Mike Greenberg of the Mike & Mike Morning Show on ESPN Radio made a not-so-subtle suggestion this morning that there may have been more to the 1st inning of last night?s MLB All-Star Game than just a poor performance by Roger Clemens. Is it possible that Mike Piazza was tipping the hitters off to what pitch was coming, ala Crash Davis in the movie Bull Durham?

The motive for doing such a thing is certainly there. (A quick refresher for those of you who are not familiar with the history: in 2000, Piazza took a Clemens fastball in the dome, knocking him out cold. Later that season in the World Series, Piazza broke his bat on a Clemens pitch; the shattered barrel flew out toward the mound, and Roger picked it up and threw it in the general direction of Piazza. Since then, they have not been exchanging Christmas cards.)

Anyway, Roger?s statistics last night were very un-Rogery. 6 runs (3 earned), 5 hits (4 for extra bases), 2 home runs, and all in just one inning. ESPN?s Jayson Stark provides some statistics to show just how unlike the Rocket this is:

• Before last night?s game, Clemens had made 650 career starts; 652 if you count his two other All-Star game starts. He gave up 6 runs in the first inning of exactly ZERO of those 652 starts.
• In his other 8 All-Star games, he faced a total of 40 hitters?and gave up a total of ONE extra-base hit. He gave up twice that amount in only 4 pitches last night.
• In the history of the All-Star game, no team has hit for the cycle. (a single, double, triple, and home run) Last night, Clemens gave up a cycle in just 7 batters.

Coincidence? Or could it be that after being hit in the head, having a shattered bat thrown at him, and not being able to get revenge for 4 years, Piazza was finally presented with an opportunity he could not pass up? Consider the situation:

• It is the All-Star game. Just about every sports fan in the country is watching. Where better to make someone look bad?
• It is the All-Star game. An exhibition game?it doesn?t count in the standings. Piazza can sabotage his own side without it really hurting anything. It does affect home-field advantage in the World Series, but Clemens? Astros have a much better chance of getting to the Series than Piazza?s Mets.

I?m a huge Roger Clemens fan. Having said that, if Piazza was actually behind the meltdown by pulling a Bull Durham, I have a new respect for him. That would quite possibly be the greatest thing that has ever happened in an All-Star game. The only thing that would be better is if Ramirez and Soriano had won free steaks.