clemens

[rodrick_98]

NO NO NO NO NO! they did it with nolan, now they're trying it with roger.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/012406dnspoclemens.305dc106.html

Rangers begin pitch for Clemens

12:05 AM CST on Tuesday, January 24, 2006

By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News

Rangers owner Tom Hicks is the club's chief sales representative when it comes to Roger Clemens.

And he's taking the sales pitch to the next level in his attempt to get the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer to buy into leading the Rangers' revamped starting rotation this year.

Hicks said he drafted a letter on behalf of the Rangers to Clemens' agent, Allan Hendricks, describing why Clemens should come to Arlington. Hicks said he planned to send the letter Monday.

Hicks wouldn't discuss specifics, but said the letter included some financial parameters. He said he also provided information about how the Rangers see their team with Clemens and lifestyle issues in regards to Clemens' desire to spend as much time with his family as possible. Hicks said that might include allowing Clemens to travel some on his own, to ease any concerns he might have about time away from his family.

"I don't think this is going to be about money," said Hicks, who was at American Airlines Center for a news conference Monday about the 2007 NHL All-Star game to be held in Dallas. "I think Roger wants to be able to see his family. We're not far away and we would love for him to come here."

Hendricks said last week that Clemens wouldn't ponder returning until early February. And Hicks doesn't expect Clemens to make any decisions about where he might play until March. Hicks said the indications are that if Clemens decides to play, he'd like to meet at his home with prospective teams.

"Now all we can do is wait and see if they want to have a meeting," Hicks said. "I hope they do."

[Hippieloser]

"I don't think this is going to be about money," said Hicks

It certainly isn't about winning. :confused:

[arkoe]

Have the Ranger ever been good?

[BigM]

i stilll expect him to retire or be an astro in may but i wouldn't be shocked to see clemens making 20 million as a ranger next season. if he does go there his era won't be under 2.00 in the american league, i'll guarantee that.

[MadMax]

He's not going anywhere. No one can offer him the opportunities the Astros can.

[msn]

Have the Ranger ever been good?
Yes. They've gotten run out in the first round by the Yankees on several occasions.

[rrj_gamz]

Yeah, unfortunately, I see this as a real possibility...IT's always about the money...THink of it, you get paid $20MM, don't have to travel and get to spend as much time with your family as you want...No brainer...Astros won't be paying that kind of coin again...The problem is, they signed Brad in hopes of appeasing Clemens...

[MadMax]

Yeah, unfortunately, I see this as a real possibility...IT's always about the money...THink of it, you get paid $20MM, don't have to travel and get to spend as much time with your family as you want...No brainer...Astros won't be paying that kind of coin again...The problem is, they signed Brad in hopes of appeasing Clemens...

don't have to travel? yes you do...you still have to head to the airport and fly out everytime. because his home isn't in Arlington...or Dallas...or Ft. Worth. it's in Houston.

it's not ALWAYS about the money. we've seen tons of examples where it hasn't been...particularly with the Astros. if it was always about the money Biggio would have been a Cardinal in 1996, for example. caminiti came back here for less.

at this point of his life...it ain't about the money. it's about respect.

clemens will be an astro...or he won't play. book it.

[Buck Turgidson]

if it was always about the money Biggio would have been a Cardinal in 1996, for example.
Rockies, iirc.

He apparently wasn't as impressed with the school system as Mike Hampton was.

[MadMax]

Rockies, iirc.

He apparently wasn't as impressed with the school system as Mike Hampton was.

you're right..the rockies outbid the cardinals. i remember they were both in the hunt for him.

i think that decision ultimately saved the franchise, by the way.

[DaDakota]

I think Clemens comes back to the Astros and he gets to play with his son in call ups in September.

DD

[oomp]

clemens will be an astro...or he won't play. book it.

I totally agree.

[No Worries]

I think Clemens comes back to the Astros and he gets to play with his son in call ups in September.
and plays with his son during his rehab prior to joining the Astros, after he signs first of May.

[bigtexxx]

If this happens, the blame will lie with Drayton and to a lesser degree, Purpura.

[Luckyazn]

If Clemens leave to the Rangers he'll be a SELL OUT!

He come out of retirement from the Yankees to "come home and try to be a championship back home" which was a reason to come to Houston.

but to leave agian for the Rangers would just be like WTF

[Buck Turgidson]

and plays with his son during his rehab prior to joining the Astros, after he signs first of May.
Which is infinitely more likely, for several reasons, than Koby getting called up in September.

