Opening statements in the perjury trial of former major league pitcher Roger Clemens began Wednesday in federal court in Washington, with the government insisting it had overwhelming proof that Clemens lied when he told Congress that he never used performance-enhancing drugs.
Prosecutors publicly detailed their case against Clemens for the first time. They told the jury of 10 men and two women that their evidence included syringes and cotton balls used by Clemens' former personal trainer to inject Clemens with drugs. Those items tested positive for traces of Clemens' DNA, as well as for steroids, prosecutors said.
Clemens' defense team said that the trainer, Brian McNamee, was nothing but a "dope dealer" and a fraud, who is telling "cockamamie" stories about Clemens to save himself from prosecution. Clemens claims McNamee never injected him with anything but the painkiller lidocaine and vitamin B-12.
ClevelandStruggling starter Mitch Talbot was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a lower back strain, as the second-place Indians decided Wednesday they weren't going to let his problems go on for much longer before they made a move.
But Talbot, 2-6 with a 6.33 ERA in 11 starts, is out of minor league options. The club was either going to have to keep him on its roster or release him.
Talbot was placed on the DL retroactive to July 9, one day after Toronto tagged him for eight runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He's 0-5 in seven starts since beating the Blue Jays on May 31 and has been rocked for 27 runs in his past 24 2/3 innings.
Following his last start, Talbot said he understood his job was in jeopardy, and manager Manny Acta indicated Talbot's days in the rotation were numbered.
"We're not going to overreact," Acta said. "But it has been 3 1/2 months ... we have to do what is best for the team."
