Baseball Notebook | McNamee tells students to learn from his mistake

EVERETT, Mass. — Brian McNamee, ex-New York Yankees trainer, resurfaced to give a brief motivational speech to a small group of workout buffs on Thursday but refused to comment on the steroid scandal that landed him and his famous former client in front of Congress.

In his first public comments since testifying that he injected seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone, McNamee gave about 25 high-school athletes, coaches and parents a warning about mistakes that can tarnish one's reputation.

"My lifetime of actions can be defined by one singular monumental mistake," he said in a 12-minute talk at a friend's supplement store. "I believe firmly that everyone deserves a second chance. Every second chance needs a first step. Today, I'm taking that first step."

McNamee canceled sit-down interviews with a local television station and Associated Press reporter, saying, "I've got to think about my kids."

He did not elaborate, walking away and leaving through the back door as the lights were turned off.

McNamee was a key source for the Mitchell Report that laid bare the prevalence of steroids in baseball. Among those he admitted helping obtain steroids or HGH were Clemens and Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte.

Pettitte has admitted using HGH, but Clemens has denied the allegations.

McNamee did not mention steroids, the Mitchell Report or his Congressional testimony. He referred only indirectly to Clemens and their bizarre, recorded telephone conversation, joking at the start that he should probably ask for tape recorders to be turned off "because I'm not too fond of that lately."

Although McNamee said he was trying to learn from his mistakes, he did not say what they were. But he began his talk by acknowledging that he had not made his name the way he intended.

"Everyone knows who I am," he said. "I wish it was for better reasons."

Beckett dominant in minor-league game

LOS ANGELES — Boston manager Terry Francona, in California for three exhibition games against the Dodgers, got good news from ace Josh Beckett on the East Coast.

Beckett, who missed the team's just-concluded trip to Japan because of back spasms, pitched four shutout innings in a minor league game in Florida. He threw 47 pitches, allowed one hit, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.

Francona said he spoke with Beckett afterward and was told he felt fine.

"It's good because he's healthy. He's just trying to get ramped up for the season," the manager said. "Everything's gone great there, so that's why there's not a lot of anxiety from that standpoint."

Prior faces batters

for first time in a year

PEORIA, Ariz. — Mark Prior said he felt strong after facing hitters for the first time in a year.

The San Diego Padres right-hander, who had shoulder surgery in April while with the Chicago Cubs, threw 25 pitches during an eight-minute session.

"It was good," the 27-year-old Prior said. "It was nice to see their reaction to how I'm throwing even though they're way ahead of me as far as being prepared. It was good to get in there and see where you're at."

Prior signed a $1 million deal with his hometown Padres in December, with the chance to make more in incentives. He'll start the season on the 60-day disabled list and is expected to be ready to pitch in the big leagues around June 1.

Notes

• Atlanta RHP John Smoltz threw for about 20 minutes and called the session his "best day" of the spring.

Smoltz said he is on track to make his first regular-season start on April 6 and said he had no recurrence of the shoulder stiffness he suffered last Friday, forcing him to be held out of a scheduled start for the Braves.

"I just needed some time for it to settle down. It has settled down," the 40-year-old Smoltz said.

• Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game Sunday.

Pettitte, originally slated to start the Yankees' second game of the regular season on Wednesday, has been slowed by back spasms. If all goes well, he likely will make his first start of the season Friday or Saturday.

• Less than a week after being told he probably would need surgery on his ailing pitching elbow, Milwaukee Brewers LHP Chris Capuano has decided to try rehabilitation that would allow him to play this season.

The Brewers placed Capuano on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 21. He will try rehabbing his left elbow for the next three to four weeks.

• Toronto Blue Jays 3B Scott Rolen said his broken right middle finger could sideline him for six weeks.