So, who do we believe???

Clemens more nervous than trainer; Facial expressions expert analyzes both witnesses

Roger Clemens' lips were pressed together tight, the corners turned slightly upward, his mouth pulled wide.

"There's only one interpretation," said Dan Hill, an expert in analyzing facial expressions, "and that's fear."

Hill doesn't profess to be able to declare with certainty whether the star pitcher or his former trainer, Brian McNamee, was telling the truth during their testimony before Congress on Wednesday. But after viewing video clips of portions of the hearings, Hill concluded Clemens seemed more nervous than McNamee.

"To be fair, it could be fear of being unfairly stripped of the Hall of Fame," Hill said in a phone interview. "He also could be lying."

Hill is the president of Sensory Logic, a Minnesota-based marketing research company that analyzes consumers' facial expressions. He said Clemens showed signs of anger and disgust, pushing his lower lip and chin upward and pressing his lips together.

"It's the same body language as when he prepares to overwhelm a batter," Hill said. "He's a bulldog trying to will himself through the testimony."

But Clemens also repeatedly licked his lips and looked down.

"That's all signs of avoidance, possibly shame, absolutely nervousness," Hill said.

He thought Clemens seemed particularly anxious, gulping and licking his lips, when questioned about the testimony of former teammate Andy Pettitte's wife. In her affidavit, she said her husband told her about a conversation he had with Clemens in 1999 or 2000 during which the seven-time Cy Young winner admitted using human growth hormone.

McNamee may have looked "beaten down" as he was drilled by members of Congress, Hill said, but he appeared more confident than Clemens.

"He does not look like he's broken or wavering or nervous," Hill said.

List of players, ex-players named in Mitchell report

The following players were connected to steroids, either use or possession, in the report:
Chad Allen,Mike Bell,Gary Bennett,Larry Bigbie,Ricky Bones,Kevin Brown,Ken Caminiti,
Mark Carreon,Jason Christiansen,Howie Clark,Roger Clemens,Paxton Crawford,
Jack Cust,Brendan Donnelly,Chris Donnels,Lenny Dykstra,Matt Franco,Ryan Franklin,
Eric Gagne,Jason Grimsley,Jerry Hairston,Phil Hiatt,Matt Herges,Glenallen Hill
Todd Hundley,Ryan Jorgensen,Wally Joyner,Mike Judd,David Justice,Chuck Knoblauch,
Tim Laker,Mike Lansing,Paul Lo Duca,Exavier “Nook” Logan,Josias Manzanillo,
Cody McKay,Kent Mercker,Bart Miadich,Hal Morris,Daniel Naulty,Denny Neagle,
Rafael Palmeiro,Jim Parque,Luis Perez,Andy Pettitte,Adam Piatt,Todd Pratt,
Stephen Randolph,Adam Riggs,Brian Roberts,F.P. Santangelo,David Segui,Mike Stanton,Ricky Stone,Miguel Tejada,Derrick Turnbow,Mo Vaughn
Ron Villone,Fernando Vina,Rondell White,Jeff Williams,Todd Williams,Kevin Young,
Gregg Zaun

The following players were cited under “Alleged Internet Purchases of Performance Enhancing Substances By Players in Major League Baseball” in the report:
Rick Ankiel,David Bell,Paul Byrd,Jose Canseco,Jay Gibbons,Troy Glaus,
Jose Guillen,Darren Holmes,Gary Matthews Jr.,John Rocker,Scott Schoeneweis,
Ismael Valdez,Matt Williams,Steve Woodard

The following players were linked through BALCO in the report:
Marvin Benard,Barry Bonds,Bobby Estalella,Jason Giambi,Jeremy Giambi
Benito Santiago,Gary Sheffield,Randy Velarde

The Mitchell Report Gets Better and Better

Pete Rose investigator John Dowd is unimpressed with George Mitchell's refusal to make the documents, notes, and interviews that went into the Mitchell Report public:

"That's ridiculous," chief Rose investigator John Dowd said Thursday. "That surprises me. I'm sorry to hear that."


This, however, seems way worse:


Mitchell, according to lawyers involved in his probe, did not create transcripts of interviews. However, aides took notes.


No transcripts? Great job, George! Now, instead of simply turning over a transcript of McNamee's allegedly defamatory statements to Clemens' lawyers and walking away, you managed to make your aides and yourself witnesses in the lawsuit. I mean, absent a transcript someone has to testify as to what, exactly, McNamee said, and who else would it be? What's more, if your aides' interview notes suck and your testimony comes off sketchy (e.g. it is revealed during a deposition that your investigatory approach was so reckless that it all but ensured that phony information would result) you may make yourself and baseball co-defendants!


I've said before that I don't think Clemens has a cause of action against Major League Baseball or George Mitchell. I still don't think he does, but the more I hear about Mitchell's methodology, the less convinced I become. Today it's no transcripts. Given Mitchell's reliance on handwritten notes -- and given his seeming refusal to turn over records to the media -- it's not hard to construct a scenario in which a claim of spoliation of evidence comes into play. Is it likely that someone like George Mitchell would be so careless with this kind of stuff so as to make that a real possibility? Nah, but then again I never would have expected him to not transcribe interviews and testimony of drug dealers making claims against star athletes either, so who the hell knows? It's amazing the stuff you can find out over the course of a deposition.

What I do know is that given what appears to be some surprisingly poor procedural steps taken in putting it together, the door may soon open for Clemens -- or others who believe they were falsely named -- to mount a full frontal assault on the Mitchell Report if they have the inclination to do so.


And that, my friends, is not how Bud drew this all up back in 2006.