Q & A with Charlie Hayes

Written for Bronx Pinstripes

The past week felt like the “Bizarro Yankees” world. (Thank you Superman and Seinfeld.) For the first time in the Steinbrenner era, the Yankees were big time sellers at the MLB trade deadline.Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Ivan Nova were all sent to new homes. Conversely, in 1996, the Yankees were big time buyers on their way to their first championship. One of the players they brought in was a former Yankee, third baseman Charlie Hayes.

One of the lasting memories of the that season was the final out of the World Series. Mark Lemke’s foul pop nestled neatly in Hayes’ glove and he squeezed it tightly for the third and final out in the 9th inning. To help commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1996 team, I spoke with Charlie Hayes about the ’96 team, his sons, and what the future holds.

Read the rest of this column for free at BronxPinstripes.com.

Charlie Rose's Interview With Mariano Rivera

In case you missed, Mariano Rivera's sit down with Charlie Rose.

Boss Jr. Lays the Plan Out to Francesa

Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees managing general partner and youngest son of the late George Steinbrenner, was on WFAN Tuesday afternoon with Mike Francesa.

Among the topics covered were the luxury tax/payroll cut, the sale of YES shares to Fox, Alex Rodriguez and his assorted issues, Robinson Cano's possible contract extension, and the ticket/Stub Hub controversy.

Here's the transcript, with some of my editorial comments in bold italics along side:

MF: "Do you have any plans to sell the Yankees?"

Hal: "No thoughts at all of selling the Yankees. There have been no discussions with anybody about selling the Yankees. (I still find it hard to believe that the Steinbrenners may not be open to the idea even if they have had no negotiations with anyone to this point.)

MF:  "How would you describe your participation in the YES deal?"

Hal: "I think it's great. Fox is going to be a great partner. They obviously know what they're doing and they've been doing it a long time."

"I think it's going to bring great things to the YES Network and take us to places that, quite honestly, we might not have been able to get to on our own..."

MF: "Why is that a good deal for the Yankees compared to where your ownership structure was?"

Hal: "...we've had some partners that wanted to get out, number one, so we've been looking here and there for a while. But we had some partners that wanted to get out and Goldman gets into these things for a certain number of years and then they want to get out and go on to the next big deal for them.

"So, this made sense and the key was to get a good partner, and we know the Murdochs and my Dad is close to Rupert...."

"And they know what they're doing. So I think it's going to be good, and the bottom line is that some of the partner that wanted to get out are now going to be getting out, and we're going to have a really good, big company that I look at, quite frankly, as a family company."

MF: "So you are commited as a family to be in this long term?"

Hal: "We are commited as a family to be in this long term. We enjoy this; this is why we are all involved, all of my siblings. And we are going to continue, every year, to field a championship caliber team. I want the fans to know that that commitment will always be in place, because we know they expect it."

MF: "What is your thought, if any on A-Rod and the investigation going on?"

Hal: Well I don't know any more than you do Mike, I really don't. It's not our investigation obviously and anybody is innocent until proven guilty. So we'll just have to see where the investigation leads.

MF: "Have you had any discussions with A-Rod?"

Hal: "I have not."

MF: "Okay. Any plans to?"

Hal:  "I have not seen him around here and I haven't had any plans to have any discussions, no. Doesn't mean we won't at some point." (Hal may not have, but you can be sure a number of different people - Cashman, Girardi, etc. have spoken with him.)

MF: "How would you categorize the Cano negotiations to this point?

Hal: "Well this is going to be a work in progress for weeks and weeks and weeks, and the one thing I'm not going to do Mike is read about it in the papers every day. So, any significant developments we're going to let everyone know, but  things have been quiet the last couple of weeks. He's been off with the Dominican team, we've got Spring Training going on, so we'll see what the weeks ahead lead to."

MF: "Is it fair to say it's going to be shelved from now on from your standpoint to the end of the season or would you guys be open to discussions during the season?"

Hal: "No, look, every rule has exceptions, right? And obviously we've talked to Scott (Boras) about Robbie and I can see that happening on more than one occasion as the season progresses, but we'll just have to see. We have to get through opening day first and get the ball rolling here."

MF: "There's a very large incentive to be under the luxury tax sometime in the near future. I know that 2014 has been a point, a target point, let's say. Is it something that is a very important part of your strategy to be under it, for the obvious reasons, to be under it in 2014?"

Hal: "There's many reasons to be under and they've been well documented, but what hasn't been documented is I don't believe you have to have the $200MM payroll to be world champions. So it is something important to us, but only if we're sure we're fielding a championship caliber team.  I just can't say that enough.

We are going to field a championship caliber team every single year." (Somehow I think he's forgotten what team he's put together this year.)

MF: "Did the idea of being under the 189 next year impact any of your negotiations that want on this past winter?"

Hal: "I think the one year deals were partly that Mike, but they're partly because of the age of some of the players. I think if you can do a one year deal on a guy that's in his upper 30's it's probably a wise thing to do, as long he's okay with it, you're okay with it.

So I think it was partly due to that. We certainly think ahead, but it's more we're thinking 65, 70% of this  year, because that's what's in front of us."

MF: (preceded by talk about the rewards for being under the cap) "Will this be a one year thing or is it something the Yankees want to do in the future; try to be stay under that tax?"

Hal: "Again Mike, I think you can be a world champion and have a payroll under 189. Are we there yet? I don't know. We have to see how these young players do this year. And it's going to have to be a good blend, as I have been saying, of the young players and the veterans. And that's the way that every other team, every other world champion's been the last 10 years."

MF: "It will be a year to year situation, it won't be that the Yankees must stay under that for you in the future, or is that going to be kind of an edict for you?"

Hal: "Again, it's an absolute goal for me to be under 189. It makes sense for all of the reasons we've been talking about, BUT, the priority is always going to be fielding a championship caliber team."

MF: "And you believe you can do that without over...even though the Yankees have spent their life over the tax, you still feel you can put together a plan and be as competitive as you can be on the field, and keep the money under control?"  (How many times is he going to keep asking him?)

Hal: "Yes, every other team seems to."

MF: "But you guys have been in the playoffs more than a lot of the other teams. I mean you really have. You've been there, you have won't a lot of championships since 2000, but you've been in the playoffs every year which you can't say about everybody else."

Hal: "Well, time will tell Mike. As I said, the young players have to continue to develop in the minor leagues, number one, and the players already up at the Major Leagues, the young ones, have to continue - the Novas and the Phelps - to contribute, and the Pinedas. So, you know it remains to be seen. (Keep in mind Pineda may have no impact at all this year.)

MF: "With the injuries this  year, especially to your core group...there is a feeling that the Yankees are going about this in a very different way than in the past. Would you agree with that or you don't agree with that?"

Hal: "Well the way is to always field a great team and that's what we're trying to do. The free agent market, as you know, wasn't that great last year. We felt we wanted to concentrate on pitching, so we worked hard to get Andy (Pettitte) back, to get Kuroda back, Mo (Rivera), and we did the best we could.

I don't know what to tell you, but, um, so...." (Hal not too happy with the structure of the roster now either, hmm?)

MF:  "I mean right now does Brian (Cashman) have the ability to go out and bring in some players who might be costly even on a one year basis. Is that something, we see Wells, could there be more of that or is there a limit to it?"

Hal: "Well, look there a limit to anything Mike, but my door's always open to Brian and he knows that and we talk every day multiple times. And you know this Wells thing I think is going to be good for us. I think he's going to have a rebound year and he's going to contribute in a big way.

