To play or not to play? May 26 - The Rangers, Astros, Yankees, and Red Sox are intensifying their pursuit of Roger Clemens, the Boston Globe reports. According to a source close to the situation, the decision will be between Boston and Houston, with the Astros holding a slight advantage. Clemens is supposed to decide the first week of June after completing a three-week at-home training regimen to determine how close he is to returning to game action. When told someone close to the talks is saying it's between Boston and Houston, agent Randy Hendricks replied, "I think someone is guessing. We have not told anyone that they are out. I do think he is leaning towards playing if he makes it through all of his workouts." I have never thought he would leave. His friends and family are here. These questions were just a penalty for the Astros not offering Roger Arbitration.
Reasons why I think, if he plays, he stays in Houston: 1. ease/accessibility/being able to sleep in your own bed every night; 2. don't have to travel on road trips you're not scheduled to start in; 3. you have a long term services agreement with the 'stros. you don't want to make them look bad. your ties with this organization were ramped up even more when they took your son. you're with them for the long-haul. 4. you're planning on living here your whole life, right? 5. who's gonna inflate your ego more than houston? 6. your best friend, andy, is in the dugout..remember? the one who helped convince you to come out and play last time you went through all this? 7. you're gonna piss off yankee fans if you go to the red sox. didn't you tell us all you were going into the HOF in a yankee cap? 8. the whole wishy-washy critique you'll get. the whole thing you sold to yankee fans about, "oh, i really was serious about retirement..it's just different because it's my hometown team and i get to sleep at home and have this great deal" will appear to be utter b.s. 9. it's a lot easier pitching to pitchers instead of designated hitters. check out your ERA in Houston compared to NYY for verification. 10. you know everyone in the clubhouse. and you genuinely like them.
The Hall of Fame picks the plaques now & the players have zero say in the matter; due mainly to Wade Boggs' ridiculous "I'm going in to the HOF as a Devil Ray (because they paid me to)".
He should stay, but man, this team needs some bats...I hope he hasn't seen us play...He can bring the confidence I think we're lacking...
no, the running rate is $3 mil. per month of the season. i think it's around $12 mil. if he does comeback in early june.
Nolan Ryan went in as a ranger, not neccesarily because he liked his time in Arlington more, but because he was still techinically an "advisor" to the team when he was inducted (ie - still getting paid by them), and thus he had a moral obligation to pick them. Roger would have been in the same situation if they still allowed players to pick, because he's gonna be with the Astros in some capacity when his playing days are officially done (he signed the personal services contract).
As far as the wishy washy thing goes - I don't really think its that hard to see the lure of finishing in Boston, where he started, nor do I think it would be unreasonable if he did so. I, for one, am glad for what he's already done for the 'Stros, and would be happy to see him come back or do what he feels he needs to do - as long as he doesn't go to the Rangers. I wouldn't understand that. NY, Boston, or Houston all have good reasons for the Rocket to return.
I feel the same way... but even if I wasn't an Astros fan, I'd have liked to see Clemens leave while still being able to be an elite pitcher. With the way those AL lineups are (and conversely, the way the NL lineups aren't), I just can't see Roger having a sub 3.00 ERA while playing against those tough DH-laden lineups night-in and night-out. I can, however still see him dominating in Houston, against the Pirates and Cubs of the league.
The Rocket should come back to Yankee town and win some more rings, instead of wasting away in Houston or returning to the one team that really did him wrong.
The Astros have had better post-seasons the last two years than the Yankees. He lives in Houston. His son is in the farm system. He wouldn't be "wasting away". The world does not revolve around the festering muckhole of societal degredation that is new york city.
The NL has been the second rate league the past two years. Look at how the NL representative got destroyed in the World Series. Also, I don't see how the 'Stros had a better postseason 2 years ago since the Yankees were 1 game from the World Series just like the Astros. The Astros also were using the Rocket in that series, while the Yankees did not have him. Where did the Rocket pick up his WS rings again?
If Clemens motivation for returning is primarily to go to the World Series and win it, then he would be borderline nuts to return to the Astros.
Yep, unless it feeds into his GYNORMOUS ego that he is the reason they start winning. And, I actually think they miss his ego/leadership, Biggio is too quiet, they need a guy with fire in the club house someone bringing intensity. The Astros are like the Rockets a bunch of nice guys but every team needs someone with an edge to get people going. The Stros don't have that guy....Roger would be a big boost there. DD
