Schilling thinks Clemens needs to refute Mitchell report

Necro

BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling called on Roger Clemens to give up the four Cy Young Awards he's won since 1997 if he can't clear his name from allegations that he used steroids to prolong and enhance his career.

"If he doesn't do that then there aren't many options as a fan for me other than to believe his career 192 wins and three Cy Youngs he won prior to 1997 were the end," Schilling wrote Wednesday in his blog, 38pitches.com. "From that point on the numbers were attained through using [performance-enhancing drugs]. Just like I stated about Jose [Canseco], if that is the case with Roger, the four Cy Youngs should go to the rightful winners, and the numbers should go away if he cannot refute the accusations."

Schilling noted in the 3,200-word posting that he was a fan of the seven-time Cy Young winner who owed much of his success to a stern talking-to he received from Clemens when Schilling was a prospect in the Boston system.

"His 'undressing' of me and lecture were a major turning point," Schilling said. "I've always respected his career accomplishments and regarded him as the greatest pitcher to ever play the game."

But, having called on Canseco to give up his 1988 AL MVP award, and noting also the unrefuted evidence against Barry Bonds, Schilling acknowledged he could not avoid questioning Clemens' accomplishments, as well.

"Can you separate what Barry is accused of from what Roger is accused of?" Schilling said. "If ... both of these men end up being caught, what does that say about this game, us as athletes and the future of the sport and our place in it? The greatest pitcher and greatest hitter of all time are currently both being implicated, one is being prosecuted, for events surrounding and involving the use of performance enhancing drugs. That [stinks]. ... The sport needs fixing."

Clemens was the biggest name in the report by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell that detailed the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. Clemens has denied using performance-enhancing substances.

The Rocket's last four Cy Young Awards came in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Many of the allegations against Clemens in the Mitchell Report came from former trainer Brian McNamee, though none pertain to 1997 or 2004. Mitchell wrote McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Toronto Blue Jays, and steroids and human growth hormone in 2000 and 2001, while with the New York Yankees.

Schilling commended those who've apologized for using performance-enhancing drugs and called on everyone accused to prove their innocence or apologize for their mistakes.

"The world is full of good to great people that have made mistakes of this magnitude or worse," Schilling wrote. "These guys made mistakes, and I do mean mistakes. They didn't accidentally do this, this was a conscious decision with far reaching implications and they should be held accountable."

While saying Canseco's "entire career, all of it, is a sham" and saying "he was never in his life a major league player," Schilling also acknowledged that many of Canseco's claims about other steroid users have been corroborated.

"He has broken the flood gates on a topic that went unspoken on for far too long," Schilling said.

The runners-up in Clemens' last four Cy Young-winning years were Randy Johnson (1997 and 2004), Pedro Martinez (1998) and Mark Mulder (2001).

Schilling was among those who testified in March 2005 to a U.S. House committee investigating steroids, along with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmiero. The same committee has scheduled hearings for Jan. 15.

Clemens has not been asked to attend, though it's possible that the committee could decide to ask Clemens or other players to appear that day -- or at a future hearing, if there is one.

Slimdust

lol. Classic Schilling.

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

The problem with ANY player that could even be innocent is if he sues then the court system is then opened to "Right to discovery" in which they could basically subpeona (sp?) every single player in the Mitchell report and open full investigations on their lives, even if that one player IS innocent, it would most likely dig up SOOOOOOO much dirt on his fellow union members.

This would most likely result in 100's of guys getting popped. Basically Clemens is honoring the code. Innocent or not.

Also, I am NOT saying that Clemens is guilty or innocent, but stating why he is very unlikely to sue. Therefore, just because you don't sue, it doesn't make you guilty 100% IMO.

This seems to be something that everyone is overlooking.

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chops

Baseball players no longer get the benefit of the doubt, to many of them are guilty liars. I fully believe Clemens took steroids, players don't get better in their late 30's. Schilling seems to have an opinion on everything and as a sox's fan I wish he would shut his mouth, not going to happen though.

Blitzkrieg

I'm going to assume clemens is a liar just like everyone assumed Bonds was and is a liar. Besides that.. I don't have much to say. I get tired of Schilling's rants though. How the fuck is he still pitching? Maybe I should ask that question..

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

I also think Schilling speaks out too much, but at the same token we criticize others that only speak in clicque. (is that how you spell it?)

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Blitzkrieg

You don't have a red line that underlines the text in your box that handles grammar and spelling errors?

Necro

Yeah but players like him, Glavin, and Maddox all depend on off speed pitches, more so than power. That's why Clemans is so suspect dude still brought crazy heat at 44...

Inogenius

I would love to see someone, like Clemens, refute this with absolute evidence. But I don't think anyone is able to do so.

Even if Clemens were to give up his Cy Young awards, or if Bonds name were to be erased from history, the period is still tainted. There's nothing that can be done about it.

Necro

Well the bar has been set with the Olympics. They have taken medals away to people who doped.

So maybe soon enough Baseball will have to have something in place where it basically says you take steroids, you do this shit your banned for life.

IMO it's way too late to punish Clemans, Bonds. But as soon as they get that 100% guarantee your banned for life. Far less people will be attempting such things. Even now it's a slap on the wrist in most cases.

Put steroids up there with gambling, and lets see who will take that risk.

The only thing I'll say more Pete Rose is he claims he loved baseball, baseball was his life. He knew the rules if he was that addicted to gambling, he should have just bet on other sports, or anything else. When he gets to betting on baseball come on man. That's fucked up.