And hopefully we get Tex back, and get Granderson back, but uh...you know, no stone is left unturned. So whatever..if he (Cashman) comes into my office, we're going to sit and talk about it, and consider it."

MF: "Do you think Hal, there's been a lot of talk about tickets this year. There's been a lot of talk this year about, maybe some economic pressure. Is it cyclical?...is just seems to be there's a tougher time selling for everybody this year than the last couple of years.

We're learning about all this secondary market stuff and that's impact and everything else. Do you see business as being a little more challenging in 2013 for the Yankees than it has been, say in the last five or six years or is that not an accurate picture?"

Hal: "I think there are numerous teams that are down. I think we'll have to see where the numbers come in. But our ticket sales are coming around. Obviously Spring Training...beginning that whole process helps. We could use some warm weather up there Mike, that would be good to get people in the frame of mind.

But look, the secondary market is what it is. It's not going anywhere and we're trying to keep our season ticket holders happy and all of our fans happy, and give them a great experience and a great team to watch."

MF: "Hal, you're a good business man, this is an interesting question right now and maybe a dilemma for teams. The idea of what fans do with their tickets as season ticket holders. How the secondary market, how teams play this. Have you given that a lot of thought or is it still kind of evolving?"

Hal: "Well we've given it a lot of thought, which is why we have set up Yankees ticket exchange. Our own program so our season ticket holders can got on there, sell the tickets they don't need or don't want for cheaper. And in a way more convenient and safe environment. That's why we've undertaken this, so obviously we've put a lot of thought into it." (It's disgraceful for Hal to infer that Stub Hub isn't a safe place to buy and sell tickets. It's been done many times.  The Yankees do not want tickets sold on Stub Hub at a much lower price than the minimum the Yankees have set with Ticketmaster aka the devil of ticket sellers. The Yankees will also not be accepting e-tickets this season, which is the normal ticket type on Stub Hub. Instead you will need to get the actual tickets from anyone selling tickets on Stub Hub. And you know the majority of the fans hate this new procedure. It's not the fans fault that the Yankees were greedy and priced out so many fans in the new Stadium.)

MF: "But you made the move away from Stub Hub too, so you must have thought there must have thought there needed to be a change too, right?

Hal: "Well, I'm not going to get to much into Stub Hub, but I will say Mike that that partnership was not good for the New York Yankees, but every team's different and every sport's different".

MF: "Do you think it's a changing business though? That's really my point. Do you see now, 'cause I think it might be. I can't really tell, do you think the ticket business is becoming a changing business for teams right now?"

Hal: "Well I think one thing to consider is are season tickets becoming less and less because of other ways to purchase tickets? I don't know any more than you do, but I can tell you we still have a very strong season ticket base and we're very proud of that. So time will tell, but we just want to be sure that our season ticket holders have a place to resell their tickets that's a safe place." (Perhaps consider the ridiculously high price of tickets and a rough economy and high unemployment.)

MF: "Does the YES deal change the Yankees relationship TV-wise at all Hal, or does it change your business plan at all or is it business as usual even though you are going to have a different relationship with YES than you've had in the past?"

Hal: "It's absolutely business as usual. We made it absolutely clear to Fox and they were absolutely great about this- that no deal is worth doing if we lost the control we needed as to how the broadcasts were run and basically anything having to do with the franchise and the organization itself, and they were great about that and they understand. So really we still control things that are important to us."

MF: "How do you feel about this new model that baseball is going to? Do you like the model they are putting in now, that they are.installing? Do you like what they've done with the luxury tax? There's clearly incentive and a lot of people feel it was built and designed to give the Yankees some incentive. Do you like the plan that was installed? (Never though he was actually going to let Hal answer.)

Hal: "Well it was well thought out, there's no doubt about it. I haven't really philosophically thought about that Mike, to be honest with you. I'm just...my fundamental reason, one of the reasons, for this goal is that I truly believe that 189 is a lot of money and with a good mix veterans and player development guys, you'll win championships and I firmly believe that. Time will tell if I am right or not.

MF: "Do you feel your team has made the steps in the farm system to be able to replenish, and really a key to that is coming up with power arms 'cause that's what costs so much money for the most part. With that being the case do you feel that you guys have made inroads that you need to make to replenish your system that way?"

Hal: "Well I think our pitching's been good. Phelps was a pleasant surprise last year. Nova, and uh we've got a couple of other guys. Betances, we'll see what kind of year he has. And we did trade away Austin Jackson, we traded away Jesus Montero, so a couple of good position players that aren't there for us. But I think the next couple of years for position players is going to be tricky. We're going to have to navigate through that. But, I've been pretty pleased with the young pitching.

MF: "You know this is a year for the first time Hal, in many years...maybe going back to say, might be '94. I mean maybe there was a year here and there where the Red Sox were slight favorites...this is the first time the Yankees probably haven't been favored leaving spring in a very, very long time. What is the level of your optimism with this team right now?"

Hal: "I'm always optimistic, that's just me, and you can't pay attention to rankings. You just can't do that. It's a marathon of a season, you know that better anybody, and there's injuries and six months to get through. So, I'm confident that we've got a good group of veterans that's been through the fire before, and they're going to produce."

Martin: In Best Shape Of Career

In an interview with CBC Sports in Canada, Quebec native and new Yankee Russell Martin said he is in the best shape of his life. Martin worked out with an Ultimate Fighting Trainer to help work his way back from knee and hip injuries.

"I feel like I've trained myself the right way this year. … It's just really high intensity, power endurance-type training," said Martin of MMA training, which he began in mid-October in Chaimberg's Montreal gym.

Among the other things Martin told CBC- he turned down more guaranteed money with the Dodgers, because he figured he had a better chance of winning with the Yankees.

Click here to read the full interview.

My Internet Radio Debut

I went on the air this morning with Jay Ferraro of Gotham Baseball Live to talk about the passing of George Steinbrenner.

Does everyone hate how their recorded voice sounds? I do. I come on about the 10 minute mark. At 16:24 you'll hear one of our Beagles, Tinker, howl in the background. A short time later, our other Beagle, Virginia can be heard barking. Thanks for the help guys.

Q & A with David Adams

David Adams was the Yankees 3rd round selection in the 2008 amateur draft after a stellar career at the University of Virginia. With Robinson Cano and other second base prospects like Damon Sublett in the organization, Adams knows he has his work cut out for him to make it to the Yankees major league roster one day. But he's got the work ethic, motivation, and skills to do it.

We had the chance to do a Q & A with him recently to talk about not only being drafted by the Yankees, but the Tigers as well, and what the transition has been like to pro ball.


Q: Who was the ball player or players you looked up to as a kid?

A: Ken Griffey Jr. was always my favorite player to watch. I think everybody my age idolized Jr..

Q: Back in 2005, the Tigers took you in the 21st round out of Grandview Prep High School. Was it a difficult decision opting between pro ball and the University of Virginia?

A: It definitely was a difficult decision coming out of high school. My family and I were in awe throughout the whole recruiting and draft process. It is one of those things every kid dreams of. But at the same time, I wasn't sure what I wanted, so I was just taking it all in as it came.

Q: Your final season at UVA wasn't up to your standards when it comes to hitting. What do you think happened?

A: I have been asked that question regarding my final year at UVA many times... To this day I am still puzzled as to what happened. I had never struggled that badly in my life at the plate, and it seemed like no matter what I tried to do, it just spiraled downhill in the wrong direction the entire season.

Q: The Yankees were keeping tabs on you for a long time, all the way back to your high school days. What went through your mind when you found out they had taken you in the 3rd round in last year's amateur draft? Who gave you the good news?

