The Clemens Watch

[ksushi]

Ok, I want to make an official Clemens watch thread. I think this rotation has a slot open in it and if we fill that spot, the way we play defense, the bullpen we have, and the bats we swing I think filling that spot with a Roger Clemens makes our Red Sox the team to beat in the AL. David Wells, in my opinion, is all done. His control is shaky, his knees are shaky, and I hate watching him pitch because he is so morbidly obese. Thats besides the point. I just read this on ESPN insider:

 

Apr 14 - If Roger Clemens decides to pitch another season, it won't be about convenience this time, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. It will be about one thing: winning.

"Roger isn't going to come back and just pitch for a paycheck," said a longtime baseball man. "Winning will have to be a major incentive for him to pitch again ... because he'll be in the highest [midseason] demand of any pitcher ever. So I really think you won't see him until the All-Star break, so he can filter out the pretenders from the contenders."

 

Clemens and his agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, have shrewdly positioned themselves to set off a crazed June-July auction among the Yankees, Red Sox and the state of Texas. And the hometown-discount rate will not be in effect.

 

Now, if you look at the Sox right now, and compare them to the other two teams in the hunt, which team would benefit most from another starter? Think about it, I'm not asking which team needs one more, I'm asking which team would be more over the top with a starter like Clemens. The answer is really hitting you in the face. I'll give you a clue, for the rivernators out there, they don't wear pinstripes, nothing on their uniform is blue, and they play in fenway. With Schilling and Beckett being legit aces, Clement and Wakefield would round out a very solid rotation if there were a legit # 3. Granted, either Clement or Wakefield are perfectly capable of filling that slot, an ace like Clemens in the middle of that rotation really would be interesting. Clement will be nothing short of solid this season, I truly believe that, and I think this rotation as is, could be one of the best if we got a fifth starter in there ( I'm rooting for papelbon to be stretched out in the event that we don't get clemens)

 

Regardless of whether you like him or not, Clemens is an ace caliber pitcher and putting him in this rotation is s***-your-pants scary.

[Cityofchampions33]

Clemens would be a humungous help for us, and give us an ever better chance of re-taking the AL East throne, I mean him, Beckett and Schilling would make one of the greatest 1-2-3's in the history of the game.

[26 to 6]

Clemens would be a humungous help for us, and give us an ever better chance of re-taking the AL East throne, I mean him, Beckett and Schilling would make one of the greatest 1-2-3's in the history of the game.

I said it in another thread and i'll say it here. As much as it hurts to say this, I think the Sox are leading the race in the Clemens sweepstakes. Of coarse, we could all just think that due to the media coverage, because there has unquestionably been more attention towards Clemens and the Hendricks brothers communicating with the Sox than anybody else. For all we know he could be in the process of negotiating a deal with the Yankees or Rangers right now and we just dont know about it because nobody has leaked anything. I sure hope thats the case, that the media is just making this Boston/Clemens lovefest out to be more than it is, but i'm not so sure.

 

Its going to hurt to see Clemens in the Sox uniform again.

[empirestrikesback26]

I wish he would just retire.

[The Monster is my Mom]

I wish he would just retire.

 

I second that.

[CrespoBlows]

You'd rather him retire, then sign with the Red Sox?

 

I can't wait to hear the explanation for this one.

[26 to 6]

A touch off topic, I suppose. But does anybody know if anybody wore #21 after Clemens left the Sox? I'm gonna check now, but I figured I would ask and see if anybody remembers. That includes players, coaches, etc.

[26 to 6]

The answer to my question is no. For players at least. I dont know about coaches and whatnot. But I suspect that no coaches wore it either.

 

OK, we can resume the original conversation.

[CrespoBlows]

No player has donned number 21. Coaches? I'm not sure.

[Cityofchampions33]

I think Beckett was gunna, but decided not to, otehr than that it's kind of been unoffically-retired, mostly because otehr players don't want the expectations that come with that number.

[CrespoBlows]

I think Beckett was gunna, but decided not to, otehr than that it's kind of been unoffically-retired, mostly because otehr players don't want the expectations that come with that number.

 

Beckett was never "gunna." He was told it was off limits.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2237522

[Varitek33]

Clemens would be a humungous help for us, and give us an ever better chance of re-taking the AL East throne, I mean him, Beckett and Schilling would make one of the greatest 1-2-3's in the history of the game.

 

hell yes.

[26 to 6]

Beckett was never "gunna." He was told it was off limits.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2237522

But only because they wanted to keep it available for Roger. I find it hard to believe that if Roger was definately retired or pitching for another team that Beckett wouldnt be able to wear it.

