Twilight Revisited

In Clemens' defense, Hendricks notes Johnson averaged 7 1/3 innings or more in four seasons between the age of 35 and 38, while showing Clemens averaged more than seven innings only once during that same age span. In another comparison, Ryan's strikeouts-per-nine-inning average was 11.5 at age 40, 11.3 at age 42 and 10.6 at age 44, while Clemens was shown to have peaked at 9.6 (in 2002) after turning 36 in 1999.

What helped the pitcher beyond the development of the split-finger fastball, the report claimed, was the late-career assistance he received from shorter pitch counts, contractual agreements to "avoid fatigue" by not traveling on all trips, and his shortened seasons in 2006 and 2007.

"While Clemens maintained high performance quality throughout his career, the quantity of his pitching declined as he aged," Hendricks' report said in its conclusion.

By also referring to Duquette, Hendricks unearthed reminders of how the general manager emerged as a steady target of ridicule among New England's impassioned fans.

Clemens had won three Cy Young Awards, becoming a local legend with his brand of country hardball pitching that was still evident in his final victory for the team: a record-tying 20-strikeout masterpiece against the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 18, 1996, that tied Cy Young's team records for wins (192) and shutouts (38).

Now, the past vitriol toward Duquette is being reconsidered.

In one Mitchell Report passage, McNamee tells of his first discussion with Clemens about steroids, with the pitcher asking during a June 8-10, 1998, trip to Florida "for McNamee's help" with injections.

After that discussion, Clemens was 14-0 to close the season, and reportedly told McNamee the drugs "had a pretty good effect" on him.

"The one person who comes out the best from the Mitchell Report is Dan Duquette," said John Brian Quinn, 45, a self-described "hard-core" member of Red Sox Nation who writes for the fan website bornintoit.com. "It seems clear now that Roger Clemens was a big-time juicer. Now, the fact is, we're thinking, 'Thank God we didn't bring him back, and that he's not associated with the Red Sox anymore.'

"Steroids will follow this guy to his grave."

At the end of the 1996 season, Duquette had to decide what kind of contract offer to make Clemens. Sentiment had its monetary limits for Duquette as he inspected the 13-year veteran's 40-39 record from 1993 through 1996.