You guys who have no hope for this team are really hillarious... Are they opening day favorites to win the WS? No... but they aren't going to be the expected laughing stock that they were just one week ago in the aftermath of the Beltran saga. Also, one thing that was overlooked as a reason for this team's turnaround last year, and especially in the way they closed down the stretch... was Mr. Light's Out in my signature. Had he been the closer from DAY 1 (of course, that involves us being able to know that he would succeed as he did... nobody knew that Lidge would be that good).... this team would have avoided some of the DEMORALIZING losses at the hands of Dotel that really got the team in a funk right after April (specifically the Mets game). Last year, the ONLY hole in our opening day roster (according to the experts) was closer. Hell... nobody gave a flip that Craig Biggio was still the opening day CF... but of course now, that will be unnacceptable. I will say that as a whole... going into the season... we are a step back because of the loss of Kent. BUT... with the addition of Lidge as closer for a full season, a full season of Pettite, and read the last one carefully as I will continue to refer back to it all season..... Lane, Burke and Backe will play a large role. If TWO of the last three perform to or above expectations... this team will be a contender.
There is definite hope. A few small moves and Andy back and I'd still expect us to be in contention for a playoff spot. Still doesn't change the fact that I think our offseason makes us significantly worse than we would have been with a decent one. Unless we still make a few moves. I just worry about Andy like I've said many times before. Who knows if we can expect him to stay healthy.
How do you guys think Clemens is going to do next year? I have a bad feeling he is not going to be as motivated this year since it doesn't appear like we will have a real shot of going all the way. I think somewhere in the area of 14-11 with a 4.10 era.
"a step back".... Come on Nick, that's an understatement if I've ever read one. In our current state, we have Biggio back at the position where he was washed up at more than two years ago, no center fielder, no team speed, what still has to be considered an average defense, and outside of Lidge, a bullpen hardly worth noting. And I've never been sold on Pettitte; a fly ball pitcher in a hitters park, not a good combination. (all things concerning are even more worrisome now that he's coming off an injury).
[ESPN] Clemens signed. 1 yr - 18 mill. HOUSTON -- Roger Clemens is coming back for one more year -- and is getting the highest salary for a pitcher in baseball history. The Rocket and the Houston Astros agreed Friday to an $18 million, one-year contract, and the seven-time Cy Young Award winner made the commitment to play for his 22nd major-league season. "I'm ready for the challenge. Here we go again," Clemens said. Clemens, whose salary tops the $17.5 million Pedro Martinez earned with Boston last year in the option year of his contract, first retired after pitching for the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series. But he changed his mind and agreed on Jan. 12, 2004, to join his hometown Astros, accepting a $5 million, one-year deal that was way below his market price. The 42-year-old right-hander helped lead the Astros within one win of their first World Series appearance, earning $1,825,000 in bonuses based largely on Houston's home attendance, before saying again that he was "99 percent" retired. More On Arbitration Figures exchanged Tuesday for the 40 players remaining in salary arbitration and their 2004 salaries, as obtained by the AP from player and management sources. Complete list But momentum built after he returned earlier this month from a Hawaiian vacation, and he asked for $22 million salary -- matching his uniform number -- when proposed figures for salary arbitration were filed Tuesday. Houston offered $13.5 million, leaving the midpoint at $17.75 million. "I kind of sat back and laughed at the numbers," he said. His agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, then negotiated the deal with the Astros on Wednesday and Thursday. "This came on so fast last night," Clemens said, adding that he would start two-a-day workouts in the next few days. "I'm going to have to get ready to play again. "I thank my family. Last night there were some smiles, there were some tears," Clemens added, saying that sons Koby and Kory helped talk him into playing again. "Just remember what it sounded like here, dad, when you took the mound," Clemens said they told him Thursday. Clemens is agreeing to a contract that makes him the highest-paid pitcher for the fifth time, following deals with Boston in 1989 ($2.5 million average), with the Red Sox in 1991 ($5.38 million), with Toronto in December 1996 ($8.25 million) and with the Yankees in August 2000 ($15.45 million). The two contracts with Boston and the one with New York made him the sport's highest-paid player overall. Clemens is also getting the highest one-year contract in baseball history, topping Greg Maddux's $14.75 million deal with Atlanta in 2003. Highest baseball salaries Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees 2001-10 $25,200,000 Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox 2001-08 $20,000,000 Derek Jeter, Yankees 2001-10 $18,900,000 Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs 2002-05 $18,000,000 Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants 2002-06 $18,000,000 Roger Clemens, Houston Astros 2005 $18,000,000 His decision to stay is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable offseason for the Astros. All-Star second baseman Jeff Kent left to sign with Los Angeles, All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran departed to sign with the New York Mets, center fielder Lance Berkman tore up a knee playing flag football at a church function and promising but injured pitcher Wade Miller was let go. "You lose a lot of power, a lot of numbers," Clemens said, "but again, it's time for some people to step up." Clemens, a 10-time All-Star, is 10th on the career wins list with 328, one behind Steve Carlton. Clemens' 4,317 strikeouts are second to Nolan Ryan's 5,714. His decision to sign with Houston last year was spurred by former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte, who left New York to sign with the Astros. Clemens went 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 218 strikeouts, winning his first Cy Young in the NL, but Pettitte hurt an elbow tendon while batting in his first start, was largely ineffective and had season-ending surgery in August. "Really, we didn't have the opportunity to perform together,"said Clemens, who spoke with Pettitte on Friday. At $18 million, Clemens tied Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds for the fourth-highest average salary in the major leagues, trailing only Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million), Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and Derek Jeter ($18.9 million).
Here's some Clemens news that you missed out on: http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90080 http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90116 http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89968
As far as the motivation goes, you're right, but if you're balking at the numbers he predicted, take a look at Clemens' stats in 1999, 2000, and 2002, they're pretty similar to what he posted.
fair point....we do , IMO, have the best closer in baseball...and we didn't have that last season...not even close. i wonder if we could somehow pry Dotel back and make him the best setup man in the game all over again.
I meant we were a step back from where we were at the START of LAST season (not from the end of the playoffs... where we are a billion steps back from playing ball at that high of a level). This was a team that hadn't had "team speed" since 1999, and I'm still optimistic that they'll EVENTUALLY get an everyday CF... he may not be close to being an all-star, but he won't hurt us out there either (probably will be Taveras at mid-season). Also, I saw enough in Pettite last year to know that he can succeed greatly in the free-swinging NL. He's a lot like Maddux... he needs to locate well... but once he does, his stuff is just pure filthy. He had guys swinging at balls that seemed to hit the dirt well before it got to the plate... he really out-thinks you there on the mound. Also... his surgery is the exact same one that Billy had on his elbow... a very high success and recovery rate, so don't be worried about that.
I totally agree... only now (after Lidge has proven itself), would that move "work". Everybody who was clamoring for it last year didn't realize that Dotel would NOT have been able to succeed by being "demoted" from the most coveted spot in the bullpen.... remember, closers are the ones who get the big money and the all-star games and possible cy youngs... not set-up men. That being said, he was pretty awful in Oakland as well... how one guy can drop off so much just from moving to the 9th inning, rather than the 8th (even though many times, the 8th inning was tougher in terms of the hitters and situations he had to face)... it really is a testament to the "pressure" of closing out the game. $12 million one-inning-only closers (Izzy, Wagner) are probably overpaid and overrated, but you can't put a price on what Lidge, Gagne, and Smoltz (formerly) can do... pitch multiple innings, and just flat out make you look silly.
