Clemens' oldest son says Rocket will assist Astros
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Roger Clemens' oldest son says his father will work with minor leaguers at Houston Astros spring training, but didn't say when he would arrive.
"He'll be down here eventually," said Koby Clemens, a catcher in the Astros' farm system.
The Rocket has a personal services contract with the Astros, similar to those offered to Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, that kicks in when he officially retires. The Astros have said Clemens is still welcome despite the steroid controversy surrounding him.
"He was always coming down here," Koby said. "No matter what happens, he's always going to want to help out with anything he can do. He'll come down here and throw 700 pitches eventually."
The Astros' minor leaguers opened a minicamp Monday, and the 21-year-old Clemens was there by 8 a.m. He was glad to finally concentrate on baseball after a stressful three months since his father was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in the Mitchell Report.
Clemens has strongly denied the allegations, brought by former personal trainer Brian McNamee. The two told widely different stories to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in a nationally televised hearing Feb. 13.
House drafts letter about Clemens
A draft letter asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Roger Clemens made false statements to Congress has been written by House staffers, The New York Times reported on its Web site yesterday, citing three unidentified lawyers familiar with the matter.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held the Feb. 13 hearing at which personal trainer Brian McNamee repeated his allegations that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone -- and Clemens repeated his denials. Both men spoke under oath during depositions and at the hearing.
Union, owners to resume talks
While lawyers for players and owners plan to resume discussions on the Mitchell Report's recommendations for improving the sport's drug testing, the No. 3 official of the players' association said yesterday that the "current program is working fine."
Union general counsel Michael Weiner and former players Bobby Bonilla and Stan Javier were among a group that met for about 75 minutes with the Houston Astros yesterday to discuss the ramifications of the report and other issues.
BoSox, Colon agree on minor-league deal
The Boston Red Sox are taking a "no-risk, high-reward" shot on Bartolo Colon.
The Red Sox came to terms yesterday on a minor-league contract with the 2005 Cy Young Award winner. The 34-year-old righty, who last pitched Feb. 6 in the Caribbean World Series, is expected to arrive in camp today.
The team's medical staff will evaluate the two-time All-Star, who has gone 7-13 with a 5.72 ERA while slowed by shoulder and elbow injuries the past two seasons. He went 6-8 with a 6.34 ERA in the final year of a four-year, $51 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels last season. If he is added to the Red Sox's 40-man roster, he would get a $1.2 million, one-year contract and have the chance to earn performance and roster bonuses.
Lidge to miss 3-to-6 weeks
Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge is expected to miss three to six weeks after having surgery yesterday on his right knee. The team said the operation was successful.
The 31-year-old right-hander, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice Saturday. Doctors removed torn cartilage from the same knee in October.
Yanks hope to retain Cashman
Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner plans to talk about a new contract with general manager Brian Cashman before the regular season ends.
Cashman, in the final year of his current contract, said shortly after arriving at spring training that he wanted to keep any discussion of a new deal between himself and the Steinbrenner family.
Millwood scratched
Texas Rangers right-hander Kevin Millwood was scratched yesterday from his first spring start because of a right hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old injured the hamstring in the final conditioning drill Sunday. He was scheduled to pitch two innings Friday against the Los Angeles Angels.
