Associated Press
The baseball notebook …
NEW YORK ó Roger Clemens’ lawyer says the pitcher was not among the more than 100 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
Rusty Hardin tells The New York Times that Clemens obtained the results from the drug-testing company and provided them to Congress before his 2008 testimony by waiving his right to keep them private.
The results would not affect a federal grand jury’s investigation into whether Clemens should be indicted for perjury. Clemens disputed former trainer Brian McNamee’s claims that he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 to 2001. McNamee made no assertions about 2003, and HGH was not tested for them.
Players were anonymously tested in 2003 with no penalties. Hardin said he was revealing the results now because other players recently have been linked to the list.
CUBSCHICAGO ó Cubs general manager Jim Hendry understands the frustrations of fans as the team he put together struggles, adding Thursday that any criticism for the disappointing performance should start with him.
The Cubs, the two-time defending NL Central champions, was in fourth place entering a road trip last Thursday ó not what was expected of a team with a payroll between $135 million and $140 million.
Milton Bradley, the team’s major offseason acquisition at three years and $30 million, has struggled, as has Alfonso Soriano. Fans are upset that the Cubs traded away versatile Mark DeRosa in the offseason and that after a short stint with Cleveland, he’s ended up with arch rival St. Louis.
Hendry is the target of many of the critics.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things said about me and written that I didn’t believe. I try not to go too far in the down column when it’s not going well,” Hendry said.
REYNOLDS’ RANT
DENVER ó A day later, Mark Reynolds had no regrets about unloading his frustration over the Arizona Diamondbacks’ lackluster play.
With the cameras rolling Friday night, the third baseman seethed, “I don’t want to say guys are packing it in, but it sure seems like it.”
On Satuday, Reynolds said he just hopes his disgruntled speech was taken by his teammates in the vein it was meant ó he simply wants the team to get their act together.
“I back up everything I said,” Reynolds said Saturday.
The team had three errors in a 5-0 loss to the Rockies on Friday, bringing their total to a league-leading 74.
“We looked like the Bad News Bears out there. It’s frustrating as (expletive) out there,” Reynolds said after the game. “We get behind and here we go again ó we don’t play hard and we lose focus.”
WANG INJURED
NEW YORK ó Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang left Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a strained right shoulder, putting his next start in jeopardy.
Wang allowed four runs and six hits before he was replaced in the sixth inning. Wang, who missed time earlier this season with weakness in the adductor muscles in his hips, went for an MRI that revealed the shoulder strain and bursitis.
MOYER’S MILESTONES
PHILADELPHIA ó The Phillies’ 46-year-old starter Jamie Moyer beat the Mets 4-1 Saturday for 253th win of his career.
Carl Hubbell and Moyer are tied for 10th for most wins among left-handers. Moyer’s 600th career start tied him with Pete Alexander for 21st on the all-time list.