Clemens says it is time to talk baseball

Roger Clemens arrived at the Houston Astros’ minor league clubhouse in Kissimmee, Fla., Tuesday and declined to answer questions about the Mitchell Report or a possible criminal investigation into his denials of steroid use.

“Everything’s been said that needs to be said on that,” Clemens said. “We’re moving forward. It’s baseball time.”

Clemens said he thinks the public is tired of hearing about performance-enhancing drugs in the sport.

“I think you ought to be asking baseball questions,” he said. “I think it’s time to move on and get on with baseball.”

Clemens will pitch batting practice today through Friday to minor leaguers.

Cecil Fielder, a home run-hitting terror for the Detroit Tigers and a key cog in the New York Yankees’ run to the 1996 World Series championship, says he will avoid the casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., now that he is manager of the Atlantic City Surf of the independent Can-Am League.

“Gambling has never been a temptation for me,” Fielder said.

In two days in February 1999, Fielder lost $580,000 at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. According to a lawsuit filed in state Superior Court, Fielder paid off small amounts of the debt until the following year, when Trump Plaza sued him and won a judgment for $563,359.

Asked whether he had repaid the debt, Fielder would say only, “That’s all in the past.”

St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa said his pitchers would bat eighth in spring-training games in which the designated hitter is not used and he plans to continue the practice once the regular season starts.

La Russa inserted a position player in the ninth spot behind the pitcher for the final 56 games last season. The Cardinals were 28-28 in those games after starting the season 50-56.

San Francisco’s Omar Vizquel will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today and is expected to be out four to six weeks. The 11-time Gold Glove shortstop, who turns 41 in April, tested his knee Tuesday but said the pain was too much to handle.

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir did not pitch in an intrasquad game after feeling discomfort in his elbow on his final warmup pitch.