Clemens tells Astros to back off.... Just heard on the radio that David Delotti spoke with the Hendricks' brothers and Clemens is going to wait until late January, early February to make his decision on whether to retire or come back.
Clemens is annoying. Someone needs to ask him about his "I've already made my decision" quote and ask why he lied to the media after the World Series...
Clemens is really doing the Astros a huge favor. This is nothing like the Beltran negotiations in my opinion because the Astros can focus on other major acquisitions RIGHT NOW; instead of making him decide he does not want to come back & not getting the well thought out decision from Roger after he has a few months to really analyze how his body is holding up and where he is at emotionally to give it another run in 2006. Who knows how all of this will work out...We may get a discount if we make some moves that gets Rocket pumped up to take the mound for one last stand
I firmly believe that Clemens will only come back IF we bolster the lineup. Then, he will force Mclane to spend some of the money he made to re-sign him.
Clemens has been saying this all along. So, why can't Purpura and Astros management take a hint? They can't plan on doing everything based on whether Clemens is coming back or not. Yet, they keep saying their decisions depend on Clemens to the media. Are they stupid or something?
wait. think about it, surfguy. clemens says, "go out and get hitters" other teams say, "if you want our hitter, we need a starter" so you make a deal. you give up backe. and then clemens DOESN'T come back. you've just lost 2 starters. after starting pitching just won you a pennant. there's no guarantee you can replace backe....and clemens can't be replaced. that's a pretty big gamble.
They're not stupid, they're hamstrung. Clemens represents a sizable investment - a very large chunk of the payroll - if he chooses to come back. A scenario in which Clemens says he wants to come back and the Astros say "no thanks" is unimaginable. The Astros have a payroll target that they do not wish to overshoot. So whether they get another starter, an expensive bat or whatever you want them to get... it all (or, at least, very much) depends on Clemens' decision.
Hey...I've thought about it. It's a double-edged sword. But, there's no waiting on Clemens either way unless we're going to wait until February at which time we are in a far worse position to make any moves because other teams are not waiting for us to shore up their line-ups. I would consider Roger as good as retired. If he likes the club and wants to come back, then he will unretire and take a pay cut.
i hear ya. but if you spend roger's money on someone else, do you tell him he can't come back? that he waited too long? maybe you do. i just wonder how that would play out in the media. maybe we have him more over a barrell than, i think...because talking to those who actually know the guy, he's not going to another team. if he comes back to play baseball, it's for the astros or no one. he likes being home too much. and that cushy deal he has with the hometown club would be difficult to duplicate elsewhere.
The Astros need to listen to him...hell they should have listened to him all along. Forget about Clemens, go bring in the additions you need and then see what happens. Assume he's retired. So you're rotation looks like this: Oswalt, Pettite, Backe, Wandy, Zeke (or another callup). We trade Backe +1or2 away for a bat. Then trade or sign for a 3rd starter: Oswalt, Pettite, (someone), Wandy, Zeke (other). Then resign Ausmus. Bolster the bullpen. Then see what happens. If Clemens decides to return, then we have a stronger rotation than last year. If not, then I'd say we're on par w/ last year. Plus we'll have another much, needed bat. And Clemens coming back will not be about the money. McClane would be an idiot to not resign him if he wants to come back. But it's better for everyone involved to just assume he's not. Seriously, the guy is trying NOT to make this a Beltran situation. He's freakin told them to back off and forget about him. So why won't they listen?
If we have no improved offense come February, then it would take a miracle for Roger to come back. A risk has to be taken to get some offense. We have to lose something somewhere...whether it be pitching, Clemens pay cut, or whatever. We can't just win-win.
ok..i'm convinced they've already talked to roger about this. i'm convinced that they KNOW that if they trade backe and get abreu, roger is coming back. that they've already talked about it with him.
I wouldn't trade Backe for Abreu. You are giving up pitching and that is something that is at a premium in MLB. Especially if Roger doesn't come back or only comes back for one more year. Then you gotta scramble to find another pitcher. Backe is going to develop into a hell of a pitcher. I am thinking someone's 2nd or 3rd in the rotation eventually. Can't give up on him.
