Update August 10th: Jack Clark and Kevin Slaten fired from their radio show over the steroid allegations, and Kevin Slaten bares his soul in return. Updated post HERE.
Former major league slugger Jack Clark, who played part of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, just recently signed on as a radio co-host on WGNU (920 AM), and he's wasting no time trying to goose his ratings. Clark said he "knows for a fact" that Los Angeles Angels' slugger Albert Pujols, who once played for the Cardinals, has used performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and also accused Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander of using PEDs as well. Fueling the controversy is the fact that after a stellar career, Pujols' body seems to be breaking down in a similar fashion to admitted PED user Mark McGwire in 2000 and 2001, and is currently on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, while Verlander has a comparatively mediocre 12-8, 3.74 record just two years after going 24-5, 2.40.
Clark first voiced the allegations during his show on Friday August 2nd. When co-host Kevin Slaten said he has long believed that Pujols has been a juicer, Clark jumped in and said, “I know for a fact he was. The trainer that worked with him, threw him batting practice from Kansas City, that worked him out every day, basically told me that’s what he did.” Clark also pointed his fickle finger of suspicion at Verlander, saying that although Verlander once threw 97, 98, 100 miles an hour from the first inning to the ninth inning, he can now bareley reach 92, 93 miles per hour since signing that big contract. Clark's premise is that some players deliberately juice up in order to get bigger contracts, then slack off so they don't get nailed on drug tests.
However, the trainer in question, Chris Mihlfeld, completely rebuts the story. Mihlfield said he hasn't even talked to Jack Clark in close to 10 years, and denounced Clak's statements as false. He added that he has known Albert Pujols since he was 18 years old and asserted that Pujols would never use illegal drugs in any way, saying "I would bet my life on it and probably drop dead on the spot if I found out he has". As for Pujols himself, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that Pujols has vowed to take legal action against Clark and his present employer, identified as InsideSTL Enterprises, but offered no further specifics. ESPN recorded a complete statement by Pujols confirming his intention to sue and noting that he has been tested hundreds of times throughout his career and never once has he tested positive.
Justin Verlander also wasted little time in responding. Prior to the Tigers' August 9th game against the New York Yankees, Verlander said "It's moronic, look at the source. It's moronic to talk about something you know nothing about and clearly ... he's not watching." Verlander also rebutted Clark's claim that Verlander has lost speed off his pitches, saying that he hit 97 mph and 100 mph in his most recent start. Verlander also might be considering legal action against Clark, although he declined to comment on whether he and his attorney have discussed taking those steps.
Jack Clark has been one of the most fervent crusaders against PEDs in major league baseball and has been vociferous in his criticism of players who juiced. After Mark McGwire admitted to steroid use in 2010, Clark also came out firing, saying "All those guys are cheaters. A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez]. Fake, phony. Rafael Palmeiro. Fake, a phony. [Roger] Clemens, [Barry] Bonds, [Sammy] Sosa. Fakes, phonies. They don't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. They should all be in the Hall of Shame. They can afford to build it. They've all got so much money. And they could all go there and talk about the next way to rub something on your skin. The whole thing is creepy. "They're all creeps. All these guys have been liars."
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