after McNamee and his history of lies. "He is a titan in baseball, and you, all these lies, are destroying him," Burton said to McNamee. There is a theme here. The Democrats are going after Clemens. The Republicans are going after McNamee. Make your own conclusions.

Edited February 13, 2008 by Guest

[Guest AG/DC]

How many of these guys did Clemens seduce?

Edited February 13, 2008 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: McNamee looks a bit like Andy Dick, doesn't he?

Not as much as Henry Waxman looks like Porky Pig

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's kind of a dis on Porky Pig, isn't it?

[soupcan]

AG/DC wrote: ="Benjamin Grimm"] AG/DC wrote: Burton is a complete ASSHOLE! He's ripping MacNamee because his lies are destroying Clemens, but the only lies he's catching MacNamee in are the lies he told defending Clemens. He also pretends not to understand the distinction between things said under oath to Congress and to reporters from the Daily News and Newsday. And MacNamee is too humilated and/or unsophisticated enough to spell these distinctions out for him.

Absolutely correct.

This is great radio by the way.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That's kind of a dis on Porky Pig, isn't it?

Oh absolutely. Porky's much cuter.

[Guest AG/DC]

Here comes Carolyn Maloney.

[Guest AG/DC]

David Cone brought into it.

[metirish]

AG/DC wrote: Here comes Carolyn Maloney.

Who thanks Clemens for his professional accomplishments....barf.

[Guest AG/DC]

Rep. Souder is a Republican who defended MacNamee's testimony. And he spits at MLB to boot.

Bully, Rep. Souder.