And, my thoughts are all defensive ones and they sound like this: it’s Spring Training fat that will work it’s way off over the long haul of the season; energy storage system is where I’m going with this. He’s human after all. Who can blame him for living the high life? Whoa, what training regime are he and Randon engaging in in San Antonio? I wouldn’t want to replicate it, and it’ll never appear important in any future Congressional hearings.

Well, these rationalizations continue, and a few extra pounds won’t matter if he pitches close to or better than last season. Just wish he was his fine svelte self to dazzle my fantasies, is all.

Well, he hardly looks like David Wells…. I’d be thrilled if my tummy looked like that, especially after being stretched out by 14 pounds of twins.

In any case, who cares what his gut looks like as long as pitches like a beast.

That’s quite the unflattering angle of Josh, isn’t it? I don’t get what the big deal is; it’s clearly just one of those weird camera captures that all ballplayers fall victim to at times. Or do the media geniuses seriously not realize he looked basically the same last year?

BTW, anyone know what Dice-K meant by his wife being in a delicate situation? Was this regarding her pregnancy? Is she in poor health/on bed rest/something else? Or is it just old-fashioned protect-my-pregnant-wife stuff? Are we worrying?

If the mini-pony had a bow, I think the awesome would simply be too much to contain. Maybe it’d spontaneously combust. But then it would probably take our pitcher’s head with it…

Silly Firefox–doesn’t think “combust” is a word. o.0

THREE HOURS AND 20 MINUTES UNTIL NESN’S LIVE BROADCAST. EEEEK. I think I won’t be able to hold in the awesome of spring training being ALMOST HERE.

What was with the whole thing, actually? We basically got the two guys to repeat everything they’ve said over the last two months. But in court. So I guess now the stakes are raised–whoever turns out to have lied gets obstruction of justice AND perjury charges.

UGH. I’m glad his little dog and pony show is over. I’m very happy we have NESN live tonight to wash this nasty taste out of things.

I don’t have any legal problems with the jurisdiction of Congress to hold these hearings- but I have a huge problem with the chair of the committee refusing to follow the rules he has sworn to uphold (all the while yelling at other congresspeople about parliamentary procedure… laughable). That environment offers none of the protections of a court of law, and all of the potential damaging outcomes — so when the chair of the committee undermines the few rules that are in place to protect witnesses, it stinks of a personal vendetta.

I know he knows better because he’s usually a huge stickler for parliamentarian stuff, and loves the auditing stuff with the GAO.

I get the sense that the whole thing is really frustrating for legal types… questionable jurisdiction, questionable statute, the fact that someone is obviously lying to their faces… that sort of lying they take as disrespect for their position, from my legislative experience at least.

He does know better, and it is no excuse, but that was my take.

So while I admire his pugnaciousness, he certainly knows better – and this issue deserves better – than to go throwing legal and Congressional rules to the wind to be sensational.

I read a great clinical analysis of Clemens’ account and was struck most by that obvious fact.

(I know a lot of people don’t like him, but watching Henry Waxman raise hell about all kind of wonderful things–he was the politician who single-handedly got HIV/AIDS-related policy onto the national stage when no one else would–it’s fun for me. A personal hero… that being said, I’m not interested in watching the hearing today…)

Also, I’m watching the MLB.com live feed of the Clemens/McNamee hearing–a congressman asked Clemens if he was anemic, senile, vegetarian, or vegan. He denied the first three and didn’t know what the fourth was. (The “senile” comment got some chuckles from the people in the room.)

Deer sausage has a lot of calories, y’all.

Honestly, if the media ran pictures like this of me, I’d hate them as much as he does.

I’m sure this will be a favorite picture of his for a long time to come.

Also, Dice-K, please reconsider. Thank you.