A: I received a call from the local area scout Scott Lovekamp while my family and I were at dinner. I was pleasantly surprised. Going into the day I didn't know what to expect because of my struggles in my junior year, but to hear that the best team, historically speaking, had just drafted me, I thought to myself what better situation to be in.

Q: You played in 31 games for Staten Island after leaving UVA. How difficult or easy was it to make the transition to pro ball?

A: The transition was a little tough, only because of the physical adjustments I had to make. Coming out of college I felt a little lost with my mechanics at the plate, so days after I was drafted the Yankees sat down with me and set up a plan for a more comfortable setup. So, I spent the entire short season trying to master my new setup, which I now feel very comfortable with.

Q: Unfortunately, the Baby Bombers got swept in the first round of the NY-Penn League playoffs by the Jamestown Jammers. But you did collect 3 hits and an RBI in your first post-season game. How do you balance out the exhilaration of a big game with a bad loss?

A: I think the most important thing players must remember is to respect the game. And by doing that, the team is always first. So, whether or not I go 3-3 or 0-3, if my team wins then I am a happy camper. There is always room to improve regardless of personal success.

Q: Do you expect to start this season at Charleston?

A: I have high expectations for where I play this year, but it is out of my control. I have to go out there and perform, and let my play speak for itself. Whatever happens in the business aspect of baseball is out of my control.

Q: What's your daily routine to get ready, for let's say, a 7 PM game?

A: For a 7 pm game, I like to be at the field early... I will get some breakfast and then head up to field around noon or so for a pregame lift. This will allow some relax time and lunch time before we have to be on the field for pregame routines.

Q: What do you feel you need to work on most this season?

A: I think the most important part of my game I need to work on this season is consistency. I think the aspect of the game that separates big leaguers from minor leaguers, is consistency throughout the entire season.

Q: Which would you rather do, deliver the big hit or the make the big defensive play?

A: How about deliver the big defensive play and then the big hit to win it all, or vice versa. I think anybody would say both.

My Pinstripes: Thanks David and good luck this season!

David Adams: You're very welcome!

Q & A with George Kontos

George Kontos was a stand out baseball player at Niles West High School in Skokie, IL, and also lettered in golf and basketball. He then went on to the same school, Northwestern University, which Joe Girardi attended. His junior year he set a school record with 16 starts and was then selected in the fifth round of the amateur draft by the Yankees. It's been all up the organization ladder since. We had a chance to speak with him on the same day he reported to the major league training camp.


Q: Besides pitching, did you play any other positions at Niles West High School?

A: Other than pitching I mainly played third base in high school. I dabbled a bit at shortstop and in center field but I was mainly at third base when I wasn't pitching.

Q: You attended Northwestern U. just as the Yankees skipper, Joe Girardi, did. Not many players study economics. What drew you to it?

A: Studying economics is something that was not anticipated. I was very unsure of things my freshman year at NU and a few of my teammates and close friends that were a year older than me were studying economics so I looked into it and realized that it was something that I would enjoy. Thankfully math has always been an easier subject for me.

Q: The Yankees took you with a fifth round choice in 2006. Did you seriously consider staying in school or was there no way you were going to miss out on the opportunity to go pro?

A: Draft day was probably one of the most frustrating days of my life. When my name finally showed up on the draft tracker I can't tell you how elated I was. Seeing my friends and former teammates' names going and going is very frustrating just because you want it to be your turn already!! My cutoff was the fifth round though. I'd like to say that I would have been strong willed enough to stick to that but had I gotten selected in the 6th round I really don't know what I would have done. But since I was taken in the 5th the choice was easy.


Q: Your brother Chris is following in your footsteps, attending and playing college ball at Northwestern. Was his big brother a big influence on his decision?

A: I'd like to think I was a deciding factor in Chris' decision. I know he looks up to me and he and I are very close so I'm sure my going there was a very swaying factor in his reason for attending NU. He is a great athlete and a great student so I'm glad he chose to go there.


Q: You burst on to the scene at Staten Island in 2006, going 7-3, 2.53 in 14 starts, with 82 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. Was it an easy transition to pro ball?

A: I wouldn't say it was an easy transition, because the level of competition was definitely better than college but the main factor for me was being able to pitch to the inner part of the plate. It gave me a lot more confidence pitching to wooden bats. I didn't have to nibble anymore and I just let my stuff work and I got very good results.


Q: Your name was thrown around last year when the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte trade was going down. What is like to hear yourself mentioned in trade rumors?

A: The whole Pittsburgh trade thing was a whirlwind. I was charting in the stands when a member of our press came down and said to me that I was the fourth guy in the trade. I really had never been in a position like that before and I had quite a few emotions. My initial reaction was, "Well OK, I'm not going to be with the Yankees anymore and I'll have to say bye to all my friends here and go make new ones." The way I looked at that whole situation was if I went to Pittsburgh it would have been a good situation, but the fact that I stayed with New York, to me, meant that the organization valued me enough to keep me. So it was a win/win situation.

Q: The situation calls for a big strikeout- which pitch do you probably throw?

A: Big situation pitch would definitely be my slider. That's my go-to pitch.


Q: A bunch of factors lead to an up and down 2007 season at Tampa, but you bounced back nicely this past year at Trenton. What made the difference?

A: There were a few things that myself and Scott Aldred worked on this past season, but the main things were I was getting ahead in the count more often which allowed me to pitch with more confidence and go after hitters more; and secondly we worked on a few things mechanically which allowed me to stay back over the rubber and get on top of the ball which made my delivery more consistent. A more consistent delivery yields more consistent strike throwing.

Q: Who are your closest friends in the organization? What do you do to blow off steam?

A: I have a lot of guys in the organization that I consider close friends. We are all a very tight knit group which is nice.

For me, lifting is the best way to blow off steam. Getting the Ipod and going into the weight room and hitting the weights hard. A good workout does wonders for me if I need to cut loose a little bit.


Q: If you could pick any teammate to bat in a big spot, who would it be?

A: This one is a tough question. It's tough to have to pick one teammate for this big a question, but I think I'd have to go with Colin Curtis or Austin Jackson in a big spot. They are both very clutch players.

Q: What went through your mind when you got invited to the big league camp this Spring? What number did they give you?

A: I'm very happy and excited to have been invited to major league camp. It's going to be a great experience to have the chance to be around all of those guys. We had our physicals today and I am number 93. Not something I'm used to but I like it.

Q: Have the Yankees given you an indication of what level you'll be starting the season at? If not, do you think you have a good shot at the Scranton rotation?

A: The Yankees have not given me any insight on where I might start. But for now I'm preparing to pitch well in ML camp and start the season in the Scranton rotation. It's obviously out of my control but where ever I start out the season I'm going to go out there and keep doing what I did at the end of last season. Get ahead in the count and throw strikes using all my pitches.

My Pinstripes: Great answers George. Thanks and good luck this year.

George Kontos: Thanks. I look forward to seeing this.

Q & A with Dan Giese

It's easy to root for Dan Giese. He's the guy that gets overlooked, the underdog, the every man. Dan is a devoted family man and a man of deep faith. It's that faith that helped guide him through tough times and made the good times even better.

We had the chance to do a recent email interview with him. This is one genuine guy.

Q: You are just the second player out of Rubidoux High School in Riverside, CA to make it to the Major Leagues. What does that mean to you?

A: I think back to when I was a freshman in high school and how much I looked up to the upper classmen. I thought to myself, “These guys are awesome! I hope I can be as good as they are some day!” I used to think they were all the next Ted Williams. To be one of only two guys to ever reach the Major Leagues out of the entire history of the school is just mind boggling to me because I wasn’t that good. I just made sure I was one of the first guys to the field and one of the last guys to leave.

