Online betting players are gearing up for a wild close to the regular season in the major leagues, and in this weeks Power Rankings, there is a lot of excitement once you get past the top team, who have been No.1 since winning the World Series last year.

1. New York Yankees (70-43) The Yankees are earning tough series splits to stay atop the major leagues, and you get the feeling theyre just biding their time until September.

2. St. Louis Cardinals (64-49) Theres no more discussion as to who are the alpha dogs in the National League Central after that beating in Cincinnati, is there, Brandon Phillips?

3. Atlanta Braves (66-48) The Braves responded to a surging Philadelphia team by playing well themselves, and theyll welcome the Dodgers to town this weekend.

4. San Diego Padres (66-46) The Padres have a huge series this weekend in San Francisco as they try to hold off the Giants in the National League West.

5. Texas Rangers (65-48) The Rangers showed they werent to be taken lightly in their split with the Yankees, and their next six games come against Boston, and at Tampa Bay.

6. Boston Red Sox (66-49) The Red Sox simply wont go away, and theyre getting more healthy with each game.

7. Philadelphia Phillies (63-50) Shane Victorino and Chase Utley should be back soon, Roy Oswalt is looking comfortable: this is still the team to beat in the National League.

8. Tampa Bay Rays (69-45) Theyve been no-hit twice, and were almost no-hit again last weekend in Toronto. Its almost weird, especially given how talented the Rays are.

9. Minnesota Twins (64-50) The Twins are gearing up for their annual battle for the American League Central lead, but.

10. Chicago White Sox (64-50) – they play the White Sox three times next week as the two look for victory in the rubber match of their current series on Thursday.

11. San Francisco Giants (65-50) With just one more big bat in the lineup, Im willing to place MLB betting odds on the Giants running away with the National League West.

12. Toronto Blue Jays (59-54) If the Blue Jays had the Giants staff, theyd even be challenging in the insane American League East.

13. Cincinnati Reds (64-51) To Brandon Phillips: the phrase, dont speak unless spoken to comes to mind, and even if asked, just stay quiet.

14. Colorado Rockies (59-54) The Rockies are quietly keeping themselves in the hunt, and Ubaldo Jimenez has some Cy Young competition in the form of St. Louis Adam Wainwright.

15. Los Angeles Angels (59-57) The battle-tested Angels wont give up the West that easily to Texas, but its not looking good right now.

16. Florida Marlins (56-56)
17. Los Angeles Dodgers (59-55)
18. Oakland Athletics (57-56)
19. New York Mets (56-57)
20. Washington Nationals (49-65)
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (46-69)
22. Baltimore Orioles (40-74)
23. Milwaukee Brewers (53-62)
24. Detroit Tigers (55-59)
25. Houston Astros (48-65)
26. Seattle Mariners (44-71)
27. Cleveland Indians (47-67)
28. Kansas City Royals (47-67)
29. Chicago Cubs (48-66)
30. Pittsburgh Pirates (39-74)

Pittsburgh continues to be one of the most pitiful franchises in all of sports, but who could have foreseen the collapse in the Windy City by the Cubs? Theyre not even trying anymore, and manager Lou Piniella doesnt deserve that. Look for a clearout during the summer, and dont expect much from the Cubs sports betting odds in 2011, either.

Online betting players know that the American League East is the toughest division in all of baseball, and its proving that way again in 2010 as the AL East has three teams in the top five of this weeks Power Rankings as we head into the All-Star break.

1. New York Yankees (54-31): The Yankees have won six in a row, including their opening game in Seattle on Thursday, meaning they could have a nine-game streak heading into the break.

2. Tampa Bay (52-33): The Rays have also won six straight and are hanging with the Yankees, and they have the Indians at home. Its shaping up to be a very interesting second half.

3. Atlanta (50-35): The Braves just won two of three in Philadelphia, and will end the first half against the Mets. Atlanta has played well above their weight this year, can they keep it up?

4. San Diego (50-35): How long can the Padres go with no offense? Can they hold onto Adrian Gonzalez throughout the second half? Thats the key to the Padres second-half MLB betting chances.

5. Boston (49-36): That the Red Sox are in this position despite all the injuries theyve suffered, particularly to their pitchers, is a testament to their organization. Theyll end their first half in Toronto.

