Roger Clemens's lawyer was told Feb. 12 that a photograph exists showing the pitcher at a party hosted by Jose Canseco, an issue that was disputed in Congress recently.
A June 1998 party at Canseco's house in Florida was one of several topics discussed during Clemens's testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Feb. 13.
Clemens's former trainer, Brian McNamee, said the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was at the party given by his then-Toronto teammate. Clemens denied being there when he gave a deposition to congressional investigators Feb. 5, then testified eight days later that it was possible he could have stopped by after playing golf.
Clemens's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement Friday that he was contacted by a former neighbor of Canseco's Feb. 12.
"He said he had a photograph of his son with Roger in a pool at a party at Canseco's house," said Hardin's statement. "He said that friends who had seen the photograph were suggesting to him that he sell it. I expressed no interest in buying it, but urged him to let our investigator visit with him, view the photograph, and interview him. He said he wanted to talk to his son first and would call me back that day.
"I gave him all of my phone numbers and urged him to call. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him.
"It is impossible for us to comment on the photograph itself because we haven't seen it. We know that baseball announcers broadcasting the games at the time said Roger was not at the party. Jose Canseco has said Roger was not at the party, as has Canseco's former wife.
"Roger was playing golf at the time of the party, and has stated that he may have stopped by the Canseco house after playing golf before heading to the ballpark for the game."
In the Mitchell Report, released in December, McNamee alleged that Clemens spoke with Canseco at the barbecue and soon thereafter approached the trainer about using performance-enhancing drugs.
McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001.
Lidge, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, limped off the field in Clearwater, Fla., after talking with team trainers.
The team said it hoped to know more about the extent of the injury today.
"It was my pushoff leg," Lidge said. "I caught my spike in the mound. I threw the pitch but it felt like I pulled something in the knee. It swelled up a little, but I'm optimistic that I just pulled some scar tissue loose."
Doctors removed torn cartilage from the knee in the fall.
The Phillies acquired Lidge, 31, and infielder Eric Bruntlett in a November trade that sent speedy outfielder Michael Bourn, infield prospect Mike Costanzo, and reliever Geoff Geary to the Astros.
Lidge, who has 123 career saves, finished 2007 with 19 saves in 27 chances and a 3.36 ERA for Houston. When the Phillies acquired him, it allowed them to strengthen their rotation by making Brett Myers a starter again.
The Phillies struggled with injury problems in the bullpen last season. Setup man Tom Gordon and Myers both missed significant time because of injuries.
DeRosa was sitting up as he was wheeled out of the Fitch Park complex; some of his teammates were still in the field winding up a day of workouts. He was released from the hospital last night.
"Mark's doing fine," manager Lou Piniella said immediately after the incident. "He came in with a rapid heartbeat from doing the things on the field and was having a little trouble breathing, so they called in the medical team.
"He's completely stable, but better to be safe than sorry. With the irregular heartbeat and so forth, they sent him to the hospital to test him and evaluate him. But he's fine."
A team spokesman said DeRosa felt faint but never lost consciousness. Piniella said DeRosa had experienced irregular heartbeats previously.
"I talked to him. He was a little nervous and outside of that he's OK," Piniella said.
After getting a call from bullpen coach Guy Conti, the Hall of Fame pitcher visited Mets camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and spoke with the team's lefthanded closer.
"I wanted just to talk to him," Wagner said. "I've known Sandy off and on for 12 years. He's probably about the only lefty I can go to and say, 'Hey, what am I doing?' and kind of have somebody I feel kind of connects with me."
Wagner went 2-2 with 34 saves and a 2.63 ERA last year.
"If somebody wants to get better and they think I can help them, then it's a pleasure," Koufax said. "I don't do it unless someone asks. If I help them, great. If I don't, I tell them, 'This is an experiment. If it doesn't work for you, forget it. It has to work. You have to be comfortable.' I don't have all the answers."