[Hakeem06]

the rangers are just trying to get their name in the media because they haven't accomplished a damn thing in about a decade. there is about .00001% chance of roger going to arlington, it doesn't make sense. if roger wants to spend more time with his family that lives in HOUSTON, why would he go play in arlington? let's face it, roger isn't hurting for money so if the rangers go arod on him and offer him 20-25 mil. next year, i still don't see him leaving. it's either the astros or retirement.

[Surfguy]

the only reason i see roger possibly going to texas is:

- more money
- semi-close proximity to home
- wants to pitch a full season
- not in it to win world series
- change of scenery

but, this wouldn't really make sense considering all the things he has said in the past about why he took up with the astros:

- win a world series for houston
- play for the home team
- proximity to family
- see kids ball games
- pitch with andy
- skip road trips/see kids' ball games

so, while a person is entitled to change their mind on their reasoning, this guy would be all over the map with his logic if he did play for the rangers...unless everything is secondary to pitching a full season with a full spring training.

[gr8-1]

I hope this happens just to piss on Drayton's shoes.

[msn]

I hope this happens just to piss on Drayton's shoes.
I hope Drayton makes a ton of money this year (in the baseball context). That means the Astros made a ton of money, and that means better things for the future.

I hope Roger signs in May. I hope Jeff, Timmy, and Drayton kiss and makeup. I always hope for the very *best* for everybody involved, although my expectations are more realistic.

[Groogrux]

I hope Drayton makes a ton of money this year (in the baseball context). That means the Astros made a ton of money, and that means better things for the future.

I hope Roger signs in May. I hope Jeff, Timmy, and Drayton kiss and makeup. I always hope for the very *best* for everybody involved, although my expectations are more realistic.

gr8-1 is simply saying what most of the haters really feel. They want this team to fail so they can bitch on an internet message board about the organization.

It's sad, frankly, but at least gr8-1 can admit it.

[Aceshigh7]

I hope he goes to the Rangers. The Astros botched this big time and I would love for these so called "fans" defending the Astros' handling of this to be shown wrong.

[JunkyardDwg]

I hope he goes to the Rangers. The Astros botched this big time and I would love for these so called "fans" defending the Astros' handling of this to be shown wrong.


How exactly did they botch it?


His decision wouldn't come until February at the earliest
He gave no indication either way and told the Astros not to pressure him
Rather than tie up money and resources in one player that might not come back, the team decided to focus on other areas.
Clemen's made it clear he wouldn't come back unless the team made moves to improve, which they've done
Clemen's UNDERSTOOD the Astros decision to not offer him arbitration
By not offering him arbitration, the door is still open for him to return in May, a month after the season starts therefore ensuring he won't break down in September when we need him most

[Major]

I hope he goes to the Rangers. The Astros botched this big time and I would love for these so called "fans" defending the Astros' handling of this to be shown wrong.

Do you believe the Astros would be better by having Clemens? If so, and you want him to go the Rangers, as you've said above, it seems you're the not the Astros fan you claim to be, because clearly you're not interested in the Astros being the best possible team.

The best and most likely outcome at this point in time will be Roger playing for the Astros in May, for much less than the $20MM he would have gotten through arbitration. Why a true Astros fan would want the Astros to overpay for a 43 year old player who struggled at the end of last season and isn't even sure he has the motivation to play anymore is beyond me. But the above makes it clear you're not the Astros fan you claim to be.

[Uprising]

Great post Junkyard.

Nothing was botched, the Astros did what I was hoping they would. Now if he comes back to us in May in game shape, then look out NL.

[bigtexxx]

Why a true Astros fan would want the Astros to overpay for a 43 year old player who struggled at the end of last season and isn't even sure he has the motivation to play anymore is beyond me.

ignorant.

Oh I don't know, maybe because he led the league in ERA last year and was our best pitcher? :rolleyes:

[HillBoy]

There is a lot of wishful thinking up here about Clemens. Hicks is trying to run the old UT scmooze on him because the Rangers desperately need pitching to go with their hitting. Plus, they need the good PR that he'd bring because they have created an enormous credibility gap with their fan base. I don't put anything past Clemens so he is capable of doing anything. But if he does decide to come play at Arlington he may very come to understand what they mean by the phrase: Be very careful what you ask for...you might just get it. Ameriquest Field in August is not exactly what I'd term a "pitcher's" ballpark.

