Baseball. Blogging. Whenever.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Trousers and Hot Tubs

One of the needles I gave the government was used to inject Clemens with steroids in either July or August of 2001," McNamee was quoted as saying by sportsimproper.com in an item posted Wednesday. "The place was his high-rise apartment, which is located off the corner of 90th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan.

"That day, he laid out the drugs, dropped his trousers and I did as he asked, that is, inject him with steroids. Afterwards, he told me to get rid of the needle. I went into the kitchen and found an empty Miller Lite can in a wastebasket under the sink. I put the used needle into the can because it was actually hazardous material at that point and I didn't want anyone to get hurt by sticking themselves. He told me to throw it away but I kept it instead". . .

. . . McNamee previously described injecting Clemens at the pitcher's apartment to baseball investigator George Mitchell. In addition, he told the Web site: "Sometimes it was in the Jacuzzi at Yankee Stadium."

Deep Thought

Quote of the Day

“We had Randy (Johnson), Junior, Alex (Rodriguez), Edgar (Martinez), (Jay) Buhner to name a few. That’s a pretty impressive array of talent,” Piniella said, adding quickly: “I didn’t screw it up.”

Waiting to Whitewash Wahoo

The face of Chief Wahoo, a symbol of the departed Cleveland Indians baseball team, will continue to smile down on Winter Haven - at least for the remainder of the city's current budget year.

Money to paint over the Chief Wahoo image, which is stamped into the city water tower at U.S. Highway 17 South and Post Avenue, S.W., won't be available until at least Oct. 1, the start of the city's 2009-2010 fiscal year.

City of Winter Haven spokeswoman Joy Townsend said painting a water tower is an expensive undertaking.

"Repainting the one in southwest Winter Haven is not budgeted at this time," Townsend said Tuesday.

Recusal

Attorney general Eric Holder has cited a conflict of interest in recusing himself from any legal matters involving Roger Clemens, the Daily News reported Tuesday.

Prior to his appointment by the Obama administration, Holder's law firm represented Clemens during last year's congressional probe into steroid use in baseball. Holder was a partner at Covington and Burling, a Washington D.C. firm that also employed Lanny Breuer, who was retained by Clemens.

Breuer has also been nominated for a top Justice Department post, and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told the News that Breuer will likely offer his own recusal if he is confirmed.

Petco: it’s where the taxpayers’ money goes.

San Diego's downtown redevelopment agency will shoulder debt payments for Petco Park for the next five years, relieving the city of one financial burden as it struggles with ongoing deficits and budget cuts. Under a deal approved by the City Council yesterday, the Centre City Development Corp. will cover the $11.3 million annual debt payment through 2013 . . .

. . . In the past, San Diego used its general fund – which pays for parks, libraries, fire and police services – to make debt payments . . . Representatives from the Downtown San Diego Partnership and San Diego Downtown Residents Group spoke in favor of having the CCDC pick up the debt payments, but they also cautioned that the city should not continually raid the agency's funds to balance its own budget.

They fear that the CCDC will not have enough money left to fund fire stations, parks and other amenities for downtown residents. About 30,000 people live downtown, but the population is expected to triple by 2030.

The best laid plans of God and men . . .

The Netherlands' miracle occurred with the help of a fielding error by first baseman Willy Aybar that allowed the Netherlands to score the game-winner in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Aybar was unable to field a sharply hit ground ball by Yurrendell de Caster, allowing Eugene Kingsale to race home from third base.

Today at THT