Giving it up to Clemens - loses game 2, looks really shaky in the loss, the comes in and guts it out to be our Game 4 winning pitcher. Dominated in those 3 innings. Forget first-ballot HOF, this guy goes into the sacred room of legends. Evan
definitely gotta give credit where credit is certainly due was worried with clemens the way he pitched in game 2 but what a damn fine job by clemens in relief hats off
That must have been one for the ages, especially for Clemens. I heard in the postgame interviews that he actually pulled his son to the bullpen to help him warm up. How special is THAT for Roger and Kyle(I think that's the one he pulled down to catch). I thought that was one of the stories that the major sports sites and newspapers didn't recognize. That extra special dramatic clip to what I consider as the best game in Playoff history that didn't happen in the World Series. Having Roger, at 43 years old, spending that extra time with his son before he jogs out from the bullpen for only the second time in his career. For Roger to come back on 2 days rest (I think ESPN says 3, but it's 2, isn't it?) I have to imagine that if his son will become anything successful in the major leagues, this will be one of the moments that he'll never forget! Thank you, Roger Clemens. That game literally brought tears to my eyes.
I don't know if you guys in Houston were getting the national broadcast, but a great Roger moment happened AFTER the game: Immediately after Burke's homer, the network's interviewer (blonde, tight green sweater ) was seen trying to get Roger for a quick interview. Roger agreed, but grabbed Burke by the jersey and dragged him over to be part of it. The interviewer asked Roger a question, and he answered very quickly, then turned and walked away -- leaving Burke as the sole focus of the interview. Burke ended up answering several questions on national TV. Roger knew that Burke may NEVER have another moment in the spotlight as big as this one and graciously manipulated the situation to ensure that Burke got most of the attention. Now THAT is class. I'm a UT alum and have followed Roger since his college days, but I've never been more proud of him than I was after this game.
Interesting thing: Roger was quoted after the game saying that games like this stoked "the fire in your belly". If I were on another team, I would be very worried about facing a fired-up Roger Clemens for the rest of these playoffs. The man is a legend, plain and simple. I thought so before he came to Houston, and now I'm CERTAIN of it.
I thought about that. Roger's been in a bazillion playoffs and may not have that fire automatically there every time. But a dominant relief appearance in a critical game is the kind of thing that could shake him out of any complacency he may have had. I expect Roger to be at his best from here on out.
The only thing that would have topped his relief would have been him hitting a game-winning HR... The man is friggin incredible.
Good question. And don't forget we came *this* close to needing a Luke Scott appreciation thread. What if Scott's ball had been fair -- a walkoff division-title-winning homer. That might have gone a long way toward solving that lack-of-confidence problem.
Yeah, I saw that. Completely a classy move. They grabbed Roger and asked him something (I forget) then as soon as he answered, he pointed at Burke and said "How bout that kid" and directed all the attention to Burke. Man, that was awesome.
haha How do you know about IOE? I went to the same high school as them. Roger Clemens is the man. I could give a s*** about the Asstros, but I like seeing Rocket suceed.
Don't forget Dan Wheeler guys... bases loaded with 1 out and he gets us out of it. By far the gutsiest pitching performance of the day. The looked like he was going to vomit when he got the K for the second out, and I was right there with him.
Well I think we can find a Brad Ausmus over- or under- appreciation thread somewhere in the not too distant past.
Where would you rank Rocket on this list? Michael Jordan Babe Ruth Muhammad Ali Jim Brown Wayne Gretzky Willie Mays Carl Lewis Wilt Chamberlain Hank Aaron Jackie Robinson Ted Williams Magic Johnson Bill Russell Joe DiMaggio Joe Montana Larry Bird Lou Gehrig Mickey Mantle Sandy Koufax Julius Erving Nolan Ryan
Behind: Michael Jordan Babe Ruth Muhammad Ali Wayne Gretzky Willie Mays Magic Johnson Bill Russell Joe DiMaggio Joe Montana Larry Bird Lou Gehrig Mickey Mantle Sandy Koufax Ahead of: Julius Erving Nolan Ryan Jim Brown Carl Lewis Wilt Chamberlain Hank Aaron Jackie Robinson Ted Williams ...but I'm admittedly guessing on some of these. Additionally, I'm thinking only in terms of postseason or "big events".
