Did Roger Clemens Use Steroids?

There have been rumors the past few days that Roger Clemens waiting two months into the MLB season to sign with a team wasn't as plain as it seemed. After a report suggested that Clemens may have used steroids and been caught, a lot of evidence has been uncovered to support this. Several sportswriters have reported that Clemens may have used steroids, been caught, and requested that it be kept secret. Here's the evidence to support the theory of Clemens' steroid use.

First, when Clemens signed with the Houston Astros on May 31, it was exactly 50 games into the MLB season. The suspension for first-time steroids users is 50 games. Is this a strange coincidence, or did Clemens get suspended?

Consider the following…

Clemens has improved as he has gotten older; he has shown no signs of wearing down. The same can be said of Barry Bonds, who is assumed to have used steroids. Clemens has also shown signs of becoming bulkier and stronger. A look at the Clemens of the 1990's shows a different guy that a look at the Clemens of 2006. That much of a gain in bulk and strength is a strong indication that perhaps Clemens used steroids.

But the next piece of evidence is even stronger…

Clemens had a terrific 2005 season for the Astros, despite a poor final outing in the World Series. After this, if Clemens was in fact suspended, he would've stopped taking steroids. Before the World Baseball Classic, every player was tested for steroids, and everyone that participated was found clean. Clemens struggled in the World Baseball Classic, possibly the first time he pitched without steroids in over a season. He didn't seem to have the same caliber fastball, and his offspeed pitches were not the same. A sign perhaps that Clemens needs the steroids to pitch well.

Personally, I don't believe that Clemens used steroids, but it is a very interesting series of coincidental evidence. Alone, each of the three pieces of evidence means nothing, but together, it's a strong correlation to suggest that the Rocket's fuel wasn't natural. In my opinion, that's just what it is – a coincidence – but until it's proven either way, this will be a heavily debated topic in the world of baseball.