A federal judge in Houston rejected Roger Clemens' bid to revive some of his defamation claims against Brian McNamee, clearing the way for the former trainer to file his own suit against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison reaffirmed his earlier ruling against Clemens.
"This is the final nail in Clemens' Texas coffin," said Richard Emery, a McNamee attorney. He said McNamee intends to sue Clemens for defamation and wants Clemens to testify in New York.
McNamee has told federal agents, baseball investigator George Mitchell, and a House committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 to 2001. Clemens has denied using performance-enhancing drugs. His attorney did not return a call from the Associated Press.
Boston spending big on Latin talent
Baseball's first-year player draft may get more attention, but this may be the bigger day when it comes to getting young talent.
Today is the first day clubs officially can sign international prospects, and the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals are set to make a splash.
According to ESPN.com, the Medias Rojas already have locked up shortstop Jose Vinicio for $2 million, lefthander Victor Payano for $900,000, and righthander Raul Alcantara for $500,000.
The Cards have agreed to a $3.1 million bonus with outfielder Wagner Mateo - the most ever given to a Latin American position player.
All-star rosters expanded, umps picked
Each league will have 33 players for the July 14 All-Star Game in St. Louis, with an extra pitcher added to bring that total to 13. The commissioner's office said yesterday that the extra spot would be a manager's choice.
Though fans have until today to vote for the starters, the umpires already have been selected.
Dana DeMuth was picked as the crew chief. DeMuth, who will call balls and strikes, also worked the All-Star Game in 2001, behind the plate, in Seattle, and in 1990, in left field, at Chicago's Wrigley Field.
His crew, named yesterday, includes Brian Gorman at first base, Jeff Kellogg at second, Angel Hernandez at third, Tim Timmons in left field, and Paul Nauert in right field.
Noteworthy
Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady will have ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow after reinjuring it during a minor-league rehabilitation game. His second Tommy John operation will be done Wednesday. Nady also had the surgery in 2001. . . . Kansas City shortstop Mike Aviles also will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and will be sidelined for up to 12 months. . . . The Yankees sent infielder Ramiro Pena to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for outfielder Eric Hinske, acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade Tuesday. New York sent two minor-leaguers to the Pirates: righthander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer.
Yesterday, Royals catcher Miguel Olivo served his one-game suspension for his argument with an umpire Saturday. . . . Los Angeles Angels righthander Ervin Santana will be back in the rotation this weekend. He has been out since June 12 with an inflamed right triceps. . . . Baltimore righthander Koji Uehara will be sidelined for about two months with a partial tear of a right-elbow tendon. . . . The mother of Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain pleaded not guilty in a Nebraska court to a felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance. Jacqueline Standley, 44, was arrested in May on suspicion of selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer at her Lincoln apartment.
Contact staff writer Jorge Castillo at 215-854-2928
or jcastillo@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
