Roger Clemens was the big bombshell in the Mitchell Report. Frankly, it caught me by surprise because there were no rumors about Clemens. As I recall, all of the steroids talk had been about hitters, like Bonds or McGwire.
My guess is that Clemens is out for Hall of Fame considerations. He will pay for what we now call "The Steroids Era".
Here is the tragedy: Clemens would have made it without taking anything, as my friend Richard Baehr wrote:
"Some sportswriters have argued, prior to the release of the Mitchell report, that he was the best pitcher in baseball history.
A career won lost record of 354-184 over 24 seasons, and a career ERA of 3.12, more than one earned run per nine innings below the League Average for the years he pitched of 4.46, make for a pretty strong case for Clemens to be considered among the best ever.
Clemens posted his career low ERA in 2005, 1.87, less than half the National League average at age 42.
His ERA was also below 3 in 2004 and 2006.
These years, late in his career, are the ones the Mitchell report claims Clemens enhanced his performance.
But had Clemens retired five years ago, he was a certain inductee into the Hall on his first consideration." (The Hall of Fame Debate Begins Anew By Richard Baehr)
It's a shame that he came back and allegedly took whatever he took. It may have cost him the Hall of Fame!
