610: Clemens' Decision on Next Year (decided but not announced)

It's fairly obvious to me that he's not coming back given the proximity of this decision to the World Series. I mean, the season hasn't even been over for a week yet! Getting to the World Series is emotionally draining, not to mention the fact that his hamstring is probably still bothering him. If he was going to come back, he would have allowed some time to distance himself from all of this emotionally. I would be shocked if he is back.

 

why would we need to do a sign and trade? this is not the nba

 

There's has to be a drop in his contract in order to get that big bat on this team. $18 mil again would kill us.

 

The half season suggestion is the best. I have advocated that myself. Saves his energy/body. Gets more offseason to recover. Available in midseason form (this year) which was rocking.

 

If Roger were to come back, he would not make the decision so quickly when he still has trouble walking. I think he's done. This is it.

 

I'm more convinced that he's coming back given the proximity of his decision to the World Series. He pitched a great season where he was better than almost every pitcher in the game. He's a great competitor who wouldn't want to go out with his last start a 2-inning injury-shortened and ineffective start in the World Series. He loves his city and wants to bring them a world championship, and after coming so close and pitching so well for most of the season, I'd be stunned if he doesn't want to give it another go.

Says who?

 

That would be awesome. Having a Clemens-Pettite-Oswalt rotation would be great. And then if we add a bat on top of it, we'll be set for a fun season.

 

Mrs. Clemens spilled it on 93.7 this morning. She said he has "tears in his back". I think she then realized she wasn't supposed to say that. I was in the shower though so I might of misheard it, but I'm pretty sure...

 

While no one can say for sure, I'll say this: he loves the game, and not just the playing aspect. He loves the history; he is one of the most professional when it comes to baseball.

So rewind to last year with Beltran: Mr. ******* (Boras) decided to play with Houston when there was no intention of returning to the Astros (you can argue that Beltran said he liked Houston, but it ain't a valid argument. The money was there and he left).

Considering how risking the chances of losing a possible solid offseason FA last year by dealing with Beltran's people hurt the Astros (and luckily ended up for the better), why in the world would Clemens pull the same sh*t if Houston has a chance at getting another arm (ex: Burnett)?!?!

Of course if he does decide to retire, he will announce it sooner rather than later. I fully expect him to be back if he "made a decision" and won't reveal it.

Besides, the national media WANTS him back (last year no one thought he would come back and now you've got ESPN saying he's a solid offseason free agent possibility).

Personally, I think the bigger issue and the deciding factor for Clemens in the end will be Pettitte: it's almost like they compete with each other; they make each other better. They are by far the best duo in baseball right now.

Plus this is Andy's contract year; It's too early to speculate, but I would think this may be his last with Houston. With the way things could end up with Clemens and knowing he still has feelings and loyalty for Steinbrenner, I'd be surprised if Pettitte is wearing anything but a Yankees uniform in '07.

Hopefully Purpura extends his contract midyear thought through retirement and he stays put.

 

hopefully, it's "wear and tear".... At any rate, another reason I don't see Clemens retiring just yet is the fact that Randy Johnson is getting closer and closer to his #2 strikeout record. Either way, Clemens should say something soon and has plenty of time to rethink retirement if the Astros are in the midst of it midseason.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=schwarz_alan&id=2206545

This mentions Clemens in the World Baseball Classic in March. If he pitches there you would think he'd pitch next year. I think he retires though.

 

Good, he's done, now we can concentrate on the future.

 

I say he retires. I would love to have AJ here. Plus, without Roger's contract, we would be able to retain our arbitration-eligible players and possibly get a bat. We need to get another SS for sure.

 

Read this thread from one of the AstrosDaily.com linked forums:

Link

Looks like Clemens is going to pitch next year, but he won't announce it for a while (according to what Drayton said on Fox 26). I have no problem with the lack of a public announcement as long as Purp and Drayton know whats up going into the winter meetings.

 

Cool. I hope that site is right.

 

I think he comes back IF, and only if, management tells him that they are dedicated to adding a bat or 2. If he announces he is coming back, that would tell me that Purp/Drayton gave Roger their word that they would dedicate this offseason to adding some offense.

If he retires, it could mean that they wouldn't make that promise...or simply he just doesn't think his body can go thru another year of the grind.

As for Andy...I think he will be here for the long haul. I think he signs another 3 yr deal when this one is done.

 

I think he comes back.

He was in the running for yet ANOTHER Cy Young award last year. I honestly think one of the major reasons (besides lack of run support) he didn't take it was he didn't outshine the rest of our staff - because they were all hot this last season.

He's won his world series ring(s). So what is there left to prove? For one, I think he really feels team unity with these Astros, so he wants to help them succeed as much as he can. But for another, individual accolates. Seriously, as long as Randy Johnson's still pitching, Roger's in danger of losing his claim on having the 2nd most strikeouts in league history. If Roger can have another season like last year, do people start considering him the "best starting pitcher of all time?" In 50 years, do pitchers start battling it out for the Roger Clemens award?

 

I want him back. Clemens-Pettite-Oswalt-Backe as a unit >>>>> Pettite-Oswalt-Backe + Furcal. Not even close. In all liklihood, we should go into this thinking it's our last shot at a title with this pitching rotation. Bite the bullet, sign a RBI machine (more along the lines of replacing Kent rather than an Adam Dunn), and lose money while rolling the dice for a title.

Evan

 

This is a hard one to figure out. I have no idea what the decision is.

The delayed announcement would lead to me to believe it will be a press conference retirement. Why else would it be delayed. An annoucement to come back would not need to be delayed in my opinion. It would simply be noted.

All the injuries are indicative of how Nolan went out. You can still be dominant, but eventually the body tells you to screw that. It won't hold out. I'm sure Clemens is seeing many parallels to Nolan Ryan's career.

Everythintg here points to etirement in my opinion, except one thing, love of the game and dedication to his mother. No one knows what he said to her. But whatever it was, you can bet that is stronger than any other factor. Maybe finishing this season was the end of that commitment in his mind. Maybe not.

The main reason to retire was for her to see him in HOF, but that's out of the equation now and that's what makes it so hard to predict what he'll do.

 

If you were going to come back, you wouldn't make the decision while you still could barely walk. You would atleast give it some time. I'm not even a player (well duh) and I myself am mentally exhausted from just watching those games. I myself need time for next season! Now imagine if you're a pitcher with an injury.

I don't think he's back. We'll see though.