Photo may show Clemens was at party

Roger Clemens’ lawyer was told a photograph exists that shows the pitcher at a party hosted by Jose Canseco, an issue that was disputed in Congress this month.

A June 1998 party at Canseco’s house in Florida was one of several topics discussed during Clemens’ testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Feb. 13.

Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, said the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was at the party. Clemens denied being there when he gave a deposition to congressional investigators on Feb. 5, then testified eight days later that it was possible he could have stopped by after playing golf.

In the Mitchell Report on doping in baseball, released in December, McNamee alleged that Clemens spoke with Canseco at the barbecue and soon after approached the trainer about using performance-enhancing drugs.

McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times, possibly more, between 1998 and 2001. Clemens has denied those accusations several times, including under oath before Congress.

Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement that on Feb. 12 he was contacted by a former neighbor of Canseco’s.

“He said he had a photograph of his son with Roger in a pool at a party at Canseco’s house. He said that friends who had seen the photograph were suggesting to him that he sell it. I expressed no interest in buying it, but urged him to let our investigator visit with him, view the photograph and interview him. He said he wanted to talk to his son first and would call me back that day. I gave him all of my phone numbers and urged him to call. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him,” the statement said.

“It is impossible for us to comment on the photograph itself because we haven’t seen it.”

Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice and hurt the same knee he had surgery on in October.

Lidge, the Phillies’ biggest off-season acquisition, limped off the field after talking with team trainers. The team said it hoped to know more about the extent of the injury today.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa was released from a hospital after being taken there by ambulance for an irregular heartbeat he experienced during spring training drills.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez switched agents and is now represented by Scott Boras.