Latest Roger Clemens Buzz

This might be an example of Red Sox fans reaching for any indication that Roger Clemens is likely to sign with their team.  But there was an interesting piece of info yesterday over at BornIntoIt.com:

"With Al Nipper now assuming the duties of interim pitching coach, it brings up an interesting scenario. When he pitched for the Sox in the mid-1980s, one of his best buddies on the team was Roger Clemens. Nipper has maintained a close friendship with Clemens since he left the Red Sox in 1996. With Clemens now a free agent, could this be an incentive for a possible Clemens return to Fenway?"

This same concept appeared two months ago alongside the possibility of the Red Sox signing Brad Ausmus to lure Clemens.  Also, according to Gordon Edes’s article from a few days ago, John Flaherty has experience catching Roger.  So it seems that he could fill the personal catcher role to some extent.  The only problem with this concept is that Flaherty is already expected to be Tim Wakefield’s catcher, and the Red Sox would probably not want him behind the plate 40% of the time given his anemic bat.  I’m sure they could work something out though. 

Clemens’s agent Randy Hendricks finally commented via email to the New York Times yesterday:

"I continue to say that nothing will be decided until after the World Baseball Classic," the agent, Randy Hendricks, said in an e-mail message. "It is a five-horse race between Retirement, Boston, Houston (post May 1), New York, and Texas (alphabetical order except for the lead horse, named Retirement)."