Odds and Sods

Roger Clemens was on the golden road to unlimited devotion a year ago, but he will now be singing the Mexicali Blues after a ten-year affair with country singer Mindy McCready–begun when she was just fifteen–became public.

The New York Daily News, citing an anonymous source, claims that Clemens carried on a clandestine relationship with the country starlet that spanned through stints in Boston, Toronto, New York and Houston.

Clemens reportedly became infatuated with the singer–when he was 28 and married with two children–when she performed at a Fort Myers bar, throwing a shirt on stage with the autographs of himself and some of his teammates.  The two were introduced and it was “love at first sight,” according to the source.

Roger neglected to inform McCredy of his marriage, a fact she discovered after reading his bio in a game program at Fenway Park.

Clemens allegedly took McCready on party-fueled jaunts to Las Vegas and New York.  He also allegedly sent her Fed-Ex packages filled with cash to cope with her legal woes.  Former trainer Brian McNamee confirmed that he saw the two together “on many occasions” including his apartment at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

McCready also allegedly sat near the Yankees dugout during Roger’s game and jokingly donned a catcher’s mask.

In a statement as believable as previous ones, Clemens confirms that McCready is a family friend, but denies that any “inappropriate” activities occurred.

The source seems likely to have some relationship to Brian McNamee, the target of Clemens’ defamation suit regarding allegations made in the Mitchell Report.  It is unclear whether this information can be useful in a legal defense, but it is clear that the parties will not be adhering to Marquess of Queensbury rules.

Caught in a search for one more Saturday night, Clemens will hope to convince his wife to turn on her lovelight and will likely get told to keep on truckin.

The Odds and Sods MLB Power Poll (Apr. 20)

1. Boston Red Sox (13-7)

They have won four straight and have been ruthless at Fenway Park, despite the doldrums of a pedestrian Papi.

Kevin: Perhaps the burial and subsequent unearthing of the Red Sox t-shirt in the new Yankee Stadium is having some sort of positive effect. More likely, though, the big Red Sox Machine is clicking on all cylinders and Boston looks like the team to beat.

2. Arizona Diamondbacks (13-5)

The Diamondbacks have six regulars with an OPS of .862 or better.  It will be interesting to see if they maintain that as the season progresses.

Kevin: Remember when the Diamondbacks won the West despite scoring fewer runs than their opponents last season? Thus far, Arizona leads the Majors in runs scored by 14, and its team ERA of 2.80 is tops as well. The Brandon Webb-Dan Haren combo has been as expected, and the return of a healthy Randy Johnson makes Arizona a very dangerous team.

3. Chicago Cubs (12-6)

The Cubs outscored the Pirates 29-9 in a weekend sweep.  They seem to be the team the experts saw at the beginning of the season.

Kevin: The Cubs are the best team in the Central, hands-down. Derrek Lee is en fuego (.356, 7 HR), and Kosuke Fukudome (.317, 13 runs, 3 SB) has been a great addition to the lineup.

4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (12-

They have been solid.  Though, I am still not sold on their offense.  They don’t get on base.  Their double play combo of Macier Izturis and Erick Aybar has a combined two extra-base hits in 108 at bats.  Back to back road series against Boston and Detroit should show their mettle.

5. New York Mets (10-7)

The Mets have been carried thus far by their starters.  They will hope Beltran, Delgado and Reyes heat up with the weather.

Bottom Five

26. Texas Rangers (7-12)

The Rangers have lost eight of their last ten.  For them to stay respectable, they can’t blow solid outings by their starters.

27. San Francisco Giants (8-11)

The Giants currently have five regulars sporting a sub .300 OBP.  If Barry Zito can feel shame, he should make out his game checks to Tim Lincecum.

Kevin: It should tell you something that the Giants’ 8-11 start is considered a pleasant surprise by this longtime fan. Every day ahead of the Dodgers in the standings is a good day.

28. Detroit Tigers (6-13)

The best starter for the Tigers this season (the only one below 6.00 ERA) is Jeremy Bonderman.  He is 1-2 with a 4.37 ERA and a mere 10 K in 22.2 innings.  45% of MLB players picked the Tigers to win the World Series, proving that at least 45% of MLB players are idiots.