[Aceshigh7]

To JunkyardDwg: I have thoroughly explained in several other threads the reasoning behind the Clemens situation. The Astros didn't want to risk going to arbitration and paying market value for Clemens. That's what it boils down to.

Offering Clemens arbitrations would have kept our options open and in no way hindered our offensive improvement which is independent of the Clemens situation (Preston Wilson for 4 mil, yea, the Stros really put that saved money to good use and pulled out all the stops to upgrade the offense :rolleyes: ).

Major:I am a die-hard Astros fan, and of course I want them to win. That's why I am so upset with the way the Astros have been handling things this offseason.

Clemens has been the top pitcher in the game in his two seasons with the Astros. Who said anything about wanting the Astros to overpay? Clemens had a 1.87 ERA last year and a .198 batting average against. Even when injured he pitched and pitched well. There is no reason to expect a significant drop-off.

The Astros didn't want to take the chance that they might have to pay Clemens what he is worth. They hoped to get by on the cheap and you and all the other so-called fans are perfectly content to let them do it and weaken the rotation that got us to the World Series.

Answer me this, do the Astros make it to the World Series last year without Clemens? If you're honest you will admit the answer is no.

[Major]

Major:I am a die-hard Astros fan, and of course I want them to win.


Based on how good you say Clemens is, then it makes no sense that you hope he signs with the Rangers. All 3 of these can't be true:

1. You're an Astros fan.
2. You think Clemens would help our team.
3. You hope Clemens signs with the Rangers to screw the Astros.


Clemens has been the top pitcher in the game in his two seasons with the Astros. Who said anything about wanting the Astros to overpay? Clemens had a 1.87 ERA last year and a .198 batting average against. Even when injured he pitched and pitched well. There is no reason to expect a significant drop-off.


There's plenty of reason to expect a dropoff. The biggest is that Clemens himself said that after his mother died, his motivation to pitch is simply no longer the same. After his mother died, his ERA also shot up significantly. He also struggled through a number of nagging injuries throughout last season, and was forced to miss time late in the season.



The Astros didn't want to take the chance that they might have to pay Clemens what he is worth. They hoped to get by on the cheap and you and all the other so-called fans are perfectly content to let them do it and weaken the rotation that got us to the World Series.

Answer me this, do the Astros make it to the World Series last year without Clemens? If you're honest you will admit the answer is no.

No, we don't make the World Series without Clemens last year (although replacing him with $20 million in offense and other pitchers, maybe we do). We also don't likely make it without Everett, Burke, Ensberg, Pettite, Wheeler, Oswalt, Lidge, Berkman, or any number of other players who played key roles. I'm not sure what your point is?

Just because someone is important to last year's team doesn't mean you forget the core concept of fiscal sanity and sign them no matter the cost. Every World Series team makes changes - often, they lose core components of their team. That's just the reality of the business. If you start paying people more than you should just because you're desperate to keep your team together, you put together a recipe for long-term failure. The same garbage was said about Beltran & Kent before last season, and we saw the results there. Losing both of them (and Bagwell) had a bigger impact on our offense than losing Clemens would have on our pitching staff.

Besides which, it's still not clear Clemens is gone - there's probably a better than 50/50 chance he's an Astro come May 1.

[Major]

Oh I don't know, maybe because he led the league in ERA last year and was our best pitcher? :rolleyes:

Yeah, he was paid $20MM to do that. Now let's talk about this year's team. How much is he worth to you? $5MM? $15MM? $20M? $30M? And why do you pick that number?

Clearly, you've already decided he's worth at least $20MM. What if he asked for $30MM? Do you think he should get it? After all, he could make a great case in front of an arbritrator for that.

[bigtexxx]

Yeah, he was paid $20MM to do that. Now let's talk about this year's team. How much is he worth to you? $5MM? $15MM? $20M? $30M? And why do you pick that number?

Clearly, you've already decided he's worth at least $20MM. What if he asked for $30MM? Do you think he should get it? After all, he could make a great case in front of an arbritrator for that.

You and Drayton have something very important in common. I'll let you guess what it is.

[Major]

You and Drayton have something very important in common. I'll let you guess what it is.

I'm OK with having fiscal sense.

You're very good at avoiding questions - and being wrong in sports discussions.

