Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count (video link) from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Roger Clemens says that he has no plans of making a big league return this season, but a lot of people with the Astros remain skeptical. If The Rocket plans on coming back, however, he'll have to do it soon. Houston begins a seven-game homestand against two non-contenders in the Cubs and Phillies on Monday. They'll be hosting the Pirates and Cardinals in their other homestand and they could not pitch him against those teams without compromising the integrity of the pennant race.
- Indians officials are leaning towards retaining manager Manny Acta as they know that a new manager won't make all that much of a difference. They also don't have to worry about placating their fans as they already rank 28th in MLB in home attendance. Of course, a poor finish to the season could change their minds about Acta.
- Giants centerfielder Angel Pagan will be coveted by several teams this offseason and his value to the Giants has only increased since the suspension of Melky Cabrera. Pagan is also similar offensively, from a statistical standpoint, to fellow free agent centerfielder Michael Bourn. Bourn is obviously a stronger base stealer, a year-and-a-half younger, and offers a longer track record. However, Pagan could be a decent alternative to the Braves star.
How would facing Clemens be “compromising the integrity of the pennant race” any more than facing whatever other questionably-AAA-caliber arm the Astros run out there?
Makes no sense to me either. Does it “compromise the integrity” negatively or positively, anyway? Is starting Clemens giving them some sort of unfair advantage? Clearly not. Is starting Clemens giving the other team some sort of unfair advantage? Clearly not, given the horrid staff they already trot out there.
Maybe that phrase actually means “Should they trot this side-show act out in the middle of someone else’s pennant race?”
My answer to that is 1) is it really a side-show act? I doubt Clemens thinks so, and 2) Who cares about the Pirates pennant race?
I’m sure it’s a sarcastic aside, but I’m not a Pirates fan and I would love to see them in the playoffs. Or at least over .500
I’m a Pirates fan and every night I see Barajas and Barmes in the lineup I root for them a little harder to finish sub .500 so Hurdle, Coonley, and Huntington can get grilled for Hurdle insisting on playing Barmes and Barajas every night.
I think they mean Clemens may not be ready and get shelled by either Cards or Pirates and effect the standings in that manner. It’d be like a team that was out of it to start pitching all their position players or the Phillies last year not playing to win that final series in ATL.
Or like the Yankees throwing game 162 last year? >_>
But seriously, they’re already going to be playing the ASTROS. Why aren’t we claiming that having one of those teams face Jordan Lyles is “compromising the integrity of the pennant race”?
It was a definitely a weird comment. Ostensibly, the Astros wouldn’t bring him back unless they thought he could get some outs just as well as their other guys.
It would only compromise the integrity of the playoff race if the Ready-to-go 2004 Cy Young Award Winner Roger Clemens signed with the Astros. The person who the Astros are looking at signing is currently a minor league skeeter, 87-mph fastball-throwing Roger Clemens who last pitched a partial season in MLB back in 2007. He is not the same pitcher that he was in 2004, and he is not going to singlehandedly determine which team clinches the NL Central.
What are they afraid Clemens will beat the Cardinals and Pirates and it might make them lose a slot in the draft?
I don’t get how Clemens coming back has anything to do with other team’s playoff chase.
The Astros are still garbage, with or without Clemens.
It has nothing to do with a pennant race or a side show. Its all about pushing his hall-of-fame ballot back 5 years in hope that people will be more accepting of the Steroid Era.
It’s both abut a side show and pushing back the ballot. The pennant race thing, I tend to agree with the other poster who said Clemens starting against a team in the pennant race is no different than starting a random AAA arm.
For the Astros it’s no different than when Bill Veeck hired Eddie Gaedel for the day, it’s a stunt. For Clemens, no doubt it’s an attempt to move back his voting date.
That said, it shouldn’t matter. Clemens will get into the Hall, so will Bonds. It may take them more than a decade but we’re already far enough away from the rage and embarrassment of the steroid era that it doesn’t matter.
Pagan seems to be personally offended by the Melky cheating/lying thing. It has lit a fire in him and he has taken control! Hope he can keep it up!
I would hope any player that is playing clean would be personally offended by the Melky thing. It’s an embarrassment to baseball to have the league leader in batting have a positive PED test. And that was the SECOND Giant player on the ML roster to test positive this season!
I would have to think signing Pagan over Bourne would be a much, much better deal for whatever team gets him mostly because of the numbers that have been thrown around for Bourne’s next contract.
Yes, of course Acta will keep his job. He’s under contract for one more year. If there’s one thing Cleveland will not do, it’s pay him not to manage. I have come to the conclusion he’s just not very good-that makes him a perfect fit for the Indians.
I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Cleveland, but that’s depressing. We’re not gonna bother making a managerial change cause it doesn’t matter. And it’s not like we’re gonna anger anyone cause no one comes to our games anyway. They’re like the emo kid in high school.
I don’t recall anyone else huffing and puffing about Jamie Moyer compromising the integrity of anything. At least Clemens is a has-been; Moyer is a never-really-was by comparison.