Former Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, who became most famous for errant throws to first base -- one even hit Keith Olberman's mother -- found himself in the news in December when his name popped up in the Mitchell Report. Unlike Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, Knoblauch remained silent until Thursday. He said he wasn't upset with the report but didn't deny using human growth hormone, a substance Pettitte has admitted taking but Clemens has denied. All three players were linked to Brian McNamee, Clemens' personal trainer.
“I have nothing to defend,” Knoblauch said from his home in Houston. “I have nothing to hide at the same time.” The Times also quotes him as calling the Mitchell report "crazy" and "interesting" and saying that he wants nothing to do with baseball. Knoblauch's career suffered a considerable decline after he came to the Yankees in 1998, but he still contributed above-average offense for a second baseman. He could have tried something to get back to the level he had in say, 1996, when he posted an outstanding .448 on-base percentage? Even though he's avoided the Mitchell report storm so far, he probably can't do that forever.
Elsewhere, someone's suing the Yankees, but based on the $221 in damages he wants, the Yankees should still be able to afford Alex Rodriguez. The claimant brought suit in a small-claims court in Brooklyn. He wants a refund for five tickets from 2002-2007 -- including one from a game against Barry Bonds and the Giants and another from Game 2 of the 2003 World Series -- because the Yankees broke their implicit promise to provide a fair and honest game. Everyone knows what Bonds is accused of, and Pettitte started that World Series game. We assume the claimant, whose last name is Mitchell, is not related to Senator George Mitchell.
