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Yes, Roger Clemens helped raise fan interest and was a big part of the greatest season in team history (at least until he ran out of gas and was a non-factor late in the season). And for that he should be thanked, but Roger Clemens and his unscrupulous, egomaniacal agent, Randy Hendricks, are up to their old tricks, namely: holding the Houston Astros over a barrel with regard to next season.
At baseball’s winter meeting in Dallas yesterday Hendricks discussed in which direction Clemens is leaning. "Today, he would retire if he had to make the decision," Randy Hendricks,” said. Astros’ General Manager Tim Purpura recognized that Clemens has a lot to consider: family, health, desire, etc in deciding whether or not to come back, but at the same time he realizes the Astros can not sit on their hands in the off-season waiting for Clemens to make a decision and crippling any chance they have of spending money on other free agents. "It's the same situation we were in last year where we were uncertain as to when we would get an answer," Tim Purpura said. "It puts us at somewhat of a disadvantage to build our club."
If the Astros do not sign Clemens or offer arbitration by Wednesday night, they will not be able to resign him until May 1st. And for those of you not in the know, that is after the season starts. In the meantime, Clemens will rest up to prepare for the World Classic. Hendricks and Clemens look to have no interest in helping the Astros out in terms of having a game plan to build the team. Nor do they seem to care in the least.
"There's no animosity. It's just been a magical two years. As I said to the Astros, I don't think we owe each other anything other than thanks," Hendricks said. "His timetable is not the same as theirs."
Nice. Thanks for the excellent season, well at least through August, Roger, and one relief appearance against the Braves. Thanks for being able to go to your kids’ games and skip road trips. Thanks for that hometown deal of $18 million last year. Thanks for being such a good guy as to consider the fact the Astros may need some sort of indicator as to which way your head and heart are leaning regardless of your back/hamstring/etc. so they can know how much wiggle room they have to sign another arm or a bat. Now get the hell out.
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If Clemens had called the ball earlier last winter (he didn't sign until about 1 month before spring training began), the Astros likely would have been able to retain either Carlos Beltran or Jeff Kent (if not both).
While Beltran was a disappointment in NY for $15mil, would he have gotten the same hamstring injury that held him up the first half of the season for the Mets? Would he have run face first into Mike Cameron just as his bat was starting to come alive? There's no telling how he would have fared in Houston for a full season, but he probably would have been more productive than some of the non-hitters the Astros ran out there.
On the other hand, if Beltran hadn't left, Willie Taveras wouldn't have almost won the rookie of the year award.
Same with Jeff Kent and how important he was to a team that essentially had zero offense.
Clemens has always been a mercenary and is less motivated by winning for the team than winning to make himself look good while getting a good paycheck. He's a self centered egomaniac, but who wouldn't want that 1.87 ERA on their staff?
i say if we sign him, just start him once every two weeks so he will actually be worth a damn at the end of the season. he has been a total jake in the playoffs the last two years. and he is a disingenuous, self-centered prick. rememeber when he left toronto to be closer to his family...in NYC? and then he wanted to maybe retire so his mom could see him get into the HoF? she was on a RESPIRATOR for years, what were the cances she was going to make it 7 more years? please. he is not even smart enough to lie. and he was probably a huge roid user.
Man, if Clemens didn't screw the Astros just think how far the they could have gone last year. I hope he takes his selfish attitude to a team with fans that deserve it and let the Astros fans go back to watching other teams playing in October. I'm sure all those fans unselfishly let their employers pay them less than they're worth at their jobs. God forbid they actually ask for a raise. How dare Clemens expect to be paid what he's worth. The cad.
i don't mind paying him 15 million next year, i just wish we had a better idea of what his thoughts were. and if you don't think it is problematic that he has worn out before seaosn's end, you're not thinkin straight. i agree that he was the only thing that kept us remotely in it last year for 3 months, even though he didn't win much because he never had runs scored for him, i pimped his stats like crazy all year, but having nothing in the tank for october does not really help much, then add the cat & mouse on top of it. care.
what is more, there is still a sour taste lingering from being held hostageby boras all winter last year. but i guess the missing ensberg and the .325 OBP for a lead-off man turned 2hitter was worth waiting on not getting any help with the sticks, right?
I couldn't agree more with you. In fact, I wrote about how Clemens' indecision is handicapping the Astros this winter over on my own blog. It shares your sentiments. At least, the Astros are considering cutting ties with the Rocket.
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