The Sommer Frieze

 The one thing that Andy Pettitte probably wants right now is for this whole episode to blow over which, considering that Clemens is possibly facing a perjury charge, doesn’t appear likely. The fact that road fans will most likely be heckling him doesn’t help either.

Another person not helping is his owner, Hank Steinbrenner. Hank is quoted in today’s N.Y. Post as stating that Pettitte shouldn’t be criticized too harshly in opposing ballparks (fat chance) and that other teams (notably Boston) had “plenty of players doing this stuff, too. It’s just that those players weren’t mentioned in the Mitchell Report.” He’s upset at Mitchell being a Red Sox director and that the Yanks were at the center of the report as opposed to other teams and that that baseball seems to be singled out as opposed to other sports. Well, maybe so. But if this thing is to blow over, and Pettitte is to get down to business, then people like Hank need to start being quiet about it. Don’t keep dredging it up, and let the government and the testers do their job in finding out who else is using steroids or HGH. Is it fair that only Pettitte and Clemens seem to be singled out and others in the report are sliding by? No, but then life is unfair.

As far as I’m concerned, the Pettitte case is over unless something happens with Clemens in which Pettitte’s testimony gets reviewed. In order for Andy to carry on, Hank (and others) have to now let it be.

As for the other brother, Hal, he states that Cashman’s job isn’t in jeopardy and that steroids were never discussed regarding Clemens due to the belief that Roger was one of those special athletes who excelled at a later age. “Uncle Joe” Colarusso has brought up Warren Spahn on the Internet Radio Show as one who excelled late in his career, and others could include Nolan Ryan and Henry Aaron.

As for Pettitte, Gagne and others who are still active, Commissioner Bud Selig states that he is still reviewing cases one-by-one and doesn’t know when he’ll finish or what kind of punishment he’ll dole out. It’s my hope that if Pettitte faces a suspension, that it’s for only two weeks. The guy has been honest, ‘fessed up and gone through enough.

K-Rod isn’t happy and suggests that he could leave the Angels as a free agent after the 2008 season. Can you imagine Mo in his last two years being K-Rod’s set-up man? End his career setting up K-Rod much like he set-up Wetteland in 1996? That would enable Joba to start. You can only dream…        

Odalis Perez has signed a minor league deal with the Nats. The 30 year old lefty was 8-11 5.57 (ERA+ 84) for KC last year and is 66-70, 4.47 (ERA+ 94) for his career. He won 15 games and was an All-Star in 2002 for the Dodgers.

The Cards have invited 38 year old Ron Villone to camp. Villone had no decisions or saves last year for the Yanks, and had an ERA of 4.25 (ERA+ 105). For his career Villone is 55-57, 4.76 (ERA+ 96), and he is another one dealing with his name being in the Mitchell report.

Former Reds’ exec Bob Howsam passed away. He was just a few weeks short of turning 90.