6. Texas (50-35): The Rangers look like theyre ready to run away with the American League West, but starting-pitching help would be nice.

7. Colorado (47-38): Roy Halladay has had a great season in Philly, and were big Doc fans over here, but if Ubaldo Jimenez isnt starting in the All-Star game, were calling shenanigans.

8. Detroit (46-37): Enjoy it, Detroit fans, because you just know the Tigers are going to find a way to lose the lead in the American League Central. It wont be right away either, itll be drawn out.

9. Cincinnati (49-38): The surprises of the season have been a great feelgood story, and Mike Leake is every bit as good as his former youth teammate, Stephen Strasburg. Scott Rolen may be the MLB betting favorite for Comeback Player of the Year.

10. New York Mets (47-38): The Mets are right in the thick of things heading into the break, and they cant ask for more than that. And thats even with Jason Bay being terrible for most of the year.

11. Chicago White Sox (46-38): The most confusing team in baseball. They could be the best or worst team in their division on any given day, and now Jake Peavy is hurt.

12. San Francisco (45-40): If you would have told MLB betting players that Barry Zito would be the ace of the staff and not Tim Lincecum, you probably would have been run out of the room.

13. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38): The Dodgers have been up and down as of late, and they have the best chance of chasing down the Padres in the National League West, providing the pitching doesnt collapse.

14. Philadelphia (44-40): Theyve been hurt, their offense has struggled mightily, and yet the Phillies are still in the hunt. Dont count them out over the second half of the season.

15. St. Louis (45-40): The Cardinals have been ambushed by Cincinnati, but well see the experience of St. Louis pay off in the second half.

16. Toronto (43-43)

17. Minnesota (45-40)

18. Los Angeles Angels (46-42)

19. Kansas City (39-46)

20. Florida (40-45)

21. Oakland (41-45)

22. Chicago Cubs (38-48)

23. Washington (38-48)

24. Houston (35-51)

25. Arizona (33-53)

26. Milwaukee (37-49)<

27. Cleveland (33-52)

28. Seattle (34-51)

29. Pittsburgh (30-55)

30. Baltimore (26-59)

The bottom half of the league has some surprising teams down there, like Minnesota and the Angels, and theyre going to have to pick it up to get through the second half of the season. In Tank Wars, the Orioles have a solid lead over the Pirates, but if the Mariners do indeed trade pitcher Cliff Lee, they could be the new sports betting favorites for the No.1 pick in the draft.

CBSSports.co Ford Motor Co. on Thursday settled a Mississippi lawsuit over a 2001 accident in which New York Mets prospect Brian Cole was killed when his SUV crashed in the Florida Panhandle, a lawyer for the players family said.

The settlement came shortly after the jury in Jasper County had awarded $131 million in actual damages to Coles family and before it was to consider possible punitive damages, Tab Turner an attorney for the family of Brian Cole, told the Associated Press.

Turner, from Little Rock, Ark., said the settlement amount and terms were confidential.

“The family is glad this is finally over. I thought the verdict was an appropriate response to the evidence. They put zero percent of the fault on Brian Cole and 100 percent of the fault on Ford Motor Co. for a defective and unreasonably dangerous vehicle,” Turner said.

Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said the accident was a tragedy and the company offered its sympathy to the Cole family for their loss.

However, Evans said in a statement that the Mississippi court “denied Ford a fair trial by excluding evidence that the jury should have heard and considered about Brians driving and the speculative nature of plaintiffs claims.”

Cole, then 22, died from injuries he suffered when his Ford Explorer overturned as he drove home on March 31, 2001, from spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to Meridian, Miss., with his cousin, Ryan Cole. Brian Cole was ejected from the SUV.

He was taking his Explorer home and was to fly Sunday to Binghamton, N.Y., to join the Mets Double-A team for its season opener.

The one-car accident occurred on Interstate 10 near Florida Highway 286, just south of the Georgia border and about 45 miles northwest of Tallahassee, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Brian Cole, who was single and the youngest of five children, was pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Ryan Cole, then 17, was treated and released.

