Knoblauch Blinks

Chuck Knoblauch has bailed out of the batter’s box. A high and tight fastball, in the form of a subpoena by House Oversight Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), was enough to persuade the former all-star second baseman that he’d be best off playing ball with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The subpoena was issued last week after Knoblauch failed to respond to an invitation to come meet with the committee. Now that he has belatedly accepted the invitation, according to a joint statement by Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Tom Davis (R-Va.), the subpoena will be dropped.

Knoblauch was a client of Brian McNamee, the trainer who allegedly injected Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher Roger Clemens with human growth hormones. His decision to appear before the committee puts additional pressure on Clemens and fellow Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte to answer questions before the panel.

Clemens and Pettitte are reportedly negotiating the terms of their appearance before the Oversight Committee.

Today, the panel announced that the deposition, previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 29, 2008, has been rescheduled to Friday, February 1, 2008.