WASHINGTON — Injured and defeated in a playoff game against the Boston Red Sox, Roger Clemens asked the general manager of the New York Yankees for the man who could “push his buttons.” He asked for Brian McNamee. WASHINGTON —
WASHINGTON — Injured and defeated in a playoff game against the Boston Red Sox, Roger Clemens asked the general manager of the New York Yankees for the man who could “push his buttons.” He asked for Brian McNamee.
Two years later, the Yankees didn’t want McNamee around anymore. They found him to be insubordinate, and they had concerns about a couple of incidents, one in Floridaand one in Seattle.
A central figure in the Clemens perjury trial moved closer to center stage Thursday. The jury heard tantalizing facts about the strength coach who says he injected the 11-time All-Star pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone — with details awkwardly omitted because they’ve been ruled as not relevant to the case.
McNamee is expected to take the stand when testimony resumes on Monday, the start of the fifth week of the trial that is meant to determine whether Clemens lied to Congress in 2008 when he said he had never used steroids or HGH.
But McNamee was also the focus Thursday when New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman took the stand. Prosecutors used Cashman to show how close Clemens and McNamee had become; the defense used Cashman to attack McNamee’s integrity and praise Clemens. In fact, the government to date has put together a case based in part on a string of witnesses who have lauded Clemens’ work ethic while testifying that they had no evidence whatsoever that he used performance-enhancing drugs.
“One of the greatest players that I’ve ever seen. He worked harder than everybody and led by example,” said Cashman, who went on to add that Clemens has “something, pitchability, something else that’s inside him” that puts his competitiveness at 100 on a scale of 1 to 10.
When it came to McNamee, Cashman’s words were less kind.
“This particular individual, Mr. McNamee, did not get along with people,” Cashman said.
Cashman recalled how McNamee came to work for the Yankees. It was Game 3 of the American League championship series at Boston in 1999. Clemens had allowed five runs before leaving after two innings with a bum hamstring. He had struggled through what would be the worst of his 24 seasons, at least when it came to his earned run average.
Cashman said he went to the visitor’s clubhouse at Fenway Park and found Clemens with ice on his leg and frustration on his face.
“He talked about how he clicked with Brian McNamee,” Cashman said. “He knew his body. Brian knew how to train him, push the right buttons on him.”
McNamee was hired by the Yankees — a decision made by then-owner George Steinbrenner — the following year at a salary of $30,000. The title was assistant strength and conditioning coach, but as Cashman put it: “His duties were to train Roger Clemens.”
McNamee had previously worked with Clemens when both were with the Toronto Blue Jays. McNamee has said he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH during the 1998, 2000 and 2001 major league seasons.
Guerrero agrees to deal with Blue Jays
MINNEAPOLIS — Vladimir Guerrero has agreed to a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a potential veteran boost for a lagging lineup.
The deal was announced Thursday by the Blue Jays before a four-game series at Minnesota. General manager Alex Anthopoulos, speaking on a conference call, cautioned there’s no guarantee the 37-year-old will join the major league team. Guerrero will be sent to the team’s extended spring training program in Dunedin, Fla., where the Blue Jays will assess his condition. If they like what they see, he’ll play in some minor league games before he’s added to the 25-man major league roster.
Anthopoulos refused to place a timetable on any possible track to Toronto for Guerrero, a .318 hitter over 16 major league seasons with 449 home runs, tied for 35th on the career list.
Guerrero batted .290 last year with 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 145 games and 562 at-bats for Baltimore, all as a designated hitter.
Pirates’ Hanrahan on bereavement list
PITTSBURGH — The Pirates have placed closer Joel Hanrahan on the bereavement list and recalled reliever Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Hanrahan left the team to be with his family following the death of his grandmother. He is expected to return to the Pirates on Sunday.
Manager Clint Hurdle says he’s not sure who would serve as the team’s closer in place of Hanrahan. Juan Cruz collected two saves earlier this season while Hanrahan dealt with a balky hamstring.
McCutchen went 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA with the Pirates last season but failed to make the team out of spring training after going 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in nine appearances.
McCutchen is 2-2 with a 2.49 ERA in 11 games with Indianapolis this season.