Q: When you were in high school could you ever have imagined pitching in the big leagues?

A: For some reason in the back of my mind, even when I was terrible, I knew I was going to someday play in the big leagues. I didn’t know if it was going to be as a pitcher or a position player, but for some reason I knew I was going to make it. I just never gave up.

Q: How/Why did you choose to attend University of San Diego?

A: I chose the University of San Diego because my brother went there and they offered me a partial baseball scholarship. I was very familiar with the school and it was close to home. USD has a large spot on my heart because it is where I met my wife, it is where I met some of my closest friends, and I matured the most in my life.

Q: The Red Sox selected you in the 34th round in 1999. Suddenly a California boy was playing pro ball in Lowell, MA. What was that transition like?

A: I remember getting the phone call from my scout (Harry Smith) and he told me to get a sport coat because I was going to Lowell, Mass. to play in the New York Penn League. Two days later I was on a plane and on my way to a dorm room at UMASS Lowell, with no air conditioning, no TV, and making $850.00 a month before tax and rent. I was in Heaven! I never got paid in my life, so a check of any amount was great. I signed for $1000.00, which was one trip to Best Buy to buy a video camera that I have used maybe 10 times.

Q: Despite putting up good numbers for the Sox organization you were dealt back home in 2002 to the Padres for Alan Embree. What was your initial reaction when you found out you were traded?

A: I was fired up! I thought I was going to have a Tony Gwynn career and play my entire career at home. I went from Trenton, New Jersey (AA Red Sox) to Mobile, Alabama (AA Padres) and sweat my butt off in the most humid weather of my life. I enjoyed my time with the Padres even though it wasn’t for long. It was great to be a part of a Major League trade and go to an organization that wanted you.

Q: You spent the next several years in AA and AAA in the Padres and Phillies organizations without a call up. Did you ever get to the point where you felt like giving up and looking for a new career?

A: I did. In 2005, I was in AAA for the Phillies coming off of my best year ever in 2004, when my wife was in a minor car accident while pregnant with our first child. It really put things in perspective. I was very frustrated with baseball and at that time I felt it would be better to go home and be with my wife than to continue playing baseball in AAA for the 3^rd straight year. I retired from baseball, went home and finished my degree at the University of San Diego. After getting a taste of the real world, I wanted to give it one last shot. So here I am today.

Q: 2007 things start to turn around professionally for you and the Giants call you up for an eight game stint. Who told you that you had been recalled? What went through your mind on September 8, 2007 when you made your MLB debut?

A: I had my best year ever in 2007 in the Pacific Coast League. At the end of the season our manager Dan Rohn called me into the office and said, “You did a great job for us this year but we don’t have room for you.” I was disappointed. I thought to myself, “If I don’t get a shot after the year I had this year, I don’t think I will ever get a chance.”

Then the manager said, “But they have room for you in San Francisco!” I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. All those years of blood, sweat and tears had finally paid off. I made it to the Major Leagues. I immediately called my wife and was weeping like a baby. My entire life I just wanted to get one out in the big leagues and I was able to do just that. Everything now is just a bonus!

My first Major League game was against the Dodgers at AT&T Park. That is a huge rivalry. The game was sold out and was a tight ball game. Because the game was close I didn’t think I had a chance to pitch, but sure enough, “Get Giese going!” I couldn’t even feel the ball. The bullpens in SF are right on the field, so if you throw a ball in the dirt it rolls all the way down to home plate and you stop the game. Needless to say, I was petrified! Once I got onto the mound I settled down and pitched two good innings.

Q: You signed with the Yankees prior to last season. The Yankees rarely have a position open on the MLB roster, but suddenly there you are taking the hill on June 3 against the Blue Jays. What was it like pitching in Yankee Stadium?

A: The first time at Yankee Stadium was crazy. It was Joba’s first start and I was going to be pitching right after him. He only had a pitch count of around 50. I remember seeing all these fans lined up to see Joba’s first start. I just remember telling myself, “Lord, I am surrendering this outing to you, because if I try to do this on my own I am going to mess this up.”

I was able to relax and go out and have a quality first outing. I don’t think I threw a single strike warming up in the bullpen. I think Harkey (Bullpen Coach) thought, “Who is this guy, he’s terrible!”

There is nothing like running from the bullpen to the mound at Yankee Stadium. I felt like I was in a movie. I couldn’t believe that it was happening to me. All I remembered were all the World Series games I watched on television there and now I get to play on that field. It was definitely a dream come true.

Q: How does it feel coming to Spring Training knowing you're on the 40 man roster?

A: I think with the Yankees it doesn’t matter if you are on the roster. If you are the guy they want on the team, and you pitch well enough to deserve a spot, they are going to make a move to put you on the roster and take someone off. I am in a position where you have to have a sense of urgency, a “nothing to lose” mentality. You can never be complacent. I enjoy having this kind of pressure on me to do well. If I don’t pitch well, they can very easily take me off the roster. I think when guys get comfortable, that is when someone that is hungrier will take their spot. You can bet, I will be the most prepared and focused player that I can be on a daily basis. I just surrender each and every moment to the Lord and go to work as if I were working for Him.

Q: What do you do in your down time to relax?

A: I enjoy being active. My favorite activities are surfing, fishing, golfing and hanging out with friends and family.

My Pinstripes: Thanks, Dan for your open and refreshing answers! Good luck this Spring!

Dan Giese: You're welcome and God Bless.

Q & A with Mitch Hilligoss

In what we hope will be a continuing series of Q &A's with the Yankees family, we recently did an email interview with prospect Mitch Hilligoss.

The former Purdue Boilermaker talks about hitting, the future, and what he hopes to get out of the coming season.


Q: What position(s) did you play in high school?

A: In high school I played mostly shortstop and pitched a little. In college I played left field and then eventually moved back to short.

Q: Did you have a favorite player(s) growing up?

A: My favorite player growing up was always Ozzie Smith.

Q: You attended Purdue for 3 years before going pro. Why did you choose to become a Boilermaker? Did you ever consider finishing out your collegiate career or was going pro a no-brainer when the Yankees drafted you?

A: Choosing a college was an extremely tough decision for me. It came down to Purdue and three other schools, but in the end Purdue just felt right. I was comfortable with the staff there, the academics are of course excellent, a Big Ten school, and playing time possibilities were all significant in the decision making process.

As for the second part the answer is yes I did. I never wanted to commit either way until I was ready. I don't think I fully made my decision to leave until the week of the draft. The college season was over and scouts really started hounding me. That's when I personally knew I was not going back.

Q: 2007 was of course a big season for you. A 38 game hitting streak to be exact. Players talk about how well they see the ball or what superstitions they follow during a hot streak. What was it like for you during the streak and do you have any particular baseball superstitions?

A: That was a pretty awesome experience to say the least. I really don't think I thought much about the streak until it hit 30 games and then media and opponents started asking more about it. My teammates did a great job of keeping me grounded. They were awesome throughout the whole thing. The coaching staff was just as important. They were just a huge part of it.

I guess the only superstition was we really didn't talk about it much. It was kind of like the no hitter after the seventh inning, this just lasted a little longer. It might have been mentioned after the game, but we never said much about it.

Q: You've always been a successful hitter, but last season you hit just .241 at Tampa. What do you think happened?

A: Well, last year was a struggle for me. I still look at that number above and say 'wow'. At the time of the struggles I don't think I really knew what was wrong. Looking back now, and working over this winter, I realized i just had way too much movement in my body and my head to ever really drive the baseball and be consistent. So, that is what I've been working on with my old manager from Charleston, Torre Tyson. So far its been going good, but I have to carry it over to games now.