Turner said the family made two claims: the Explorer was unstable and its safety belts didnt work in rollovers.

“That permitted Brian Cole to be thrown out of the car during the rollover despite being belted,” he said.

Evans said Ford blamed speeding and reckless driving for the accident.

“Brian Cole had been driving over 80 mph when he drifted off road for unknown reasons, suddenly turned his steering wheel 295 degrees, lost control, and caused the vehicle to roll over more than three times,” Evans said. “He was not wearing his safety belt and died after being ejected from the vehicle. His passenger, who was properly belted, walked away from the accident.”

Brian Cole went to Meridian High School and was Baseball Americas junior college player of the year in 1998 at Navarro Junior College in Texas. He was selected by the Mets in the 18th round of the 1998 amateur draft and turned down a football scholarship to Florida State.

Online betting players know that the American League East is the toughest division in all of baseball, and its proving that way again in 2010 as the AL East has three teams in the top five of this weeks Power Rankings as we head into the All-Star break.

1. New York Yankees (54-31): The Yankees have won six in a row, including their opening game in Seattle on Thursday, meaning they could have a nine-game streak heading into the break.

2. Tampa Bay (52-33): The Rays have also won six straight and are hanging with the Yankees, and they have the Indians at home. Its shaping up to be a very interesting second half.

3. Atlanta (50-35): The Braves just won two of three in Philadelphia, and will end the first half against the Mets. Atlanta has played well above their weight this year, can they keep it up?

4. San Diego (50-35): How long can the Padres go with no offense? Can they hold onto Adrian Gonzalez throughout the second half? Thats the key to the Padres second-half MLB betting chances.

5. Boston (49-36): That the Red Sox are in this position despite all the injuries theyve suffered, particularly to their pitchers, is a testament to their organization. Theyll end their first half in Toronto.

6. Texas (50-35): The Rangers look like theyre ready to run away with the American League West, but starting-pitching help would be nice.

7. Colorado (47-38): Roy Halladay has had a great season in Philly, and were big Doc fans over here, but if Ubaldo Jimenez isnt starting in the All-Star game, were calling shenanigans.

8. Detroit (46-37): Enjoy it, Detroit fans, because you just know the Tigers are going to find a way to lose the lead in the American League Central. It wont be right away either, itll be drawn out.

9. Cincinnati (49-38): The surprises of the season have been a great feelgood story, and Mike Leake is every bit as good as his former youth teammate, Stephen Strasburg. Scott Rolen may be the MLB betting favorite for Comeback Player of the Year.

10. New York Mets (47-38): The Mets are right in the thick of things heading into the break, and they cant ask for more than that. And thats even with Jason Bay being terrible for most of the year.

11. Chicago White Sox (46-38): The most confusing team in baseball. They could be the best or worst team in their division on any given day, and now Jake Peavy is hurt.

12. San Francisco (45-40): If you would have told MLB betting players that Barry Zito would be the ace of the staff and not Tim Lincecum, you probably would have been run out of the room.

13. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38): The Dodgers have been up and down as of late, and they have the best chance of chasing down the Padres in the National League West, providing the pitching doesnt collapse.

14. Philadelphia (44-40): Theyve been hurt, their offense has struggled mightily, and yet the Phillies are still in the hunt. Dont count them out over the second half of the season.

15. St. Louis (45-40): The Cardinals have been ambushed by Cincinnati, but well see the experience of St. Louis pay off in the second half.

16. Toronto (43-43)

17. Minnesota (45-40)

18. Los Angeles Angels (46-42)

19. Kansas City (39-46)

20. Florida (40-45)

21. Oakland (41-45)

22. Chicago Cubs (38-48)

23. Washington (38-48)

24. Houston (35-51)

25. Arizona (33-53)

26. Milwaukee (37-49)<

27. Cleveland (33-52)

28. Seattle (34-51)

29. Pittsburgh (30-55)

30. Baltimore (26-59)

The bottom half of the league has some surprising teams down there, like Minnesota and the Angels, and theyre going to have to pick it up to get through the second half of the season. In Tank Wars, the Orioles have a solid lead over the Pirates, but if the Mariners do indeed trade pitcher Cliff Lee, they could be the new sports betting favorites for the No.1 pick in the draft.

