Wow, this is good news. I was curious if the news had reached the Yankee fans so I visited their board on MLB and they are very bitter about Andy and Roger. They have a thread titled are they lovers. Some seem to think that Andy and Roger planned this a long time ago and wonder "what ever happened to, for the love of the game". Then there is my personal favorite, The Astros are just being selfish.
Sorry for the double post but I just noticed that I' a Senior Member now. yippee yippee yea yea yea!!
You're kidding. I'm still a little bitter about Roger signing with the Yankees instead of the 'Stros way back when. If (when) he signs this month, all is forgiven.
Clemens' agents talk with McLane By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Randy and Alan Hendricks, Roger Clemens' agents, met with Astros owner Drayton McLane on Friday to work on the details of a contract in case the future Hall of Famer decides to put off retirement for a year to pitch at Minute Maid Park. The meeting, which had been scheduled before the parties left the city last weekend, took place at a downtown location away from McLane's office at Minute Maid Park. The Astros have given Clemens, 41, the parameters of a one-year contract offer, but some issues need to be worked out before negotiations heat up. But for that to happen, Clemens must tell the Hendrickses he wants to put off retirement. The Hendrickses will "try to get a commitment out of Roger and then when (and if) they'll get a commitment, we'll sit down and negotiate," McLane said from his home in Temple. McLane returned to Houston late Thursday from a business trip. Clemens, recent Astros free-agent acquisition Andy Pettitte, and Randy Hendricks were in Hawaii this week. Clemens, who is golfing in the Bahamas, and Pettitte played in the Mercedes Championships pro-am golf tournament in Kapalua, Hawaii. "We agreed to meet when they returned from Hawaii," McLane said. "We have had conversations with the Hendrickses today and they are to be continued." Clemens, who has 310 career victories, was 17-9 with a 3.91 ERA while throwing 212 innings in 33 starts last season with the Yankees. McLane has vowed to find a place for Clemens at Minute Maid Park. Alan and Randy Hendricks, who anticipate a decision from Clemens this month, also promise to help make it happen, if Clemens desires. "We continued our discussions (yes, we met; we scheduled the meeting last year), but matters remain the same, namely, that Roger will make the decision," Randy Hendricks said. "We are trying to nail down things in the event he decides to play." The possibility of Clemens pitching in Houston gave the Astros a boost at the ticket office Friday. McLane shares the excitement. "It's an exciting time for the Astros," McLane said. "Hopefully, this thing will come together."
According to ESPN.com, Clemens will decide by next week!! http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1703832 One-year offer being discussed Associated Press HOUSTON -- Roger Clemens is expected to decide by next week whether he will play for the Houston Astros this season, according to a broadcast report. Astros owner Drayton McLane and the agents for Clemens, Randy and Alan Hendricks, met Friday for about two hours. "Roger has indicated sometime in the next week he would make a decision," McLane told Houston television station KRIV. "So they updated me on that." McLane said he hasn't extended an official offer to Clemens, but that there have been discussions on the financial details of a contract. "No definite decisions have been made," McLane said. McLane said he is confident the two can reach a deal. Randy Hendricks said Wednesday that he expected a decision during the final two weeks of January. Clemens has been deliberating since Andy Pettitte, his close friend and former New York Yankees teammate, agreed to a contract with the Astros last month. The Houston Chronicle reported in its Friday editions that Astros owner Drayton McLane has given Clemens the parameters for a one-year contract offer. "Drayton has made it clear he wants to sign Roger, and we have discussed financial parameters," Clemen's co-agent, Randy Hendricks, told the newspaper. "The issue is not whether Drayton will make an offer. Rather, it is whether Roger will play." McLane told Houston television station KRIV that he had given Clemens' agents a range during a general discussion in December on parameters of a one-year agreement. "There was no serious discussion or negotiation about money and there has been nothing serious on that since," McLane said. "No deal is imminent. Roger still has to make a decision on whether he will play." Clemens, 41, announced his retirement at the end of last season with the Yankees. He lives in Houston. Clemens was 17-9 with a 3.91 ERA while throwing 211 innings in 33 starts last season. Clemens' agents have had numerous discussions with McLane over the past few weeks about the possibility of Clemens pitching for Houston.
