Report: Clemens, Tejada named in Grimsley drug case....

[BERIGAN]

Sigh.....It seems these days where there's smoke, there's fire. Hopefully it was just a punk somehow trying to lighten his sentence by tossing out big names.

Report: Clemens, Tejada named in Grimsley drug caseESPN.com news services

LOS ANGELES -- Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada were among the players that a former major league pitcher accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a federal agent's affidavit, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday on its Web site. Buster Olney's blog

Baltimore teammates Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons and Tejada also were implicated in the sworn statement, the Times said. All three Baltimore players denied the accusations and the team stood by its players in a statement Sunday.

Also Sunday, Clemens and Pettitte defended themselves in separate interviews.

"I just think it's incredibly dangerous to sit out there and just throw names out there," Clemens said Sunday before the Astros played in Atlanta. "I haven't seen [the report], nor do I need to see it."

"I've been tested plenty of times," he added. "My physicals I've taken, they have taken my blood work. I have passed every test. Again, I just find it amazing that you can throw anybody out there."

Pettitte was "stunned" by the report.

"I played with Grimsley for a couple of years in New York and had a great relationship with him," the pitcher said before the Astros' game.

"I guess reports are saying I've used performance enhancing drugs," he added. "I've never used any drugs to enhance my performance in baseball. I don't know what else to say except to say it's embarrassing my name would be out there."

In June, federal agents searched reliever Jason Grimsley's home in Arizona after the pitcher admitted using human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines. Grimsley was later released by the Arizona Diamondbacks and suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball, and has not played since then.

In a 20-page search warrant affidavit signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, the Times reported, he said Grimsley identified other players who had used drugs. Those names were blacked out when the document was released.

The Times said an anonymous source with access to the document -- minus the crossouts -- let the newspaper see it, but kept the copy. The Times said a second source who had identified the other players provided additional details about the document.

According to the affidavit, the Times said, Grimsley told investigators Clemens and Pettitte "used athletic performance-enhancing drugs."

The affidavit also alleged Grimsley told federal agents that Roberts, Gibbons and Tejada "took anabolic steroids."

On Wednesday, Gibbons told ESPN The Magazine's Amy K. Nelson he had not seen a copy of the affidavit and was told by his agent and other journalists only that his name was on the document. He also said he thought he was named as part of the group Grimsley referred to when discussing amphetamines. "I barely knew [Grimsley]," Gibbons said.

In June, the Orioles' front office held separate meetings with Tejada, Gibbons and Roberts, according to three sources. The context of the conversations was to inform the players that their names were rumored to be on the affidavit, and that they should all consult their lawyers. According to one source in the room, it was simply a forewarning, and no other intimate information related to the affidavit was shared.

Gibbons said that all questions the media had would likely be referred to his lawyer.

"I know it'll make me only look more guilty, but I have to protect myself," Gibbons said earlier this week. "I don't have to protect anybody else. This is my livelihood."

Orioles vice president Jim Duquette, also reached at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, said he had seen only a redacted version of the document, but he was aware the three players were known to be on the list.

Novitzky also was the lead investigator in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative probe. Two BALCO officials and Barry Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, served jail time after guilty pleas in that investigation.

Grimsley has complained to friends, the Times said, that federal agents attributed statements to him that he did not make.

"I'm told he has denied saying all of this," Randy Hendricks, who represents Clemens and Pettitte, told The Associated Press on Saturday night. "It's an agent's recollection about a conversation he had about conjecture."

"I've grown weary of having to defend [Clemens] from innuendo and conjecture about every six months for the last several years when he's complied with all of the rules and regulations," Hendricks said. "Andy is just surprised and stunned, and has no knowledge of any such activity."

Clemens and Pettitte pitch for Houston. The Astros won 5-4 at Atlanta on Saturday night.

Tejada, Gibbons and Roberts had left the clubhouse in Boston after Baltimore's 5-4 victory Saturday night when an AP reporter sought comment.

