MLB Baseball: Its Time to Defend Roger Clemens

The more I read about the subject the more I feel it is time to defend Roger Clemens. Searching through fifty or more other articles on the Internet I quickly find myself coming to his aid like no other player. Why? I'm not sure, except I do enjoy watching him pitch, but I wouldn't consider myself a lifelong fan of Roger at all. Why don't I defend Barry Bonds? Again, I'm not sure. I don't see the guy that many baseball fans think is an s.o.b. All I see is a baseball player that I've watched over his entire career become the center of attention the last few years because of steroid allegations, 73 home runs in a season, and of course breaking the all-time homerun record the midst of it all.

Coincidence? Maybe. Are the denials of using steroids truthful? Maybe. Either way it is time to take readers somewhere they have not scratched the surface yet as far as the steroids topic is concerned, the stats. I've read Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling being quoted as saying in an ESPN article (linked on Schilling's name) that if Clemens is guilty of taking steroids he should give back the 4 Cy Young Awards he has won along with the rest of his statistical numbers between 1997-2007.

Many fans for the most part are quick to say, "If the players are not fighting back or denying allegations they must be guilty"! Which of course does look like an admission of guilt, but did we not already consider them guilty when the Mitchell Report was produced? Even if a player comes right back and denies any allegations doesn't the majority of people already think, "whatever liar". As a multi-million dollar player (whomever it may be) with a family and still maybe a career to look after it is in their best interests not to say anything and to seek counsel to build a case against the allegations. I have read several articles and blogs suggesting Clemens denial was too late. Did it matter? Would it have changed "the fans" perception? No. So in an effort to change this perception it is time. Time to take out the dusty old stat machine and the Mitchell Report, punch in Roger Clemens name and see what we have.