Q: What's your greatest strength as a ball player? What part of your game do you feel you need to work on most?

A: My greatest asset has probably been being able to put the ball in play at a very high percentage. At the same time that is also a weakness and something I must work on. Meaning, I think I can sometimes hit anything and then I get myself out. This is a major cause of my lack of walks. Other things to work on is becoming a better defender and improving power numbers, something I think could come if I accomplish the process of less movement in my swing.

Q: Have the Yankees given you any indication where you'll be playing this season, or is that all depending on how Spring Training goes?

A: I'm sure they have an idea, but I don't. Obviously, I hope to be the everyday third basemen for Trenton, but there is a lot I am sure they are taking into account. What happens in spring training will play a part I am sure.

Q: Were you ever able to take in a game at Yankee Stadium?

A: No, we did get to go take the tour when we played at Staten Island, but never a game. We had an opportunity after we won the New York Penn League, but rain outs prevented it.
Q: What do you like to do for relaxation?

A: I enjoy just hanging out with the guys and going out to eat in season. In the off season, just going home and getting away from it. I help on our farm when I get back and really enjoy deer hunting. Its a time for me to get away from baseball for a couple of months and re-charge the batteries.

Q: What are you hoping to accomplish this season?

A: I would like to play in double A this year and finish there, and maybe if possible higher. Obviously, I would love to start in Trenton, but we will have to wait and see. I just have to control what I can.

My Pinstripes: Thanks Mitch and good luck this year!

Mitch: No problem man.

Transcript of Roger Clemens Interview

Thanks to Peter Abraham for finding this from the Boston Globe:

STUDIO OPEN: WITH 354 WINS, ROGER CLEMENS IS ONE OF THE BEST PITCHERS IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS NOW ABOUT WHETHER ROGER CLEMENS CHEATED TO ENHANCE HIS RECORD AND PROLONG HIS CAREER. ONE OF HIS FORMER TRAINERS, BRIAN MCNAMEE SAYS THAT HE HIMSELF INJECTED CLEMENS WITH STEROIDS AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. MCNAMEE'S ACCUSATIONS WERE THE BIGGEST REVELATIONS IN GEORGE MITCHELL'S REPORT ON STEROID ABUSE FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. BUT CLEMENS INSISTS THE CHARGES ARE PHONY--THAT HE NEVER USED STEROIDS OR ANY OTHER BANNED SUBSTANCE. CLEMENS AGREED TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AT HIS HOME OUTSIDE HOUSTON WHERE WE FOUND HIM TO BE FRUSTRATED, EVEN FURIOUS, THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO QUICK TO BELIEVE HE CHEATED.

CLEMENS: I'm angry that that what I've done for the game of baseball and the personal, in my private life, what I've done that I I don't get the benefit of the doubt The stuff that's being said, it's ridiculous. It's hogwash for people to even assume this. 24, 25 years Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch. How, how can you prove your innocence?

WALLACE Apparently you haven't done it yet. People I talk to say, "Come on. 45 years old? How does he still throw a ball and compete and so forth? Impossible."

CLEMENS Not impossible. You do it with hard work. Ask any of my teammates. Ask anybody that's come here and and done the work with me.

WALLACE I was down here in 2001. You were pitching to a guy by the name of…

CLEMENS Brian McNamee, that's right.

TRACK: MCNAMEE HELPED CLEMENS WORK OUT--ON AND OFF--FOR TEN YEARS. CLEMENS IS FAMOUS FOR HIS EXHAUSTING WORKOUTS. HE'S BEEN CALLED THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN THROW-BUSINESS. BUT NOW HE'S BEEN THROWN BY WHAT MCNAMEE TOLD GEORGE MITCHELL.

WALLACE He gave very specific examples of times he says that he injected you with steroids. During the '98 season, you were pitching for the Blue Jays. McNamee was their strength and conditioning coach. From the Mitchell Report, quote: "Clemens approached McNamee, and for the first time, brought up the subject of using steroids. Clemens said that he was not able to inject himself and he asked for McNamee's help. McNamee injected Clemens approximately four times in the buttocks over a several week period, with needles that Clemens provided. Each incident took place in Clemens apartment.

CLEMENS Never happened. Never happened. And if if if I have these needles and these steroids and all these drugs, what, where did I get ‘em. Where is the person out there gave ‘em to me? Please, please come forward.

WALLACE Mitchell Report, quote: "According to McNamee, from the time McNamee injected Clemens with Winstrol, a steroid, through the end of the '98 season, Clemens performance showed remarkable improvement. Clemens told McNamee that the steroids, quote, had a pretty good effect on him. McNamee said Clemens was also training harder and dieting better during this time."

CLEMENS Never. I trained hard my entire career. It just didn't happen.

WALLACE Why would Brian McNamee want to betray you?

CLEMENS I don't know. I'm so upset about it, how I treated this man and took care of him.

WALLACE I imagine he's watching the two of us right now, wouldn't you?

CLEMENS I hope he is.

WALLACE Okay. Anything you want to tell him.

CLEMENS Yeah. I treated him fairly. I treated him as great as anybody else. I helped him out!

WALLACE Again, from the Mitchell Report, quote, "According to McNamee, during the middle of the 2000 season, Clemens made it clear he was ready to use steroids again. And during the latter part of the season, McNamee injected Clemens in the buttocks four to six times with testosterone. Also injected Clemens four to six times with Human growth hormone.

CLEMENS My body never changed. If he's putting that stuff up in my body, if what he's saying which is totally false, if he's doing that to me, I should have a third ear coming out of my forehead. I should be pulling tractors with my teeth.

WALLACE The next season 2001. It's from the Mitchell Report, quote, "According to McNamee, Clemens advised him in August of 2001 that he was again ready to use steroids. And shortly thereafter, McNamee injected Clemens with a steroid on four to five occasions at Clemens' apartment-

CLEMENS Yeah. Never happened.

WALLACE In two of the three years that McNamee claims that he injected you—'98 and 2001 you won 20 games and the Cy Young award as the American League's best pitcher.

CLEMENS I won—in 1997 I won the Cy Young Award. 2004 when he supposedly, I wasn't doing it.

WALLACE Yeah, but these are the years in which McNamee claims that he injected you.

CLEMENS It didn't happen. It didn't happen. It just didn't happen.

TRACK: SO WHILE CLEMENS WAS HIS LEAGUE'S BEST PITCHER DURING TWO OF THE ALLEGED STEROID YEARS, HE WAS ALSO HIS LEAGUE'S BEST THE YEAR BEFORE MCNAMEE SAYS INJECTIONS BEGAN; AND THREE YEARS AFTER MCNAMEE SAYS HE STOPPED GIVING CLEMENS STEROIDS.

CLEMENS Why didn't I keep doing it if it was so good for me? Why didn't I break down? Why didn't my tendons turn to dust? That's all it's good for. It's a quick fix. I don't believe in that. I don't do it.

WALLACE What was your first reaction when you heard what McNamee had said?

CLEMENS I I was shocked. I was angry. A lot of emotions.

WALLACE You're still shocked. You're still angry.

CLEMENS Oh definitely.

WALLACE Did you know ahead of time what was going be in George Mitchell's report?

CLEMENS I did not.

WALLACE Did Brian McNamee tell you what he was going to say to—

CLEMENS Didn't tell me a word.

TRACK: BUT HE DID ASK CLEMENS FOR A FAVOR JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MITCHELL REPORT CAME OUT.

