Bill Madden Puts it Into Perspective

From Bill Madden of the Daily News:

In the case of Santana, I’m beginning to think the Yankees, by indicating they’re out of contention, have sounded the call of sanity that, to the Twins’ dismay, may well be echoed by the Red Sox and Mets. Think of it: The Twins are looking to get four legitimate prospects back for their free agent-to-be lefthanded ace, after which the acquiring team will then have to reach a long-term contract agreement with Santana, who is said to be looking for six years at $25 mil per. Even if sanity prevails and the acquiring team holds the line at five years and $20 million (which would still make Santana the highest-paid pitcher in baseball), that still would amount to four top prospects plus $100 million – for one player!

Makes you wonder why the Sox, Mets and Yankees, have even bothered chasing Santana. Why not collectively conspire with each other (it could happen) and wait him out until 2009. At least then, you’ll only be giving up $100 million or so (…only).

Seriously?

From ABC News:

The New York Yankees boast to be the team “Where Players Become Legends.”

Now, one die-hard fan is questioning the integrity of their catch phrase — in court.

Matthew Mitchell is suing the Yankees for $221 — the exact amount he paid for tickets to five of the games he attended between 2002 and 2007. His claim is filed under “failure to provide goods paid for.”

“I’ve been a fan forever, and now, there’s evidence — based on the Mitchell Report and common sense — it’s clear to me that what I was seeing was not a baseball game,” said Mitchell.

Uh…? I understand that we, as fans, are having trouble finding the appropriate reaction to the Mitchell Report’s content (and the inclusion of multiple Yankee players). But, this seems to be a bit of a reach. Here’s more from Mitchell (nice coincidence).

“I’m really interested in seeing how the Yankees are planning to answer the suits, because common sense tells you that they’ve known these guys were doing it,” said Mitchell.

I don’t think citing “common sense” will win you any points in court. Also, this guy went to see a game against the Yankees and the Giants (with Barry Bonds). Come on now! Yes, it was 2002, but Bonds hit 73 homers the year before that. What, did he not know that Bonds was using steroids?

People who aren’t even born yet know Bonds was a user.

Competition in the AL East

From Buster Olney:

The Rays are dangerously close to being competitive, writes Joe Henderson. Their payroll has increased by 70 percent, writes Marc Topkin.

Definitely check out those links. The Rays are becoming a solid, young team and could wind up taking a step out of the cellar this year.

Sunday’s Session of Roger Clemens

According to the Daily News, Roger Clemens may not speak to congress.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com reported that Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ lawyer, has made the first move toward backing off his adamant claims that Clemens would go to Congress and testify under oath that he did not take steroids or human growth hormone, as McNamee has claimed he did. According to the Web site, Hardin is waffling on whether Clemens will answer questions in a deposition by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee before the Feb. 13 hearing before the committee, saying it might interfere with Clemens’ defamation lawsuit against McNamee. The report also said that Hardin may not turn over a taped conversation between McNamee and two investigators from Hardin’s office recorded on Dec. 12, the day before the Mitchell Report was released. The Daily News first reported the existence of the tape and the claims by McNamee’s lawyer, Earl Ward, that it should be made public. McNamee has said the investigators tried to get him to recant his claims about Clemens, Ward told The News last week.

Richard Emery, a libel specialist who is also representing McNamee, told The News after the lawsuit was filed a week ago that he was astounded that Clemens went forward with litigation and that avoidance of testimony before Congress was likely a big reason why.

“It’s an obvious ploy to deter Clemens from not going to Washington,” Emery said then. “This has to do with the fear of Clemens going before Congress under oath. I don’t consider this lawsuit a major threat. I’m sure we can get it dismissed.”

Roger is starting to feel the congressional heat. We’ll have to see how he reacts but, ever since the phone convo between he and McNamee was released, McNamee has gone to extra lengths in order to combat Clemens and his comments. Actually, in relation to the Mitchell Report and the information included within it, McNamee has launched an “offensive” against Clemens (while Clemens continues to attack his credibility).

It’s going to be a battle for the proverbial “hearts and minds” of the people, that will eventually change this situation. Clemens isn’t looking too great right now, as the goodwill he earned during his press conference is quickly fading.

Last but not least, here’s an article about sports figures, steroids, and the lies they employ in order to justify their actions in the court of public opinion. Before you read on, I must say that I don’t like Mike Lupica (work-wise), and I feel as though he resorts to some pretty lame tactics in order to get his point across.

While trying to convey the negative element put forth by athletes and steroid users like Marion Jones, Lupica states the following:

Now it seems that so many high-profile athletes are more worried about being McGwire than they are being Marion Jones, who goes to jail now because she lied about using performance-enhancing drugs and still can’t bring herself to tell the whole truth about that.

No offense to Lupica, but Jones also went to jail because of some form of check-fraud that she was engaged in at the time (with her boyfriend, husband, or ex-husband, I believe), which is also a very serious crime.