Fifty-year-old Roger Clemens made his second start for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters last night, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out one, walked zero, and allowed two hits while his son Koby was behind the plate. In his two starts for the Skeeters, he's allowed no runs on three hits in eight innings. Following the game, Clemens spoke to reporters (including Fran Blinebury of The New York Post) about what's next…
“Well, not this year,” replied Clemens when asked if he'll pitch in the big leagues this season, reiterating what he said a few days ago. “But we’ll see what happens after that. I’m not going to rule anything out. I don’t know what Koby is going to do, where he ends up. I hope to end up probably in February with the Astros, put on a uniform and help those kids. That’s probably next.”
He didn't specify if he would like to wear that uniform as a player or coach, though I think it's fair to assume he would prefer to be an active player. Astros owner Jim Crane is open to signing Clemens and they have been scouting his recent outings, but it doesn't sounds like the two sides have had any dialogue about a contract yet.
"I'd listen to [Crane], but I'd have to do some work again," said Clemens. "I just don’t think I'm close to pitching in a Major League game."
ESPN's Buster Olney says (on Twitter) that Clemens opened last night's outing by throwing 79 mph in the first inning, but that climbed to 84 in the second, 86 in the third and fourth, and then 87 in the fifth. That is obviously way down from his prime, ditto the 90.3 mph he averaged with the Yankees during his final season in 2007.
Returning to a Major League club as an active player (and appearing in a game) would restart Clemens' five-year waiting period for the Hall of Fame. He will appear on the ballot for the first time next year along with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mike Piazza, and others. Despite his seven Cy Young Awards and historic playing career overall, Clemens seems unlikely to be inducted into Cooperstown on the first ballot due to the PED shroud. Delaying his candidacy five years could improve his chances for induction.
go away roger
And just when you thought the Astros couldnt be me more of a joke this season
thats really good for them he can help the younger guys and he can be a leader for the astros and stuff
and stuff
You don’t really believe he has the slightest interest in helping the young players, do you? When has Rogers ever been about anything other than Roger? This is about Roger manipulating the Astros into letting him participate in camp with his son.
Now that’s untrue. Very well known that he likes to work out with younger kids. Aside from the use of PEDS no one can ever say that Clemens wasn’t the definition of a gym rat.
I wouldn’t want the baggage that comes with him but free and clear of that I would’ve loved if he could’ve been around to workout and give some direction to Joba and Hughes their first few years.
Roger’s son doesn’t play for the Astros organization anymore. The only Clemens currently with the Astros is Paul and he’s not related to Roger.
people im a detroit fan not an astors fan just saying
Yeah, because having Roger Clemens in camp, hogging the attention and making it about himself is EXACTLY what the Astros young players need in the spring. I hope the Astros brass is smart enough not to humor Roger.
Just….go….away….already
he might be able to help the younger guys dats wat i think astros gm is thinking
@Andrew
The Astros GM is thinking that Roger might be able to help sell tickets, too!
That’d be awesome…put Roger in a ticket booth.
Just hope he doesn’t ‘misremember’ the correct ticket prices!
No. The Astros owner is thinking that.
Owner, not GM
He can certainly help teach the young players important lessons like:
Which PED’s to take without raising suspicion
It’s not a lie if you believe it
Get your friends to take the fall for you when facing a Senate subcommittee
Blame it on the wife
I believe they are spelled “that’s” and “what…”
ughh I hate when people use “dat” and “wat”. I mean, unless you’re tweeting and trying to save characters spell the dang word correctly.
I hate when people use the word “dang”. It’s “darn”. 🙂
At least they’re spelled correctly 😉
because what young players need at ST is media attention.
Big Top Pee Wee and Clemens is “Herman” 😉
I was merely making the point that with a group of youngsters like that, the last thing they need is a guy like Roger around making a circus out of spring camp.
Everyone not named Barry Bonds who has been caught using PED’s but got away with it, has had some association or another with the Yankees.