Since I posted the second message in this thread a while ago, I would have to eat some crow and say that I was dead wrong. Roger is going to be an Astro very soon. Yeah, Baby!!
It's going to be so sweet to have Clemens. This off-season is really pumping me up for the Astros's coming season. I am so excited. If we get Clemens we are going to have one hell of a collection of starters.
I think the only question that remain is who is going to be the 5th starter? I would think that Redding has the inside track. Unless Robertson, Hernandez or Duckworth are blazing in ST, it's Redding's job to lose. The second question would have to be what to do with the losers of the 5th spot?
Man, parking is going to SUCK at MM Park next year because of this. I guess I'm OK with that, given the reason. Can't wait!
A Clemens signing also 'ensures' that we'll have a big time starter for each and every series during the season. (Wade needs more consistency this year to reach this level) No more three-game sets with Robertson, Villone, and Redding. (which were also known as Bullpen Blowout Series). Just to start the season: Game 1 vs. SF = Pettitte Game 2 vs. SF = Clemens Game 3 vs. SF = Oswalt Game 4 @ MIL = Miller Game 5 @ MIL= 5th starter Game 6 @ MIL= Pettitte Game 7 @ STL = Clemens Game 8 @ STL = Oswalt Game 9 @ STL = Miller And we go on, and on and on..... I know this makes common sense, but its even more mind-boggling when I type the rotations out this way, and realize that almost every single game has a 'must watch' feel just based on the pitcher, and the fact that the Astros 'should' win four out of every five games in a given week. As for the 5th starter, I expect Redding to flourish (now that he has absolutely NO PRESSURE to succeed), and Duckworth to be the primary long relief guy. (when its extremely unlikely we'll need 'long' relief). Carlos will be brought along slowly enough to build arm even more arm strength, and could be a key factor late in the season, or if there's an injury (he could also start the season at AAA, to keep him on a fixed pitching schedule). Remember... if Clemens comes, its only for one year, so we gotta keep the others (Redding, Duckworth, Hernandez) in the organization to be able to start the following year. Giddy, giddy, giddy.....
I dunno... I'd say its closer to even at this point, with a slight edge to the Cubs ONLY because of Prior. And remember, a healthy Oswalt has been just as good as Prior throughout his career. Wood was lights out during the playoffs, but mighty inconsistent during the season. Right now: Prior > Oswalt (not by much) Wood+Zambrano = Clemens+Pettite Clement < Miller Cruz = Redding/Hernandez I really think both these team's seasons will come down to how their respective ace's perform. Had Oswalt not gotten hurt last year, the 'Stros would have run away with the division. Likewise, had Prior pitched like he did throughout the second-half, he would have won the Cy-young.
"How Sweet It Is!" Our starting rotation (including the Rocket) is damn good. I also think that we are damn near even with the Cubbies. We need a healthy Oswalt and consistent Miller.
The 5th starter is almost a lock for Tim Redding. Tim Redding was one of our best pitchers last year. His win/loss total was messed up by some of the worst run-support in the league. I find it hilarious when people think Jeriome Robertson is a better pitcher. He had INSANE run support. Check the 2003 stats > Tim Redding (10 - 14 ) - 176.0 innings pitched - 3.68 era - 120 era+ Wade Miller (14 - 13 ) - 187.3 innings pitched - 4.13 era - 107 era+ Jeriome Robertson (15 - 9) - 160.7 innings pitched - 5.10 era !! - 87 era+ !! Carlos Hernendez has pitched about 130 innings since the begining of 2001. He has been hurt for a couple years. If he doesn't start off at Triple A then he will probably get long relief duty in the Astros pen
I do think that one of the two will be moved. In my opinion, it should most definetly be Redding that they keep. Robertson just scares the crap out of me. Redding will do well to have Clemens to learn from. Clemens can teach him some toughness to get out of the tough situations. That is what he's been missing these past few years. He learns that mental toughness, he becomes a 15 game winner, easily. Damn am I excited for Spring Training to kick off.
It's exciting to think that we may not use a 15 game winner in our rotation. How many teams could afford to do that.
Setup Man?? NO!! Let's PLEASE get some team speed in this biatch with a trade for Robertson. We need speed.
btw, sorry for the double post but ESPN.com has us ranked 11th in their "pre season power rankings) behind the likes of the Cubs, the Blue Jays, etc.