CLEMENS He emails me and asks me where all the good fishing equipment is down at Cabo that I bought so he can go fishing. Thank you very much. I said, Have a good time, go fishing. Doesn't say a word that you, that you know I'm fixing to bury you with all these accusations and what do we do about it. Didn't say a word about it. That's what pisses me off.

WALLACE Why didn't you speak to George Mitchell's investigators?

CLEMENS I listened to my counsel. I was advised not to. A lot of the
players didn't go down and talk to him.

WALLACE I know.

CLEMENS But if I would've known what this man, Brian McNamee had said in this report, I would have been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it.

WALLACE George Mitchell says he believes McNamee and this is why. McNamee got caught up in a federal steroids investigation, and the federal prosecutors agreed not to charge him if he told the truth about his involvement with steroids. But they would charge him if he gave any false information. So Mitchell says McNamee had strong incentives to tell the truth.

WALLACE What, hold, what did McNamee gain by lying?

CLEMENS Evidently not going to jail.

WALLACE Jail time for what?

CLEMENS Well, I think he's been buying and movin' steroids.

TRACK: CLEMENS SAYS HE LEARNED THAT FROM THE MITCHELL REPORT, WHICH ALSO MENTIONED HIS FELLOW YANKEE PITCHER ANDY PETTITE, WHO ALSO TRAINED UNDER MCNAMEE. MCNAMEE SAID HE'D INJECTED PETTITE TWICE WITH HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT, PETTITE CONFIRMED THAT MCNAMEE HAD GIVEN HIM TWO H.G.H..SHOTS TO RECOVER FROM AN ELBOW INJURY.

WALLACE When Andy confirmed that McNamee had indeed told the truth about injecting him, that gave McNamee credibility, made his claims about injecting you seem more believable.

CLEMENS I have I had no knowledge of what Andy was doing.

WALLACE Why would Brian McNamee tell the truth about Andy Pettitte and lie about you?

CLEMENS Andy's case is totally is, is totally separate. I was shocked to learn about Andy's situation. Had no idea about it.

TRACK: AND WE HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY LEGAL INJECTIONS CLEMENS HAS RECEIVED—INCLUDING FROM MCNAMEE .

WALLACE Did your former trainer, Brian McNamee ever inject you with anything?
CLEMENS Yes he did.

WALLACE What?

CLEMENS Lidocaine, and B12. It's for my joints and and B12 I take still today. A lot of trainers—

WALLACE And that's all.?

CLEMENS That's it.

WALLACE Never, never a human growth hormone?

CLEMENS Never.

WALLACE Never testosterone?

CLEMENS Never. Never.

WALLACE And never anabolic steroids?

CLEMENS Never.

WALLACE Swear?

CLEMENS Swear.

TRACK: MCNAMEE'S ATTORNEY COUNTERED THAT MCNAMEE ONLY INJECTED CLEMENS WITH STEROIDS AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE-- NOTHING ELSE. BEYOND MCNAMEE, CLEMENS TOLD US HE GOT LEGAL INJECTIONS FROM TEAM TRAINERS, MOSTLY PAIN KILLERS.

CLEMENS The number of shots that you get over the course of a season which was many for me. Whether they be vitamins or, for pain, Thorodol. Pain shots. To go out and perform. I had one of my biggest arguments with Joe Torre. He's wanting to scratch me on the big—one of the biggest starts of the season. Had a small tear in my hamstring and a golf ball in my elbow.

WALLACE Uh-huh

CLEMENS Joe Torre and I were in the the trainers room and he basically shut the door and said, I don't need any damn heroes here. You didn't tell me how bad you're hurtin. I notice you're hurtin'. And I told Joe Torre that I'll be damned if 15 minutes before I'm gonna start a World Series game I'm gonna go out there and look my teammates in the eye and tell ‘em I can't go. I said, as long as the other team doesn't know that I'm hurting, I can get people out throwin' 85 without using my leg. And get you six innings under my belt. I'm gonna take this Torodol shot and hope it works. And mask some of this pain so I can get out there and do my job. That's the things I put my body through And I'm not ashamed of that because I get paid a lotta money to go out and perform. And I appreciate that they put that kind of trust in me.

TRACK: THAT NIGHT, HE THREW A THREE HITTER AND WON THE GAME. WHAT WORRIES HIM TODAY, HE TOLD US, IS ALL THE VIOXX PILLS VARIOUS TRAINERS GAVE HIM. VIOXX, WAS A WIDLEY USED ANTI-IMFLAMMATORY AND PAIN KILLER, BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE MARKET FOR CAUSING HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.

CLEMENS I was eating Vioxx like it was Skittles. And now that, now these people who are supposedly regulating it, tell me it's bad for my heart. I don't know what the future holds because of the the medicine that I've eatin, but I trusted that it was not harmful. And I didn't wanna put anything in my body that was harmful.

TRACK: STEROIDS ARE HARMFUL HE SAID, AND WOULD HAVE SHORTENED HIS CAREER.

CLEMENS Why would I want to get tight or lose my flexibility, put something harmful in my system that's gonna cause me to break down when I've had a 24 year career?

WALLACE Look, because you're at the end of your career, and because you you don't want to give up the career and give up the fame and so forth. So if it's necessary to stick something into you—

CLEMENS I didn't play my career to get fame or go to the Hall of Fame or worry about all that. That's nice. That, all that's nice. Again, it's not who I am. I've worked my tail off to get where I'm at. I'm not gonna put something in my body for a quick fix that's gonna tear me down.

WALLACE What penalty should there be for someone who is taking these performance enhancing drugs?

CLEMENS I think it's a self-inflicted penalty. They break down quick. It's a quick fix. They're in and out of the game.

WALLACE If you were to testify before the congress under oath would you tell them exactly what you told me today?

CLEMENS And even probably more about the Vioxx question.

NEW TRACK: CLEMENS MAY APPEAR AS REQUESTED AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING IN TEN DAYS, HIS CHALLENGE IS GETTING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE HIM.

CLEMENS I don't know if I can defend myself, I think people—a lot of people have already made their decisions.

WALLACE Well, a lot of people have made—

CLEMENS And that's our country, isn't it? Guilty before innocent. That's the way our country works now. And then everybody's talking about sue, sue sue. Should I sue? Well, let me exhaust. Let me, let me just spend. How about, let's keep spending. But I'm gonna explore what I can do and then I want to see if it's gonna be worth it, worth all the headache.

TRACK: BRIAN MCNAMEE'S ATTORNEY SAID MCNAMEE WILL DECIDE AFTER WATCHING THIS INTERVIEW WHETHER HE'LL SUE CLEMENS--FOR DEFAMATION. MCNAMEE DECLINED TO TALK WITH US. THE PROBLEM BOTH HE AND CLEMENS HAVE IS PROVING THEY'RE TELLING THE TRUTH.

WALLACE How about a lie detector test?

CLEMENS Some say they're good. Some say they're not. Do whatever. I mean—

WALLACE So as far as you're concerned you would conceivably?

CLEMENS Yeah. I don't know if they're good or bad.

WALLACE Were you to pass a lie detector test, would that help prove that you're telling the truth and help restore?

CLEMENS Would it?

WALLACE I don't know.

CLEMENS I don't either.

TRACK: AND HE DOESN'T KNOW IF HE'LL EVER PITCH AGAIN.

CLEMENS But I understand that as a public person, you're gonna take some shots. The higher you get up on the flagpole, the more your butt shows? And I understand all that. But I'm tired of answering to ‘em. That's why I will not ever play again. I don't want to answer to it. I want to slide off and be just a citizen.

WALLACE You're retiring? Period.