CBS The Washington Nationals transferred rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg to the 60-day disabled list Wednesday.

Strasburg, the hard-throwing No. 1 pick in last years draft, will have the reconstructive elbow operation known as “Tommy John surgery” on Friday. He finished his rookie season with a 5-3 record and 2.91 ERA.

Washington also elevated shortstop Danny Espinosa to the 40-man roster from Triple-A Syracuse and recalled catcher Wilson Ramos from Syracuse.

Espinosa had 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases in the minors this season.

“He plays second and short, so hell do both up here,” National manager Jim Riggleman said, “but hell get significant time at second base.”

CBSSports.com Rangers left-hander Cliff Lee returned to Texas on Wednesday to get a shot and have his ailing back checked out.

Lee was scheduled to rejoin the AL West leaders on Friday.

Lee is 0-3 with an 8.28 ERA in his last five starts. He gave up six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday night at Kansas City.

“After the game last night Cliff Lee told us he was experiencing some discomfort in his back,” Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said. “We flew him back to Dallas to see [Rangers team physician] Dr. [Keith] Meister. He put him through a battery of tests today and also gave him a trigger point injection in his back.”

Levine said some component of the shot is cortisone, “but I wouldnt describe it as a cortisone shot.”

“Well assess where hes at then,” Levine said. “Well know definitely how it feels on Friday. I think hed been experiencing it before yesterday but he didnt tell us about it until after the game [Tuesday]. He did intimate to me last night that hed been feeling this longer, for a longer period than he told us about.”

Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young winner, has not won since Aug. 6 at Oakland. He is 2-5 with a 4.69 ERA in 11 starts with the Rangers since they acquired him in six-player trade July 9 with the Seattle Mariners.

Levine said Lee has an oblique injury in April with the Mariners, “but we dont think this is related.”

Lees next scheduled start is Monday in Minnesota, but whether he makes that is yet to be determined.

“Well see how it goes the rest of the way,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He didnt have a good August. If he drops three or four wins for us in September well forget about that.”

CBSS Washington Nationals rookie ace Stephen Strasburg will have Tommy John surgery on Friday to rebuild his injured right elbow, an operation that is expected to sideline him for 12 to 18 months.

The ligament replacement surgery will be in Los Angeles and performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum, with Nationals team doctor Dr. Wiemi Douoguih assisting.

“He is dealing with it like a professional,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said before Tuesday nights game against Florida. “Hes very determined to get it done and start the process.”

Strasburg will begin his recuperation the day after the surgery, recovering at the Scripps Clinic in his hometown of San Diego.

Strasburg hurt himself while pitching Aug. 21 in Philadelphia. The right-hander who created such a buzz all through baseball was 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA.

The 22-year-old Strasburg was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft and quickly climbed through the minor leagues this season.

With a fastball that reached 100 mph and wicked curves, he struck out 14 during his major league debut in June and had many fans saying he should be on the NL All-Star team in July.

Strasburg was scratched from a start in late July after he had trouble getting loose in the bullpen. He went on the disabled list two days later with inflammation in the back of his right shoulder.

The Nationals were worried when Strasburg grimaced, shook his wrist and walked off the mound during his last start against the Phillies. An extensive MRI exam last Thursday revealed the severity of the injury, a devastating setback for the last-place team.

CBSSports The fire alarm was squealing at Great American Ball Park when left-hander Aroldis Chapman walked through the dugout and stepped onto a major-league field for the first time.

No, he hadnt thrown one of those triple-digit fastballs yet. Just a false alarm.

This time.

The Cuban defector joined the Cincinnati Reds before their game Tuesday night against Milwaukee, with eve fares in the majors. Will it still sizzle?

Those who have seen it firsthand have no doubt.

“Theres not a whole lot of guys like him, if any,” said pitcher Sam LeCure, who was his teammate at Triple-A Louisville.

After a moments pause, LeCure said, “Theres none.”

Hows that for an advance billing?

The 22-year-old pitcher who defected from Cuba only 13 months ago arrived in the middle of a pennant race on Tuesday. The Reds had won 12 of their last 16 games, pulling away to a six-game lead over St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

Theyre already talking playoffs in Cincinnati. And Chapmans name is part of the conversation. The Reds are confident he can handle the pressure of coming out of the bullpen with a pennant race riding on each triple-digit pitch.

