Agent working hard to clear Clemens

By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine

Roger Clemens' agent released a 49-page statistical report Monday to rebut allegations that Clemens' career had a resurgence after he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Randy Hendricks and two associates at his law firm issued the report in hopes of explaining Clemens' unique career arc, and to refute allegations in Major League Baseball's Mitchell report.

George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader and director of the Boston Red Sox, was hired by MLB to investigate steroid use in the game. Mitchell reported that Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer of Clemens, claimed he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001.

Clemens has consistently denied taking any performance enhancing drugs, but his career did seem to take an upturn during the time frame McNamee claims he was injecting the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with illegal substances.

"Clemens' longevity was due to his ability to adjust his style of pitching as he got older, incorporating his very effective split-finger fastball to offset the decrease in the speed of his regular fastball caused by aging," Hendricks' report said.

Clemens was 192-111 with the Boston Red Sox from 1984 through 1996, winning three Cy Youngs and a Most Valuable Player award but the fireballer went just 40-39 in his last four seasons with the club, sparking then general manager Dan Duquette to say Clemens was in the "twilight of his career."

Instead, the pitcher went on to compile a 162-73 record in stints with Toronto, the New York Yankees and Houston, winning four Cy Youngs in the process.

Hendricks' report tries to explain the statistical anomalies.

"Over the course of his career, Roger Clemens was able to maintain a high quality of pitching by continuing to work on his technique and adjusting his style of pitching to his physical abilities," the report said. "Had he not mastered the split-finger fastball, it is unlikely that he would have maintained the high level of effectiveness that he displayed during his 24 years on the mound."

Clemens is expected to give a deposition to a Congressional committee looking into the Mitchell Report on February 5.