As is his wont, Roger Clemens is spending his 2007 off-season in much the same was as 2006, being coy about his desires to pitch in the major leagues for another season. As a result, there hasn't been this much speculation about a 40-something year old since Teri Hatcher joined "Desperate Housewives". Clemens, 44, commented recently that the ball was in the court of the three teams interested, the Yankees, Red Sox, and Astros. "From what I understand, all three teams want to see where they are as far as their rotation ... and how their pitching lines up," Clemens said while attending the MLB Fan-Fest in Orlando. He also noted that none of those teams were interested in signing the sure-fire Hall of Famer to a full year contract, instead opting for the 4 month rental deal, similar to the one he took with Astros this past season.
While spending time coaching the various Astro minor league teams, Clemens has spent time getting his conditioning in, while keeping an open mind about his prospects for the 2007 season, saying, "it's important to know how much you have to invest, both physically and mentally. I was strong last year and I know what it takes to get back into it full-strength."
So, while nobody is quite sure where the Rocket is going to spend his time, few question whether or not he still retains the skill that would warrant a $4 million dollar per month salary. Amongst the “brain-trust” at I Remember Dome Dogs, they’re projecting the following Stat line, assuming Roger in fact returns to the Astros in late June:
10-7 / 2.98 ERA / 9.7 K/9
This is assuming that he can contribute around 20-22 starts after he returns. While it may be unrealistic to expect the same kind of numbers we 'Stros fans are used to seeing out of him, Roger Clemens still brings the same confidence, professionalism and pitching-wisdom that he has the past three years. Couple his coming back with the possible late July arrival of Brandon Backe, and the starting rotation could be as formidable as any in the NL Central. We wouldn't discount the importance of the off-season offensive additions either. Carlos Lee, Mark Loretta, and late 2006 addition Luke Scott haven't foiled Roger is his attempts to add to his already superlative win total. He came back to the Astros following a 2005 season where his 1.87 ERA garnered him a total of 13 wins. He didn't receive much more run support in 2006, so who's to say that he won't see the offensive upgrade as proof that the Astros are trying to build a better all around team?
In addition, Clemens is very close to the players on the Astros, including Brad Ausmus, Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, and Roy Oswalt. The prospects of Clemens pitching along side another forty something starter, Woody Williams, is another interesting prospect.
In summation- we vote "yay". He is the greatest pitcher of our generation -- possibly any. People may whine about how he draws out his decisions and negotiations, but he is not your everyday mid-season rental. As he has said, at 44 years of age, teams simply do not want to offer him a full year contract. Maybe he would come back in April, if given the chance. We doubt it, given his recent history of nagging leg injuries, and the normal wear and tear of a full 30-35 start season on an arm that has been throwing heat since the first Reagan administration (an average of 1.5 years before either authors birth!!). He is in fact a hard worker, despite the criticism that exists as to whether or not he actually works in between his starts, and that he makes road trips at his discretion and not the Astros. "The thing that's been misconstrued quite a bit is that I have a deal in Houston where I pitch and then don't show up," Clemens recently told reporters. "It's not like I'm pitching and then going home and sitting around." Bringing him on as player would most likely involve a contract that necessitates his further involvement with our minor league clubs. Having Roger Clemens work with a 19 year old pitcher on how to best set up a hitter, or helping a young batter learn the nuances of hitting when behind in the count sounds like even greater return on an initial investment.
If sports has become a business, which it certainly has, Roger Clemens should be thought of, and treated like, a business man. Hopefully Drayton McClane and Tim Purpura will weigh the decision and decide to offer a contract that give the Astros the best chance at landing Roger for a fourth season.
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