“I think he can handle it,” manager Dusty Baker said. “Because if you can handle pitching for food, you can certainly handle pitching here.”

He was referring to Chapmans background in Cuba, where his ability to throw so hard made him a big-league commodity. The Reds gave him a six-year, $30.25 million deal in January, expecting him to join the rotation at some point during the season.

With more than enough starters, they moved Chapman to the bullpen last month and he excelled. A fastball that was clocked at 101 mph on scouts radar guns in spring training seemed to get better. He didnt allow a hit in his last eight appearances out of the bullpen, dominating hitters who couldnt catch up with the fastball or handle the slider and changeup that go with it.

His teammates in Louisville marveled. Whenever Chapman was on the mound, everyone watched the board in right-center field that showed the speed pitch at Louisville Slugger Field.

Even the players couldnt help but look.

“Every time he lets one go, everybody turns around or peaks,” second baseman Chris Valaika said. “You dont want to get caught looking, but you see 104 – thats something youve never seen before.”

Valaika said Chapman topped out at 104 mph while he was there. A few days ago, one of his pitches registered 105 mph. Even if the radar in Louisville is off by a couple miles per hour, thats still well above the speed limit for just about everybody else.

Imagine what thats like when the lanky pitcher with the long stride lets it go from less than 60 feet away.

its MOVING,” Valaika said. “And Im really glad hes on our side.”

Chapman doesnt speak English and wasnt available for interviews before the game on Tuesday. Baker planned to get him into a game in a low-pressure situation the first time out, although he didnt rule out letting him go with everything at stake.

“Sure, you can have those plans, but if Prince Fielder is up there, it could be, Hey, brother good luck. Cmon Aroldis,” Baker said.

The Reds brought him up before Sept. 1 to make sure he would be eligible for postseason play. Chapman might get the chance to do what left-hander David Price did for Tampa Bay two years ago, when the highly valued starter got a chance to relieve during a pennant r he was eligible for p and he helped them get to the World Series, where they lost to Philadelphia.

Theres another precedent. In 2002, the Angels called up Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez in September, got him on the postseason roster and let him take them to their first World Series title. He tied a postseason record with five wins, set a relief record with 28 playoffs strikeouts, and at age 20 became the youngest pitcher ever to win a World Series game.

Could Chapman bring some September sizzle to the Reds?

“You dont know how its going to end up,” Baker said.

CBSSport Back to frighten pitchers who havent seen him regularly in a few years, Manny Ramirez will try to get the Chicago White Sox back to the playoffs.

As expected, the White Sox claimed the unpredictable but productive 12-time All-Star slugger on waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, hoping his powerful bat, full of so many October swings and homers, can help them make a postseason push.

“Hopefully, he can come in here and give us some help,” White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. “We need to make up some ground. Theres no doubt Manny can hit. He makes any team better.”

Chicago began a key 10-game road trip to Cleveland, Boston and Detroit on Monday night, although Ramirez is not expected to join the White Sox, his fourth major-league team, until Tuesday. They began the day 4½ games behind first-place Minnesota in the AL Central.

The 38-year-old Ramirez returns to the AL after spending parts of three seasons in Los Angeles, a stay that ended on a somewhat sour note. He batted .311 with eight homers and 40 RBI in 66 games with the Dodgers this season, but was on the disabled list from July 20 to Aug. 20 with a right calf strain and missed 33 games.

His first appearance for Chicago will come against the lowly Indians, the team that drafted him and enjoyed his production for eight seasons. Hell then head to Fenway Park, where he was adored by Boston fans before he was traded to the Dodgers in 2008.

That summer, he hit .396 with 17 homers, propelling L.A. to a postseason berth.

The past two years havent gone as well. Ramirez was slapped with a 50-game suspension after a failed drug test last year. This season, he has been slowed by leg injuries, which led to the Dodgers deciding to part ways with him for nothing in return.

Ramirezs salary is $20 million in the final season of a two-year contract, but only $5 million is due this year, with the rest to be paid over the next three years. He also had a full no-trade clause.