CLEMENS Probably.

WALLACE Not for sure, but—

CLEMENS I would say, yeah. If I sit here and tell you right now, I would say yes.

WALLACE You're not going to pitch again?

CLEMENS You'll never see me pitch again.

TRACK: BUT HE HAS RETIRED THREE TIMES BEFORE AND HE TOLD US HE COULD UN-RETIRE AGAIN.

WALLACE After listening to you in this interview, do you think people are going believe you? Believe that you, Roger Clemens never took steroids?

CLEMENS I think the people that know me believe me and understand what I'm about. And I can't—the, the people that are out there that have been saying the things that they've been sayin', I don't know if I'll ever swing their opinion, These accusations are not gonna change me as a person. I'll, I'll do everything I can to prove ‘em wrong. And and I still don't know if that's good enough.

Transcript of Roger Clemens Interview

Thanks to Peter Abraham for finding this from the Boston Globe:

STUDIO OPEN: WITH 354 WINS, ROGER CLEMENS IS ONE OF THE BEST PITCHERS IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS NOW ABOUT WHETHER ROGER CLEMENS CHEATED TO ENHANCE HIS RECORD AND PROLONG HIS CAREER. ONE OF HIS FORMER TRAINERS, BRIAN MCNAMEE SAYS THAT HE HIMSELF INJECTED CLEMENS WITH STEROIDS AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. MCNAMEE'S ACCUSATIONS WERE THE BIGGEST REVELATIONS IN GEORGE MITCHELL'S REPORT ON STEROID ABUSE FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. BUT CLEMENS INSISTS THE CHARGES ARE PHONY--THAT HE NEVER USED STEROIDS OR ANY OTHER BANNED SUBSTANCE. CLEMENS AGREED TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AT HIS HOME OUTSIDE HOUSTON WHERE WE FOUND HIM TO BE FRUSTRATED, EVEN FURIOUS, THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO QUICK TO BELIEVE HE CHEATED.

CLEMENS: I'm angry that that what I've done for the game of baseball and the personal, in my private life, what I've done that I I don't get the benefit of the doubt The stuff that's being said, it's ridiculous. It's hogwash for people to even assume this. 24, 25 years Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch. How, how can you prove your innocence?

WALLACE Apparently you haven't done it yet. People I talk to say, "Come on. 45 years old? How does he still throw a ball and compete and so forth? Impossible."

CLEMENS Not impossible. You do it with hard work. Ask any of my teammates. Ask anybody that's come here and and done the work with me.

WALLACE I was down here in 2001. You were pitching to a guy by the name of…

CLEMENS Brian McNamee, that's right.

TRACK: MCNAMEE HELPED CLEMENS WORK OUT--ON AND OFF--FOR TEN YEARS. CLEMENS IS FAMOUS FOR HIS EXHAUSTING WORKOUTS. HE'S BEEN CALLED THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN THROW-BUSINESS. BUT NOW HE'S BEEN THROWN BY WHAT MCNAMEE TOLD GEORGE MITCHELL.

WALLACE He gave very specific examples of times he says that he injected you with steroids. During the '98 season, you were pitching for the Blue Jays. McNamee was their strength and conditioning coach. From the Mitchell Report, quote: "Clemens approached McNamee, and for the first time, brought up the subject of using steroids. Clemens said that he was not able to inject himself and he asked for McNamee's help. McNamee injected Clemens approximately four times in the buttocks over a several week period, with needles that Clemens provided. Each incident took place in Clemens apartment.

CLEMENS Never happened. Never happened. And if if if I have these needles and these steroids and all these drugs, what, where did I get ‘em. Where is the person out there gave ‘em to me? Please, please come forward.

WALLACE Mitchell Report, quote: "According to McNamee, from the time McNamee injected Clemens with Winstrol, a steroid, through the end of the '98 season, Clemens performance showed remarkable improvement. Clemens told McNamee that the steroids, quote, had a pretty good effect on him. McNamee said Clemens was also training harder and dieting better during this time."

CLEMENS Never. I trained hard my entire career. It just didn't happen.

WALLACE Why would Brian McNamee want to betray you?

CLEMENS I don't know. I'm so upset about it, how I treated this man and took care of him.

WALLACE I imagine he's watching the two of us right now, wouldn't you?

CLEMENS I hope he is.

WALLACE Okay. Anything you want to tell him.

CLEMENS Yeah. I treated him fairly. I treated him as great as anybody else. I helped him out!

WALLACE Again, from the Mitchell Report, quote, "According to McNamee, during the middle of the 2000 season, Clemens made it clear he was ready to use steroids again. And during the latter part of the season, McNamee injected Clemens in the buttocks four to six times with testosterone. Also injected Clemens four to six times with Human growth hormone.

CLEMENS My body never changed. If he's putting that stuff up in my body, if what he's saying which is totally false, if he's doing that to me, I should have a third ear coming out of my forehead. I should be pulling tractors with my teeth.

WALLACE The next season 2001. It's from the Mitchell Report, quote, "According to McNamee, Clemens advised him in August of 2001 that he was again ready to use steroids. And shortly thereafter, McNamee injected Clemens with a steroid on four to five occasions at Clemens' apartment-

CLEMENS Yeah. Never happened.

WALLACE In two of the three years that McNamee claims that he injected you—'98 and 2001 you won 20 games and the Cy Young award as the American League's best pitcher.

CLEMENS I won—in 1997 I won the Cy Young Award. 2004 when he supposedly, I wasn't doing it.

WALLACE Yeah, but these are the years in which McNamee claims that he injected you.

CLEMENS It didn't happen. It didn't happen. It just didn't happen.

TRACK: SO WHILE CLEMENS WAS HIS LEAGUE'S BEST PITCHER DURING TWO OF THE ALLEGED STEROID YEARS, HE WAS ALSO HIS LEAGUE'S BEST THE YEAR BEFORE MCNAMEE SAYS INJECTIONS BEGAN; AND THREE YEARS AFTER MCNAMEE SAYS HE STOPPED GIVING CLEMENS STEROIDS.

CLEMENS Why didn't I keep doing it if it was so good for me? Why didn't I break down? Why didn't my tendons turn to dust? That's all it's good for. It's a quick fix. I don't believe in that. I don't do it.

WALLACE What was your first reaction when you heard what McNamee had said?

CLEMENS I I was shocked. I was angry. A lot of emotions.

WALLACE You're still shocked. You're still angry.

CLEMENS Oh definitely.

WALLACE Did you know ahead of time what was going be in George Mitchell's report?

CLEMENS I did not.

WALLACE Did Brian McNamee tell you what he was going to say to—

CLEMENS Didn't tell me a word.

TRACK: BUT HE DID ASK CLEMENS FOR A FAVOR JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MITCHELL REPORT CAME OUT.

CLEMENS He emails me and asks me where all the good fishing equipment is down at Cabo that I bought so he can go fishing. Thank you very much. I said, Have a good time, go fishing. Doesn't say a word that you, that you know I'm fixing to bury you with all these accusations and what do we do about it. Didn't say a word about it. That's what pisses me off.

WALLACE Why didn't you speak to George Mitchell's investigators?

CLEMENS I listened to my counsel. I was advised not to. A lot of the
players didn't go down and talk to him.

WALLACE I know.

CLEMENS But if I would've known what this man, Brian McNamee had said in this report, I would have been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it.

WALLACE George Mitchell says he believes McNamee and this is why. McNamee got caught up in a federal steroids investigation, and the federal prosecutors agreed not to charge him if he told the truth about his involvement with steroids. But they would charge him if he gave any false information. So Mitchell says McNamee had strong incentives to tell the truth.