@GeorgeH
Manny Ramirez, Ryan Braun, Mark McGuire, David Ortiz, all suggest that you look up the definition of the word EVERYONE.
What?? Maybe Ramirez and Big mac will come back to coach the NYY, ortiz sign with ’em as a FA and braun get traded my friend.. Poster had to have some kind of rationale to make up such a ludicrous post ;-(
Manny was penalized.
Mac is not going to the HOF.
And apparently you’ve never heard Braun get booed and razzed by fans throughout the NL.
I suggest you read my entire post correctly before making absurd remarks.
… And Ortiz?
@GeorgeH
Perhaps you can clarify “everyone” and “associated with the Yankees”?
“Everyone not named Barry Bonds who has been caught using PED’s but got away with it, has had some association or another with the Yankees”.
So what do you mean “got away with it” because other than Clemens, Sosa and Bonds has got away with it? I assume by “got away with it” you mean it wasn’t proven and they didn’t admit it.
You missed my point.
What exactly is your point?
That’s what I am trying to figure out.
The point being you don’t know what you’re talking about?
Add Sosa, Palmeiro, Gagne, B. Anderson and Tejada to the list of those mentioned as well.
You must not have heard, those guys played for the Yankees on the “mirror Earth” like in the movie “Another Earth.”
just because your point was horribly made doesn’t mean it was missed.
Define “got away with it”. Being ridiculed and not getting into the HOF doesn’t mean one was punished. Pretty certain the Yankees aren’t in cahoots with MLB. But I love a good conspiracy theory. So, please, elaborate.
Could be just trying to help land Koby a gig with the Astros.
Think about it, this is about postponing his HOF eligibility hoping that the extra 5 years will change writer’s minds about the steroid era, and it probably bothers the heck out of him that Greg Maddux passed him on the all time wins list.
I love the conspiracy theory.
Clemens just wants to show the younger Astros how to take their SHOT at the big time. Tip # 1 : have a wife willing to say those steroids were hers and have the abs to prove it. (note that it’s essential to have the year she took the shots coordinated when you testify)
having a friend like Andy Pettitte who is willing to perjure himself before a Senate subcommittee doesn’t hurt, either.
Both Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens come out of retirement to face eachother in the first AL West matchup of the Rangers vs. Astros in 2013.
OMG Celebrity Death Match would HAVE to come back.
It would be a worthy occasion to bring back the clay
Thankfully we have baseballs police the BBWAA to keep anyone they think maybe once kind of definitely took something that might have been a PED out of the Hall. If the player wasn’t caught and given a lifetime ban then the BBWAA has no business keeping them out of the hall if their stats demand it. I’m just as sure that the majority of them knew that players were on something and looked the other way till Canseco’s book made them look foolish so now they must play the they tarnished the game card and keep anyone out that they feel had to be on something.
Clemens coming back to pitch even a inning wouldn’t be the first time a player has done something like this.
Okay, okay, wait. Best thing ever. The Astros are going to be in the American league next year, so that means they’ll likely play a single, 3-game series at Fenway Park, guaranteed. If Roger is 1/5 of the Astros rotation, that means there’s a 60% chance that Clemens makes a Fenway Park start next year. I can’t fathom how marvelous this would be to watch.
Since this isn’t a trade rumor, I propose MLBTR stops covering anything to do with Clemens.
“MLB Rumors Pertaining to Trades, Acquisitions, Signings, and Free Agent Miscellany” (or MLBRPTTASAFAM) was just too long of a name.
Maybe the best thing for the BBWAA is to go ahead and vote him in on the first ballot. That will kill any chances of a comeback. Then again, the writers love this. There was more Houston media following Clemens’ game last night than there were following the Astros.
Clemens is fatter than ever. You’d think he would, at least, try to get in shape if he really wants to come back.
he would get eaten alive in the al west lol