The White Sox were awarded a waiver claim on Ramirez last week, giving them until 1:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to complete a trade with the Dodgers.

In Chicago manager Ozzie Guillens lineup, Ramirez will likely serve as the designated hitter and bat somewhere behind former Indians teammate Omar Vizquel. With 554 career homers, Ramirez will fit nicely into a batting order that already has Konerko, Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin.

“Hes a Hall of Fame hitter,” Konerko said as his teammates snacked and watched TV in the visitors clubhouse at Progressive Field. “But just because we have him, we cant ignore the other aspects of the game. Weve got to play defense, weve got to pitch. Hes a great piece to have but we cant let down anywhere else.”

A fan favorite when he arrived in Los Angeles, Ramirez left with little splash. He hadnt started a game since Wednesday at Milwaukee. And in his final game with the Dodgers, he was ejected as a pinch-hitter after arguing a called strike on the only pitch he saw in Sundays 10-5 loss at Colorado.

When he got to Los Angeles, Ramirezs reputation for being unpredictable made him an instant celebrity in the land of celebrities. He had a section of seats named in his honor at Dodger Stadium, where wigs imitating his dreadlocks became fashionable.

“Mannywood” was the place to be, and the star attraction put on a show.

He played so well down the stretch that he wound up with a two-year, $45 million contract from the Dodgers, but the injuries and failed drug test dampened his stay. Ramirez stopped talking to reporters in the spring, after he said this will be his final season in Los Angeles.

For the White Sox, who finished third in their division last year, Ramirez is a low-risk gamble with a potentially high reward.

If Manny is no longer Manny, they can simply let him go as a free agent at the end of the season.

CBSSports Baseball great Roger Clemens entered a not guilty plea Monday to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone.

Clemens entered his plea in U.S. District Court. The arraignment happened a few blocks away from where the retired pitcher swore under oath that he had not used performance-enhancing drugs.

Federal prosecutors dont believe him, and charged him with making false statements, perjury and obstruction of Congress.

Clemens, 48, says he will fight the charges.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton set an April 5 date for choosing a jury after Clemens entered his plea.

Clemens was being arraigned on three counts of making false statements, two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of Congress.

He entered the courthouse well before his hearing, which was scheduled for a ceremonial courtroom that seats about 300 people.

After spending the morning in the back rooms of the courthouse, where defendants often go to get their fingerprints and mug shots taken, Clemens and his attorney, Rusty Hardin, went to the main cafeteria, where the pitcher sat at a corner table and had a salad and a bottle of water for lunch.

Clemens was friendly, but declined comment when approached by an Associated Press reporter. Hardin said plans hadnt changed for the hearing, but he wanted to honor the gag order imposed by U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who last week ordered interested participants to refrain from making public comments that could have a material effect on the case.

Clemens early arrival may have been because he wanted to make a quick exit after his hearing is over. The reports that Clemens and his wife, Debbie, planned to fly to Myrtle Beach, S.C., later Monday to play in the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

If convicted on all charges, Clemens could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine, though under U.S. sentencing guidelines, he would probably face no more than 15 to 21 months in prison.

All signs point toward him fighting. He came to Congress after the damning breakdown of the sports steroid problem released in 2007.

In front of a House committee the next year, Clemens said: “Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH.” Before his indictment was handed down Aug. 19, Clemens was offered a plea deal that he turned down, and afterward, he showed no signs of backing down.

“I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial,” Clemens wrote on Twitter after the indictment. “I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court.”

His day in court figures to be one of many in the now sullied by steroid-related accusations. All-time home run king Barry Bonds is scheduled to go on trial in March on charges of lying to a federal grand jury when he said he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

At the hearing in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Clemens former trainer, Brian McNamee, said the pitcher did, in fact, use steroids and HGH. Former teammate Andy Pettitte also told congressional investigators that Clemens told him he had used HGH.

Clemens told Congress that Pettitte “misremembers” the conversation.

All that testimony figures to be rehashed in a trial that could irrevocably tarnish the reputation of one of the most dominant pitchers in history. Over 23 seasons, Clemens recor Hall of Fame numbers that might not land him in the Hall of Fame.