[JunkyardDwg]

To JunkyardDwg: I have thoroughly explained in several other threads the reasoning behind the Clemens situation. The Astros didn't want to risk going to arbitration and paying market value for Clemens. That's what it boils down to.

Offering Clemens arbitrations would have kept our options open and in no way hindered our offensive improvement which is independent of the Clemens situation (Preston Wilson for 4 mil, yea, the Stros really put that saved money to good use and pulled out all the stops to upgrade the offense :rolleyes: ).


That's what it boils down to, huh. So how are you involved in the organization? Seriously, it's not as black and white as you make it seem.

And the thing that gets me is even though Clemens himself understood the reasons for their actions, you, can't.


And unless you're the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox, the amount of money available to improve the offense is very much dependant on any other moves made on the roster (Clemens included)

[Aceshigh7]

That's what it boils down to, huh. So how are you involved in the organization? Seriously, it's not as black and white as you make it seem.

And the thing that gets me is even though Clemens himself understood the reasons for their actions, you, can't.


And unless you're the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox, the amount of money available to improve the offense is very much dependant on any other moves made on the roster (Clemens included)

Sigh, this has been discussed ad-nauseum. The Astros would have lost nothing by offering arbitration, so you tell me why they didn't (Hint: Didn't want to risk paying market value for the best pitcher in the game).

Clemens and his agent understand full well why the Astros didn't offer arbitration ($$$$$). Evidently you don't.

[gr8-1]

gr8-1 is simply saying what most of the haters really feel. They want this team to fail so they can bitch on an internet message board about the organization.

It's sad, frankly, but at least gr8-1 can admit it.


Not to bitch. I root for any Texas team, so Roger to Texas doesn't hurt me. I just think Drayton and Astros fans are taking Roger for granted. Maybe I'm wrong though and Roger will sign with the Stros in May.

[Major]

Sigh, this has been discussed ad-nauseum. The Astros would have lost nothing by offering arbitration, so you tell me why they didn't

You've been told ad-nauseum why they didn't. You clearly don't care, so why bother anymore? To you, $20MM of someone else's money is "nothing". To the Astros and fans who understand baseball economics, that's not the case. Besides simple dollars, offering arbitration would have meant that any discussions to trade for Abreu or Tejada (both of which the Astros were involved in) would have likely been dead due to financial constraints. If neither money nor flexibility has no value to you, then there's no point discussing the issue with you.

[Aceshigh7]

As a season ticket holder, it really makes me so happy to know that the Astros have raised the prices that I'm paying so that I can have the pleasure of watching Ezekiel Astacio pitch instead of Roger Clemens.

I'm really sure they have good plans for all the extra money they'll be saving this year. 20 mil (est) for Clemens, 15.6 mil for Bags.

Oh, but they signed Wilson for 4 mil. Wow, they are doing wonders to improve our club.

[Groogrux]

nevermind

[Groogrux]

As a season ticket holder, it really makes me so happy to know that the Astros have raised the prices that I'm paying so that I can have the pleasure of watching Ezekiel Astacio pitch instead of Roger Clemens.

I'm really sure they have good plans for all the extra money they'll be saving this year. 20 mil (est) for Clemens, 15.6 mil for Bags.

Oh, but they signed Wilson for 4 mil. Wow, they are doing wonders to improve our club.

With the money you spend on season tickets, you could probably do something to help your blood pressure.

If you're so disgusted with the owner and team, why in the world would you buy season tickets? That's flat-out dumb.

[Aceshigh7]

I renewed early. If I had known then how badly the Astros would botch this offseason, there's a chance I wouldn't have.

[FranchiseBlade]

I think that Rocket will probably retire or play for the Astros, but I wouldn't sayit is certain. For Roger Clemens, money does seem to have been his first priority above all else for much of his career.

He's been wearing EA stuff, and pimping them bigtime lately, so he's obviously still working it for money. So it isn't like he's above that kind mindset.

That being said, I still believe he will stick with the Astros.

[msn]

Sigh, this has been discussed ad-nauseum.
Yes--and ad nauseum you've ignored everyone else's points while repeating your own drivel. I have arrived at the conclusion that you like to hear yourself whine. Kinda like the old saying, "Misery loves company," a person who refuses to be consoled based on logic and reality because the misery and the whining is just far too comfortable.

But, go ahead--call me a sheep and "blind". Whiner.