Kevin: The Tigers may rank near the top of the game in talent and experience, but so far those intangibles haven’t translated into victories. We’ll see if Curtis Granderson’s return is the boost they need.

29. Houston Astros (7-12)

Chacon and Rodriguez have combined to allow just 14 earned runs in 49.1 innings combined over eight starts, for a total record of 1-0.

Kevin: The Astros have the offense to compete, but the pitching staff is suspect at best. And with longtime ace Roy Oswalt on pace for a 6-plus ERA and 25 losses, things could go down the tubes fast.

30. Washington Nationals (5-14)

The scary part is that they have this record when their starting pitching has actually been decent.

Kevin: The walk-off home run to usher in the new stadium seems like a very long time ago. A nine-game losing streak is part of a current stretch in witch the Nationals have lost 14 of 16.

Kevin’s other writing can be found at All on the Field.

If you would like to cast votes for the Odds and Sods MLB Power Poll please e-mail me at tyduffy@gmail.com.

“E:60” correspondent Tom Farrey scored a salacious scoop on Miguel Tejada.  The dashing reporter tricked Tejada into interviewing under false pretenses, cleverly asked him to state his age, and then slapped him silly with his birth certificate signifying that he was two years older than MLB believed.   In the words of Dan LeBatard, “bam!”

Tejada is 33 not 31.  He lied in 1993, telling Oakland he was seventeen instead of nineteen because he thought it would increase his chances of the team offering him a contract. 

The Government did not reveal with other Latin players in 2001, because his official documents carry his actual age rather than MLB age.

The newsworthiness is unquestionable.  ESPN was surely right to run an article about this.  But, was it really worth a Chris Hansen-style sting operation?

Surely, it is not as egregious as Ashton Kutcher pretending he is 30 rather than 34 (and that he has a full head of hair).

E:60 is supposed to represent the paragon of sports journalism on the network.   While the story was valuable, the tactics employed were embellished overkill.  Tejada neither raped nor killed.  He did not screw investors out of millions.  He did not steal.  He was not running a drug ring nor was he patronizing a high-class escort service.  He said he was two years younger to escape a poverty stricken island.

The story was neither salient nor significant.  For the moral equivalent of a parking ticket, what is the purpose of orchestrating a sham interview, inducing him to lie and then confronting him about it?  These methods provided neither insight nor value to the story.  The only outcome was embarrassing a man who had done nothing to warrant it.  The method itself became more of a story than the information gleamed.

ESPN has many incredible journalists who do fine work.  E:60 is most often a respite from the riotous reign of commentary that plagues sports journalism.  While I appreciate the chutzpah, save it for something worth it. 

This will hopefully be a semi-weekly feature over the course of the baseball season.  If you would like to be a part of our panel, e-mail me at tyduffy@gmail.com

Top 5

1. Diamondbacks - Winning Streak
2. Red Sox - Epic Journey
3. Cardinals - Pujols Rage
4. A’s - Road Warriors
5. White Sox - Played Tigers

Bottom 5

1. Giants - No Offense
2. Tigers - Dontrelle’s Woes
3. Nationals - Losing Streak
4. Rangers - Nonexistent Pitching
5. Astros - Clemens Return?

1. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are not very good, but they are less bad than the other teams in this terrible division.

Their lineup has a murdering middle with Lee, Ramirez and Soriano, but little else to laud over.  Fukudome is 30 with no power and no speed. Felix the cat can’t hit.  And they will rely on merry dogooders like Ryan Theriot who provide moxy, clubhouse presence and joie de vivre – while not getting on base – to set the table.

The pitching will worry them more.  Carlos Zambrano should be unstable mentally but fine.  The law of averages could fell both Hill and Lilly who pitched well above their median last season.  A recycled Jon Lieber and a revamped Ryan Dempster round out the mediocre lot.

Chicago has a decent bullpen.  Twenty-five year-old Carlos Marmol was filthy last season, with a 1.43 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 69.1 innings.  For them to transcend, however, they need the most maligned arm in Chicago – not attached to the Sex Cannon – to resurge.

