Roger Clemens was named on 45.2 percent of the ballots cast in this year's Baseball Hall of Fame election, a modest climb from 37.5 percent a year ago.
That, combined with the perception that baseball writers are growing more sympathetic to voting for players connected to the Steroid Era, gave cause for optimism that Clemens might one day cross the 75 percent threshold before he's off the ballot for good. But if it were up to former MLB pitcher Roy Halladay, an ardent and vocal opponent to electing purported steroid users, Clemens would never get in.
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"When you use PEDs you admit your (sic) not good enough to compete fairly!" Halladay tweeted early Tuesday. "Our nations (sic) past time (sic) should have higher standards! No Clemens no Bonds!"
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Clemens responded in kind late Wednesday after Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were elected to the Class of 2016.
"I was asked to comment on the subject of the Hall of Fame once again by some of my friends in the media," Clemens wrote in a statement, via ESPN.com. "I will say thank you again for those who took the time to vote. I have distanced myself from the subject and have moved on.
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"Having said that, what is disheartening is getting a call or a text from family or friends about an ill informed player making an asinine statement. The latest coming from a former Blue Jays pitcher. Just to enlighten him, he was accused of using amphetamines by the 'strength coach.' You should be very careful when putting tweets out while not having your facts on the matter at hand."
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Clemens never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in his 24-season MLB career and was acquitted by a federal jury in 2012 of charges he lied to Congress about not having used steroids. But he will nonetheless forever be linked to the era, right or wrong, and he's far from a lock for Cooperstown because of it despite being one of baseball's all-time best pitchers.
Clemens' accusation that Halladay wasn't so clean himself seems particularly unfounded, so take it for what it's worth. Halladay had yet to respond to Clemens' statement as of early Thursday.
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Halladay's Jays career intertwined with Clemens beginning in 1998, when he made his first two appearances for the Blue Jays as a 21-year-old, and for several seasons after that as the two went head-to-head in the AL East.
Halladay pitched 15 seasons in the majors, winning 203 games, and at one time was considered the best pitcher in baseball. But his numbers pale in comparison to Clemens' (354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts), clean or not.
UPDATE: Halladay responds:
I'll let my reputation speak for itself
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) January 7, 2016