[Aceshigh7]

Yes--and ad nauseum you've ignored everyone else's points while repeating your own drivel. I have arrived at the conclusion that you like to hear yourself whine. Kinda like the old saying, "Misery loves company," a person who refuses to be consoled based on logic and reality because the misery and the whining is just far too comfortable.

But, go ahead--call me a sheep and "blind". Whiner.

Get a life dude. I'm not a whiner at all, just a true fan that isn't afraid to call out my team when they screw up. You're a mindless boob that hasn't contributed to this conversation at all. I'm still waiting on you to point out exactly how our team is in better shape now than we were before. But you can't can you? Just STFU already.

[msn]

true fan
oh, good grief.

You have a right to whine, and I have to right to ridicule your whining. I've pointed out, as have others, ad nauseum, how this team is in good shape. The fact that you have ignored it--ad nauseum--makes it all the more ironic when you call others "mindless".

[bobrek]

I'm still waiting on you to point out exactly how our team is in better shape now than we were before. But you can't can you? Just STFU already.

I would think you would agree that offensively, the team is better today than they were the day after the World Series ended. They added Wilson and players such as Burke should progress.

It can also be argued that the pitching has not fallen off that much since September. Clemens was a shadow of himself late in the year (5.40 September ERA) due to his back and hamstring problems. As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone even knows if Clemens will be healthy enough to pitch when spring training starts.

We all remember the remarkable 3 innings in the clinching Atlanta game, but we tend to forget the 5 runs in 5 innings in the game 2 loss. He sucked it up and pitched well in game 2 against the Cardinals, but his health let him down again in game one of the World Series.

The team appears to, at the very least, be equal to the team that played in October.

[msn]

I would think you would agree that offensively, the team is better today than they were the day after the World Series ended. They added Wilson and players such as Burke should progress.

It can also be argued that the pitching has not fallen off that much since September. Clemens was a shadow of himself late in the year (5.40 September ERA) due to his back and hamstring problems. As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone even knows if Clemens will be healthy enough to pitch when spring training starts.

We all remember the remarkable 3 innings in the clinching Atlanta game, but we tend to forget the 5 runs in 5 innings in the game 2 loss. He sucked it up and pitched well in game 2 against the Cardinals, but his health let him down again in game one of the World Series.

The team appears to, at the very least, be equal to the team that played in October.
Everyone can acknowledge your logic here except Aceswhine7--who will, later one today or perhaps tomorrow, post yet another 4-point "expose" of how the Astros have "completely botched" this offseason and will include a bitter diatribe about how all the "so-called" fans "have yet to tell him how" (despite this, yet another good recount). It will also include references to blindness, sheep, mindlessness, and apologetics--and his new whine, "I can't believe I already bought season tickets!!" As they say elsewhere, WFW.

[Major]

Get a life dude. I'm not a whiner at all, just a true fan that isn't afraid to call out my team when they screw up. You're a mindless boob that hasn't contributed to this conversation at all. I'm still waiting on you to point out exactly how our team is in better shape now than we were before. But you can't can you? Just STFU already.

Yup, you're a true fan who wants your team to lose a player that you think would help the team - just so other fans can be proven wrong. Yeah, you're a quality fan. This ring a bell?

I hope he goes to the Rangers. The Astros botched this big time and I would love for these so called "fans" defending the Astros' handling of this to be shown wrong.

[msn]

People who resort to the "true fan" schtick generally a) are self-righteous and b) don't have enough logical support for their position, so resort to the easily accessible ad hominem logical fallacy.

[xiki]

If Roger plays this season but does it in Arlington or the Bronx or --- does that imply he is rootless or money grubbing or --- ???

[gr8-1]

If Roger plays this season but does it in Arlington or the Bronx or --- does that imply he is rootless or money grubbing or --- ???

He simply wants to play more?

And money isn't everything, but if you could play for 12 million instead of 6 million, why not do so? If it's worth your time to do something, why not make a little extra money?

And before we start the "he had a bad Sept, he's over the hill" rant, he won the cy young two years ago and the era crown last year. If any pitcher's performance validates a blank check any year, I'd think Roger would be one.

Y'all act like he went 10-12 last year with a 4+ era. If we want to point out Sept, that's fine. But, how many games did the Astro offense cost Roger early on?

[bobrek]

Y'all act like he went 10-12 last year with a 4+ era. If we want to point out Sept, that's fine. But, how many games did the Astro offense cost Roger early on?