WALLACE What, hold, what did McNamee gain by lying?

CLEMENS Evidently not going to jail.

WALLACE Jail time for what?

CLEMENS Well, I think he's been buying and movin' steroids.

TRACK: CLEMENS SAYS HE LEARNED THAT FROM THE MITCHELL REPORT, WHICH ALSO MENTIONED HIS FELLOW YANKEE PITCHER ANDY PETTITE, WHO ALSO TRAINED UNDER MCNAMEE. MCNAMEE SAID HE'D INJECTED PETTITE TWICE WITH HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT, PETTITE CONFIRMED THAT MCNAMEE HAD GIVEN HIM TWO H.G.H..SHOTS TO RECOVER FROM AN ELBOW INJURY.

WALLACE When Andy confirmed that McNamee had indeed told the truth about injecting him, that gave McNamee credibility, made his claims about injecting you seem more believable.

CLEMENS I have I had no knowledge of what Andy was doing.

WALLACE Why would Brian McNamee tell the truth about Andy Pettitte and lie about you?

CLEMENS Andy's case is totally is, is totally separate. I was shocked to learn about Andy's situation. Had no idea about it.

TRACK: AND WE HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY LEGAL INJECTIONS CLEMENS HAS RECEIVED—INCLUDING FROM MCNAMEE .

WALLACE Did your former trainer, Brian McNamee ever inject you with anything?
CLEMENS Yes he did.

WALLACE What?

CLEMENS Lidocaine, and B12. It's for my joints and and B12 I take still today. A lot of trainers—

WALLACE And that's all.?

CLEMENS That's it.

WALLACE Never, never a human growth hormone?

CLEMENS Never.

WALLACE Never testosterone?

CLEMENS Never. Never.

WALLACE And never anabolic steroids?

CLEMENS Never.

WALLACE Swear?

CLEMENS Swear.

TRACK: MCNAMEE'S ATTORNEY COUNTERED THAT MCNAMEE ONLY INJECTED CLEMENS WITH STEROIDS AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE-- NOTHING ELSE. BEYOND MCNAMEE, CLEMENS TOLD US HE GOT LEGAL INJECTIONS FROM TEAM TRAINERS, MOSTLY PAIN KILLERS.

CLEMENS The number of shots that you get over the course of a season which was many for me. Whether they be vitamins or, for pain, Thorodol. Pain shots. To go out and perform. I had one of my biggest arguments with Joe Torre. He's wanting to scratch me on the big—one of the biggest starts of the season. Had a small tear in my hamstring and a golf ball in my elbow.

WALLACE Uh-huh

CLEMENS Joe Torre and I were in the the trainers room and he basically shut the door and said, I don't need any damn heroes here. You didn't tell me how bad you're hurtin. I notice you're hurtin'. And I told Joe Torre that I'll be damned if 15 minutes before I'm gonna start a World Series game I'm gonna go out there and look my teammates in the eye and tell ‘em I can't go. I said, as long as the other team doesn't know that I'm hurting, I can get people out throwin' 85 without using my leg. And get you six innings under my belt. I'm gonna take this Torodol shot and hope it works. And mask some of this pain so I can get out there and do my job. That's the things I put my body through And I'm not ashamed of that because I get paid a lotta money to go out and perform. And I appreciate that they put that kind of trust in me.

TRACK: THAT NIGHT, HE THREW A THREE HITTER AND WON THE GAME. WHAT WORRIES HIM TODAY, HE TOLD US, IS ALL THE VIOXX PILLS VARIOUS TRAINERS GAVE HIM. VIOXX, WAS A WIDLEY USED ANTI-IMFLAMMATORY AND PAIN KILLER, BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE MARKET FOR CAUSING HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.

CLEMENS I was eating Vioxx like it was Skittles. And now that, now these people who are supposedly regulating it, tell me it's bad for my heart. I don't know what the future holds because of the the medicine that I've eatin, but I trusted that it was not harmful. And I didn't wanna put anything in my body that was harmful.

TRACK: STEROIDS ARE HARMFUL HE SAID, AND WOULD HAVE SHORTENED HIS CAREER.

CLEMENS Why would I want to get tight or lose my flexibility, put something harmful in my system that's gonna cause me to break down when I've had a 24 year career?

WALLACE Look, because you're at the end of your career, and because you you don't want to give up the career and give up the fame and so forth. So if it's necessary to stick something into you—

CLEMENS I didn't play my career to get fame or go to the Hall of Fame or worry about all that. That's nice. That, all that's nice. Again, it's not who I am. I've worked my tail off to get where I'm at. I'm not gonna put something in my body for a quick fix that's gonna tear me down.

WALLACE What penalty should there be for someone who is taking these performance enhancing drugs?

CLEMENS I think it's a self-inflicted penalty. They break down quick. It's a quick fix. They're in and out of the game.

WALLACE If you were to testify before the congress under oath would you tell them exactly what you told me today?

CLEMENS And even probably more about the Vioxx question.

NEW TRACK: CLEMENS MAY APPEAR AS REQUESTED AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING IN TEN DAYS, HIS CHALLENGE IS GETTING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE HIM.

CLEMENS I don't know if I can defend myself, I think people—a lot of people have already made their decisions.

WALLACE Well, a lot of people have made—

CLEMENS And that's our country, isn't it? Guilty before innocent. That's the way our country works now. And then everybody's talking about sue, sue sue. Should I sue? Well, let me exhaust. Let me, let me just spend. How about, let's keep spending. But I'm gonna explore what I can do and then I want to see if it's gonna be worth it, worth all the headache.

TRACK: BRIAN MCNAMEE'S ATTORNEY SAID MCNAMEE WILL DECIDE AFTER WATCHING THIS INTERVIEW WHETHER HE'LL SUE CLEMENS--FOR DEFAMATION. MCNAMEE DECLINED TO TALK WITH US. THE PROBLEM BOTH HE AND CLEMENS HAVE IS PROVING THEY'RE TELLING THE TRUTH.

WALLACE How about a lie detector test?

CLEMENS Some say they're good. Some say they're not. Do whatever. I mean—

WALLACE So as far as you're concerned you would conceivably?

CLEMENS Yeah. I don't know if they're good or bad.

WALLACE Were you to pass a lie detector test, would that help prove that you're telling the truth and help restore?

CLEMENS Would it?

WALLACE I don't know.

CLEMENS I don't either.

TRACK: AND HE DOESN'T KNOW IF HE'LL EVER PITCH AGAIN.

CLEMENS But I understand that as a public person, you're gonna take some shots. The higher you get up on the flagpole, the more your butt shows? And I understand all that. But I'm tired of answering to ‘em. That's why I will not ever play again. I don't want to answer to it. I want to slide off and be just a citizen.

WALLACE You're retiring? Period.

CLEMENS Probably.

WALLACE Not for sure, but—

CLEMENS I would say, yeah. If I sit here and tell you right now, I would say yes.

WALLACE You're not going to pitch again?

CLEMENS You'll never see me pitch again.

TRACK: BUT HE HAS RETIRED THREE TIMES BEFORE AND HE TOLD US HE COULD UN-RETIRE AGAIN.

WALLACE After listening to you in this interview, do you think people are going believe you? Believe that you, Roger Clemens never took steroids?

CLEMENS I think the people that know me believe me and understand what I'm about. And I can't—the, the people that are out there that have been saying the things that they've been sayin', I don't know if I'll ever swing their opinion, These accusations are not gonna change me as a person. I'll, I'll do everything I can to prove ‘em wrong. And and I still don't know if that's good enough.