Kerry Wood has obliged thus far, hitting the mid to upper 90’s during Spring Training.  But, he ever remains one pitch away from his forearm detaching and dementedly spiraling toward home, ball in hand.

Expect another pointless pennant in Wrigley Field, or Corporate America Den of Iniquity or whatever the place is going to be called.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers were every baseball buff’s sleeper last season – including Odds and Sods – and almost made pompous geniouses of us all.   But, they have stayed pat, which may prove painful.

Milwaukee has a potent lineup of young stars.  They have appropriately named Ryan Braun (1.004 OPS last season), J.J. Hardy, and Vegetarian Prince Fielder, who hopefully will be as good as the regular model.  Rickie Weeks, when he isn’t injured, is a haughty hitting second baseman.  They will score some runs.

Pallid pitching may cost them, however.  Ben Sheets hasn’t pitched a full season since stellar 2004.  The rest of the rotation are recycled rejects and unproven, and unheralded, kids.

The bullpen will cause them to go far or gird their loins.  The juice is loose for Eric Gagne.  His strikeout numbers were excellent last season.  His command and velocity were all over the place.  Turnbow has been both tremendous and inept in recent years.  David Riske is the second most apropos Brewer.

Their lineup will help them.  Their pitching will not.  But, having a pulse is good for second in the Central.

3. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds scream sleeper but for their manager this season, Dusty Baker.

Look at their lineup!  They have Adam “No one realizes I have a freaking .900 Career OPS” Dunn.  Ken Griffey Jr. still hits 30 HR per season.  Brandon Phillips had 30 HR last year as a second baseman.  Twenty-four year-old Joey Votto can be a .900+OPS and 30 HR guy as well if he gets the at bats.    Jeff Keppinger who hit .332 and had a .400 OBP last season in 241 at bats would seam like a great top of the order guy.

But, the brain of Dusty Baker will lead this club into oblivion.  He will inexplicably tell Adam Dunn to be more aggressive.  He will ride Griffey like a plow-horse until his fragile knees go in July.  He will start Hatteburg over Votto for “experience” and “veteran leadership.”  And he will start .694 career OPS Alex Gonzalez over .806 career OPS Keppinger for no discernable reason.

Their Baker hamstrung lineup will have to out hit opponents, because their pitching is not too spectacular.  Assonance-spawn Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are decent.  Matt Belisle is not, and youngsters Edinson Volquez and Johnny Ceuto will get thrown to the wolves.

Francisco Cordero is a competent closer, but getting to him will be an adventure.

4. Houston Astros

Berkman and Carlos Lee bang with the best.  They have a couple nice complement hitters like Pence, Loretta, and an undoubtedly slimmer Miguel Tejada. They will score.

Roy Oswalt is a perennial Cy Young candidate.  I am as shocked and amazed at you that it is Wandy (not Juande) Rodriguez.  Woody Williams is a nice veteran.  Brandon Backe has looked good the past two seasons, though he has only made 13 starts combined, so that is worrisome.  The rotation isn’t bad, but they really could use an additional arm.

If the bullpen avoids a Brocail breakdown, they should be fine.  Valverde was dominant, saving 47 games last season.

5. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis won only 78 games last season and, based on their expected W-L they were extraordinarily lucky to have done so.  This year, they will be worse.

Albert Pujols has a “high-grade tear” of a ligament in his elbow, which requires extensive reconstructive surgery.  It is not a question of if, but when.  One doubts whether La Russa’s plan to rest him 2-3 days a month will cut it.

The rest of their lineup just stinks.  Glaus, being forced into the field, may suffer unless La Russa can discretely slip steroids into his locker.  Ditto for Rick Ankiel.   Adam Kennedy is a scrappy white guy – a scrappy white guy who had a horrific .572 OPS last year.  Chris Duncan may cobble together some hits.  That’s about it.

For the pitching rotation, Wainwright had a good year.  Looper, Piniero, Reyes and Lohse, not so much.

The bullpen is reasonably competent, but old.  Isringhausen is also an ever-present health risk.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Steelers’ season starts in September.