Roger had a phenomenal season and should have been about 20-4 through August with another Cy Young - I don't think anyone disagrees with that.

The problem with respect to pointing out his poor finish is the health and normal age concerns of a 43 year old athlete that apparently broke down at the end of the year. Do you want to invest potentially 25 million (which is probably around what he would have gotten had they gone to arbitration) in a pitcher that may not last through the season (or may not even be able to begin the season)? How about 20 million? Since Clemens himself was unwilling to negotiate prior to February or March, the Astros had to make a tough decision.

It's not like we are talking about a young pitcher who suffered some freak injuries. Clemens injuries appear to be directly related to his age.

[NJRocket]

Aces - I'm a long time season ticket holder as well....and I am actually a lot more excited going into this year than in the past. Granted, on paper, our offense has seen better days, BUT, compared to the lineup we strutted out there in October, we are better. Not only does adding Wilson help, but having our young gyus experience baseball deep into Oct is going to help considerably as far as experience. Hell, Burke hit what may be the BIGGEST HR IN ASTRO HISTORY! (not to mention the moonshot he hit in game 1 or 2 in St Louis)...the guy is a gamer. Mo showed what he could do when healthy....and Berkman is as good of a hitter as anyone in the league. We also found out that we have arguably the best 7-8-9 th innings guys in the game as a whole.

I'd love to have Roger in the rotation as well.....and I actually think he may come back....but if he doesn't, it wont be to play elsewhere...it'll be because he cant do it anymore.

[white lightning]

I renewed early. If I had known then how badly the Astros would botch this offseason, there's a chance I wouldn't have.

How has this offseason been botched? Clemens hasn't signed with anyone else yet. We picked up a decent outfielder and a lefty for our pen. The Bagwell situation is ugly, but if he can play he will. What specifically would you have done that the Astros didn't (besides offering Clemens arbitration)?

[Buck Turgidson]

How has this offseason been botched? ... What specifically would you have done that the Astros didn't (besides offering Clemens arbitration)?
Oh dear god, please don't start up with him again.

[SwoLy-D]

it's not ALWAYS about the money. we've seen tons of examples where it hasn't been...particularly with the Astros ... caminiti came back here for less.
I think Ken came back because most of his "dealers" were here.

R.I.P. Cammi. :(

[JunkyardDwg]

Sigh, this has been discussed ad-nauseum. The Astros would have lost nothing by offering arbitration, so you tell me why they didn't (Hint: Didn't want to risk paying market value for the best pitcher in the game).

Clemens and his agent understand full well why the Astros didn't offer arbitration ($$$$$). Evidently you don't.


I'm gonna just take what everybody else said after you posted this and wrap it up in a nice little bow...from me to you. You obivously don't get it.

I'll also add that your "theory" that Clemens and his agent understood the Astros decision was all about the money makes absolutely no sense at all. Because we all know the Astros were courting Clemens the very second the World Series ended. If they never were gonna offer him arbitration why did they state, ad-nauseum, that they wanted him back.

[The Ming Dynasty]

I hope this happens just to piss on Drayton's shoes.
How sad you are... :mad:

[Refman]

As a season ticket holder, it really makes me so happy to know that the Astros have raised the prices that I'm paying so that I can have the pleasure of watching Ezekiel Astacio pitch instead of Roger Clemens.
As a season ticket holder, I cordially invite you to sell your tickets and stay home.

[MadMax]

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060130&content_id=1303512&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Tom Hicks indeed appears to be in heavy pursuit of Clemens. You're going to hear lots of rumors and speculation in the coming weeks, and you'll have to decide for yourself what you take as truth and what is idle chatter.

I have not talked to Clemens about what he's thinking, but I'm sticking with my earlier assertion that he's going to return to the Astros sometime in '06. Negotiations will begin in early May and he'll probably be ready to make his first start in June.

I do not think he'll return to the American League. I also do not think that his body will hold up in the Texas heat in an open-air ballpark. I believe he has the best chance of succeeding in Houston. I do not know what his health status is, nor do I know how badly he wants to pitch another year. But if his back, hamstrings and desire hold up, I believe he'll be back, in Houston.

[TMac640]

And money isn't everything, but if you could play for 12 million instead of 6 million, why not do so? If it's worth your time to do something, why not make a little extra money?



WRONG.

Money is everything.