"I don't pay attention to what [Grimsley said]," Tejada told The (Baltimore) Sun. "I know that I've never had a problem with that. I know that I've never used that and I know I am clean.

"I don't worry about anybody who puts me in that stuff. I'll get checked out for anybody, any time, any moment -- whenever they want."

Gibbons told The Sun: "I have passed every test administered by Major League Baseball over all the years. And I am not going to dignify these claims and accusations with any further response."

Roberts echoed his teammates' comments.

"His accusations are ridiculous," Roberts told The Sun. "We've had steroid testing, and I've taken all the tests. There is no point in getting into verbal wars. That's really all there is to say."

Orioles executive Mike Flanagan said the team supported Tejada, Gibbons and Roberts and wouldn't comment on the matter further.

"Our players have addressed the accusations quite strongly and we support them," Orioles excutive vice president Mike Flanagan said in a statement. "We have not seen the affidavit and therefore will not comment on it further."

Along with the federal probe, baseball hired former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to investigate the use of steroids.

All major league players are tested at least twice a year for banned drugs. There is no test for HGH, but it is banned by baseball.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2609002

[Dan Gould]

Interesting piece of information from the original LA Times report:

According to the 20-page search warrant affidavit, signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, Grimsley told investigators he obtained amphetamines, anabolic steroids, and human growth hormone from a source recommended to him by former Yankee trainer Brian McNamee. The former team trainer is a personal strength coach for Clemens and Pettitte.

I hate to assume guilt by association but we know that Grimsley used steroids and HGH and other things, and according to him, his source was recommended by the personal strength coach of Clemens and Pettitte?

I wonder how close a friend this "personal strength coach" is to Clemens and Pettitte. That may be the only thing keeping them from some serious trouble. But regardless, this is an uncomfortably close association from Clemens and Pettitte to a known steroid-using pitcher.

[Dave James]

I've often wondered about Clemens. His before and after pix are not dissimilar to those of other obvious juicers like Bonds and Sosa. Frankly, I'm surprised more attention hasn't been paid to pitchers. It's like if you don't hit home runs, you couldn't possibly be cheating. Bullshit.

Up over and out.

[Dan Gould]

I've often wondered about Clemens. His before and after pix are not dissimilar to those of other obvious juicers like Bonds and Sosa. Frankly, I'm surprised more attention hasn't been paid to pitchers. It's like if you don't hit home runs, you couldn't possibly be cheating. Bullshit.

Up over and out.

Well, Grimsley admitting to using 'roids should have opened people's eyes to the variety of uses they have. And you're right about Clemens, this recent news almost makes me wonder whether Clemens' response to Duquette's "twilight of his career" line wasn't "I'll show you" but "I'll get me some steroids and show you".

For that matter, Pettitte went from a strapping young man to a pretty big buck ... but the problem that we'll always have with the steroid era is that players took to strength training like never before, and without retroactive testing, or "trainers" that come clean, how can you know whether it was juice or hard work?

[Tjazz]

I always thought Clemens was juiced.

Gagne looked pumped too. Luckily, he hasn't played the last 2 years and collected $20 million for his SAVES 2 years ago. (He should retire)

Giambi seems to have recovered after he stopped getting juiced.

[Dan Gould]

I always thought Clemens was juiced.

Gagne looked pumped too. Luckily, he hasn't played the last 2 years and collected $20 million for his SAVES 2 years ago. (He should retire)

Giambi seems to have recovered after he stopped getting juiced.

I never thought Gagne looked "pumped". And I hope he isn't done as I wouldn't mind the Red Sox offering him 1 mil + big time incentives. If he can come back and be Gagne again, we wouldn't miss Papelbon in the pen at all.

And as for Giambi, there's absolutely no telling. The man admitted to using HGH, seemingly couldn't hit when he said he stopped taking steroids and HGH, then all of a sudden regained his stroke. With no test for HGH, I have serious doubts that his "comeback" wasn't fueled by something he already has admitted to using.

[Soulstation1]

total bullshit

the rocket may retire and they bring this shit up on his last day