don't know if any of you are watching the game today, but roger is looking sharp. course they're playing little leaguers, and killin em in the 3rd 10-0 edit: griffy jr looking like his old self, two 3run homers in a row... up 14-0 now
I am a cynic and tend to believe that money is the primary motivating factor for players in almost every context, even (and especially) when they say it isn't. But money's not going to decide things for Roger. If he leaves the Astros, it will be for something other than a huge contract somewhere else. 46m isn't going to phase him. But I see him coming back to H-Town if the team is winning / competitive by the time he chooses to suit up again, in May or June. A strong performance by Preston Wilson, as the only significant offseason addition, wouldn't hurt at all.
I have a tendency to think Drayton is not going to be able to pay Clemens what he deserves unless he gets that payoff from the insurance policy on Bagwell. So, it wouldn't surprise me that...assuming Bagwell is able to play...Drayton not wanting to fork over what is necessary to keep Clemens and have a better shot at a run for the WS again. I have no idea what Clemens will do if he doesn't retire but I like having the hometown advantage. However, the Rangers are trying to negate that with the jet offer and probably a better offer money-wise. One thing for sure...this is a tough spot wondering what he will do and when. Does anyone have similar thoughts...or am I looney?
Well at least the Astros offer the chance to stay in the NL, cause if he goes back to the AL one might have to think he'll have repeat performances of the '04 All-Star game.
Why not? He gets $23MM guaranteed each year. If he doesn't want to play the second year, he could just retire. If he has a 3 or 4 ERA and isn't worth $23MM (as I suspect he will if he plays this in Houston or anywhere else), he doesn't have to worry about taking a paycut if he decides to play another year after this. I don't really see a downside, unless he plans to change teams again after playing for hte Red Sox for one year.
What is the big deal......it has happened before now.......Rafael Furcal, Mike Caruso, and Jose Guillen....at the very least did it. P.S. Burk you arguements of the first page do not make much sense. Do you want to re-explain your stance/point?
That's exactly right. When I was told about the offer, that is explicitly what was explained to me. I'm telling ya'll, he received that offer or something very similar to it.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3729710.html Mexico's 2-1 win eliminates U.S. Says Clemens: 'For me, right now, it's goodbye' ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Roger Clemens was looking for a much better finish to his brilliant career. Clemens pitched well Thursday night, but a lineup loaded with All-Stars couldn't get the job done for the United States. Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter to lead Mexico past the Rocket and Team USA 2-1, eliminating the Americans from the inaugural World Baseball Classic and putting Japan in the semifinals. When it was over, Clemens implied that he had thrown his final pitch. "For me, right now, it's goodbye," he said in a brief statement issued through Team USA. "I felt great tonight, and my body responded well. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this event. It made all the work I did in the last six weeks worthwhile." Clemens, who has won 341 games and struck out 4,502 batters in 22 big-league seasons, wasn't at his best. The 43-year-old righthander allowed six hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 73 pitches — seven below the maximum for the second round. The outcome was a stunner, especially considering the offensive firepower on the Americans' roster even without Derrek Lee and Johnny Damon, sidelined with sore left shoulders. Team USA scored only eight runs in three second-round games. "It's a tough bite to chew," catcher Michael Barrett said. "The expectations on us to win and getting upset is a credit to their style of play and their pitching." South Korea had a 3-0 second-round record in Group One, with Team USA, Japan and Mexico all going 1-2. Japan earned the second semifinal berth from the group by allowing the fewest runs in games between the tied teams. Japan, which already has lost twice to South Korea in the Classic, faces its archrival in Saturday's opening semifinal game in San Diego, with the Dominican Republic meeting Cuba on Saturday night. The winners play Monday for the championship. "You're never prepared for defeat. We always prepare to win," Team USA manager Buck Martinez said. "It's a disappointing loss, for sure. We never really exploded with the bats." Perez allowed only one hit in three scoreless innings, and the Mexican bullpen retired 12 consecutive batters until Chipper Jones drew a one-out walk off Jorge De La Rosa in the ninth. Luis Ayala then walked Alex Rodriguez, but David Cortes needed only one pitch to get Vernon Wells to ground into a game-ending double play. "We came here to win, and that is how we performed this evening," Mexico manager Paquin Estrada said.
I think Clemens just likes the drama that he can create. He says that he won't come back and that he is done (we've never heard that before have we ). Then in May he MIRACULOUSLY has that fire again and wants to go out and win. I predict that he is just manipulating the press because he likes to be in the spotlight. I feel pretty sure he is coming back again and if not, who cares, we will win regardless.
He be as eccentric and self-absorbed as he likes; if he comes in here after 1 May and wins 15 games and puts up a sub-freaking-2.00 ERA he's all right in my book.
Have y'all noticed that every retirement quote from Clemens these last two weeks includes a qualifier? This time, it's "right now"... last week, it was "I'm not going to start the season with anyone"... and "if somewhere in May, I get the itch again"... read between the lines. Combine that with the reality that he can't sign with the Astros until May 1, and this is one of the worst-kept secrets in some time. He's coming back. Initially I wasn't sure, but every quote he's made during the WBC makes it more and more obvious. ESPN, however, is too focused on New York and Boston to actually think to notice that. The only particularly relevant quote from that article is this: That was the ONLY question I had about Clemens. I knew he wanted to pitch... knew he enjoyed it... but could/would his body hold up and how would he feel after getting prepared for the WBC and pitching multiple starts? If he feels great, this is a no-brainer.