[Blatz]

790 said Roger is pitching with the minor leaguers at the Nolan Ryan camp in Minute Maid today.

[JunkyardDwg]

There's an interview w/ Clemens over at IGN... a couple of noteworthy things:


IGN Sports: What are your thoughts on your future in baseball?

Roger Clemens: There's still a lot to talk about in terms of baseball here and you know my situation - I was not offered arbitration by the Astros. If I'm going to continue to play and continue to play for the Astros, I won't be able to start with the club until May. But my immediate schedule is to try and go train for a couple of weeks and see if I want to take on the World Baseball Classic. And then if I embark on that I will try to see how I feel for next season.

IGN Sports: Do you think you'll be playing next spring?

Roger Clemens: I will probably be on a field working out or actually whether I'm active or not, that remains to be seen. I need to find out how my body feels and I said that the couple years I tried to retire and it didn't work. I tried to sit on my couch and play a few more EA Sports games, but it hasn't worked out, and I am glad it hasn't. I'm glad I left that percentage point open because of what happened here the last two years, coming home to play has been a lot of fun. We will just wait and see. I'm a power pitcher, so a lot goes into it. I've spent a lot of time in the gym and running laps around some baseball fields away from the crowds to try to see how I feel.

It's not much, but based on these statements, it makes me lean toward the thought that he'll play for the Astros or he won't play at all. Seems like he won't even make a decision on his future until after the World Baseball Classic which is a good sign for the good guys.

http://sports.ign.com/articles/683/683734p1.html

[Roxfan73]

Chron (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3623422.html)

Clemens pitches BP at Astros minicamp


Associated Press

Roger Clemens made an unexpected appearance at the start of Houston Astros minicamp today, pitching batting practice to some of the team's minor-league prospects, including his son, Koby.

Clemens, 43, still hasn't decided whether he'll play a 23rd season. He led the majors with a 1.87 ERA last year, but was plagued by back and hamstring problems late in the season. He limped off the field after just two innings in Game 2 of the World Series.

Clemens said Monday his back and hamstring were healed, but he has doubts whether he could last another full season.

"There will be a week I get up and I feel like I can do it again and then the next week, I don't want to get out in the outfield and start running those poles and doing those things," Clemens said. "If last year's World Series was it for me, I'm more than happy. I know we didn't reach our ultimate goal, but it was a lot of fun. I have a lot to think about."

The Astros declined to offer arbitration to Clemens, leaving him free to sign with another team. The Astros cannot negotiate a new contract with him until May 1.

But Monday, Clemens took the mound at Minute Maid Park, wearing a black Astros shirt and matching cap as he worked up a sweat pitching for about 20 minutes.

"My body feels great, arm feels good," Clemens said. "I just need the conditioning with my legs. When I have a little extra-long session here, like I was able to throw BP and simulate a couple of hitters, it helps a lot."

Clemens said he didn't overexert himself during Monday's workout, throwing only a handful of game-level fastballs. He was still sore afterward.

"Two split-fingers hurt my elbow like you wouldn't believe, and I've got a heartbeat in the back of my shoulder right now," Clemens said.

Clemens planned to throw again Tuesday and Wednesday.

Clemens said his focus now is the World Baseball Classic, not the upcoming regular season. Clemens is on the U.S. roster and said Monday he hopes to tell manager Buck Martinez within 12 days if he can pitch effectively. If he can't, he won't play.

"If I'm going to be active, I want to make a good showing," he said. "It's not an exhibition game, it's the real deal. It's not spring training, where I can get out there and I start getting hammered around, they just leave me out there to get my pitch count in."

Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, a power pitcher like Clemens who retired at 46, expects Clemens to play this season. Ryan now works in the Astros' front office and chatted with Clemens before Monday's workout.

"I don't expect him not to pitch because of the competitor he is," said Ryan. "If he can physically do it, I think he'll do it. That's his life."

When Clemens signed with the Astros in January 2004, he also signed a personal services contract that would keep him with the team in some capacity for 10 years after he retires.

Clemens said he showed up Monday mainly to work with the Astros' prospects, a hint of what he'll do after he's finished playing.

"This is my home, whether I play here or not, no matter what, I'm going to come back and work for these kids and be around the organization," Clemens said. "I'll go out and shake hands and see everybody here, but I want to work with the kids behind the scenes in the minor leagues. Right now, that's the only deal I've got."