http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2359276 Clemens: 'Right now, I don't see myself playing' PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Roger Clemens said Monday that he plans to retire after the World Baseball Classic ends later this month, according to a story in Tuesday's edition of USA Today. "Right now, I don't see myself playing," Clemens told the newspaper on Monday. "I'm not going to start the season with anyone. I made my mind up. And when I do shut it down, I'll be walking away with a smile on my face. There will be no regrets, because I feel like I've done it the right way." Clemens, who turns 44 in August, left himself an out, however. He could sign with a team -- most likely a contender -- later this summer. Clemens is scheduled to start for Team USA on Friday against South Africa in pool play in the World Baseball Classic. The Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have all expressed interest in Clemens pitching for them. He can't sign with Houston before May 1. "It's very flattering that teams still want me," Clemens told USA Today, "but hopefully I can just fade away. I'm going to watch my sons play. I'll see Koby (a third baseman in the Astros organization) play a little bit and get my other one (Kory) out of high school. I'll stay active. There are a lot of things I want to do. "But the only thing is if I'm sitting in the stands in Boston, or New York, or somewhere in May, and get the itch again, who knows what will happen?" Clemens has 341 career victories and 4,502 career strikeouts. He led the major leagues with a 1.87 earned run average last season for the Astros. He still has Houston, Texas, the New York Yankees and Boston pleading for him to pitch. He turns 44 in August, but he led the major leagues with a 1.87 earned run average last season pitching for the Astros. "I'm proud of what I've accomplished in this game. I've been real lucky. But a big part of that is the people you meet along the way. Guys like Nolan [Ryan] and [Tom] Seaver and [Don] Drysdale and [Bob] Gibson. I probably talked four to five times with Ted Williams, which I consider special because he didn't like to talk to pitchers. I played nine holes of golf with Mickey Mantle before he passed. "I think the boys here, especially the young ones, are going to have the experience of a lifetime."
I sure hope so. We need him. Bad. Alot of people underestimate how important he is to this team. I don't want both Wandy & Zeke starting every 5th day.
Pft, the national media at it again. Trying to make something, out of nothing. This is where we were 6 months ago. ...on that note, he'll be back.
Not in Houston, DD, Fantasyland maybe. He can go spend May in Lexington with Koby, that's as close as they'll get.
I think he'll come back as long as we're in contention. If we get off to a bad start, then he may retire.
What? You don't think the Stros would do a September callup for Koby if Roger plays for them? Come on..... DD
From low Single A to the majors? Uh...no. I do think that if/when he comes back wit hthe Astros, he will get warmed up by pitching at Lexington with Koby catching. That's about all they'll get to play together professionally.
OK, outside of all the logical reasons (which you're obviously not interested in) why this is a ridiculous idea... When have Clemens or the Astros even slightly hinted that this is even a remote possibility? After the Koby HR/brushback incident in BP the other day, Roger was asked if he grooved a pitch for Koby to make him look good in front of the Stros. Roger said something to the effect of "He doesn't need my help, and he's going to write his own ticket in baseball." Was he lying?
Huh? Who said he was lying? I am saying that they will bring him up to let him and Roger play on the same field together. Nothing baseball related AT ALL, just a chance for father and son to be on a major league field together. This is something they would do and the ONLY place that Roger could do that. It is what I would do if I were GM, and I guarantee as a father, it would be a special moment for both Roger and Koby. DD
We can't start like last year or he is gone! This is the most important April the Astros have ever had.
What part of the Astros' future do you sacrifice to the Rule 5 Draft so that this Father/Son moment can happen?
The only thing I would say is that if this scenario (playing with his son) is what would bring him back, I'd sacrifice one of the prospects. I certainly would trade a prospect to have Clemens back...so I definitely wouldnt mind sacrificing one.