[CrespoBlows]

The opinion back in November was that Clemens was going to retire, or sign with the Astros. I don't think the Red Sox thought they had a prayer to win the Clemens sweepstakes.

[The Monster is my Mom]

You'd rather him retire, then sign with the Red Sox?

 

I can't wait to hear the explanation for this one.

 

We don't need some mercenary, traitor pitching for our team. We can win it without him anyways. I don't like that he is sitting back and seeing which teams are going to have a chance, and then cause a bidding war between them. f*** him.

[CrespoBlows]

 

How was Clemens a traitor? Duquette treated him like s***, and you expect him to just smile?

 

I think the bad blood is over, it was over as soon as Clemens stuck the Yankees in the back.

 

Seriously man, you need to get over it. That was 10 years ago.

[CrespoBlows]

I don't like that he is sitting back and seeing which teams are going to have a chance, and then cause a bidding war between them. f*** him.

 

Oh, no! Clemens wants to win. What an *******.

[Teddyballgame10]

Get him can you inmagine the roataion with him it be sick. Does anyone know what his fastball was topping out at the WBC?

[The Monster is my Mom]

Oh, no! Clemens wants to win. What an *******.

 

He's not an ******* because he wants to win. He's an ******* because he really just cares about money, and is going to pit the Astros, Rangers, Yanks, and Sox against each other so he can make 20 mil for pitching half a season. I say the Sox should save their money instead of spending it on him.

 

Didn't Clemens say something about wanting to go into the HOF with a Yankee hat? I know it isn't his choice, but it just shows what he really thinks about the Sox. You and I both know that I am not the only Sox fan that doesn't want Clemens back, either.

[26 to 6]

 

How was Clemens a traitor? Duquette treated him like s***, and you expect him to just smile?

 

I think the bad blood is over, it was over as soon as Clemens stuck the Yankees in the back.

 

Seriously man, you need to get over it. That was 10 years ago.

He didnt sitck us in the back. He went home. Something he was going to do anyway, he just decided he would play some ball in his backyard with his best friend. I have no problem with what he did by going to the Astros, none whatsoever. It gave me another team to root for for two years (and of coarse i'll be pulling for them this year, but only every fifth day for Pettitte, unless ROger goes back there. Otherwise I dont really care about the Astros). If he decided to go back to Boston, THAT would be sticking us in the back, and that would piss me off.

[26 to 6]

He's not an ******* because he wants to win. He's an ******* because he really just cares about money, and is going to pit the Astros, Rangers, Yanks, and Sox against each other so he can make 20 mil for pitching half a season. I say the Sox should save their money instead of spending it on him.

 

Didn't Clemens say something about wanting to go into the HOF with a Yankee hat? I know it isn't his choice, but it just shows what he really thinks about the Sox. You and I both know that I am not the only Sox fan that doesn't want Clemens back, either.

If he didnt care about winning and only cared about the Money he would go to whatever team offered him the most money. Whether it be the Yankees, the Angels, or the Yomiuri Giants. He wants to win. But he also wants to relax and spend time with his younger kids. One way he can do both is delay his season debut and wait until June/July to see what team he feels gives him the best opprotunity to win. I have no problem with what he's doing.

[hoefdj18]

All I can say if he ultimately signs with the Sox: sick. Sick would describe how solid a starting rotation the Sox would have. It deffently would put them over the top. The Clemens situation is similar to another athelete, Brett Favre. All I can say to both atheletes: MAKE UP YOUR f***ING MINDS. Though the whole Clemens situation is more civilized (the man already 'retired'), I think it will all come down to money and if the team he chooses can keep his winning image intact.

[CrespoBlows]

He's not an ******* because he wants to win. He's an ******* because he really just cares about money, and is going to pit the Astros, Rangers, Yanks, and Sox against each other so he can make 20 mil for pitching half a season. I say the Sox should save their money instead of spending it on him.

 

Didn't Clemens say something about wanting to go into the HOF with a Yankee hat? I know it isn't his choice, but it just shows what he really thinks about the Sox. You and I both know that I am not the only Sox fan that doesn't want Clemens back, either.

 

I doubt Clemens would get $20 million. Probably 10, and he's worth every penny. Like 26 to 6 said, if all he cared about was money, he'd sign with whomever wrote the biggest paycheck.

 

That was four years ago? Point is, that whether you like Clemens or not, he would be a HUGE addition to the Red Sox. No way could anyone touch a front three of Schilling, Beckett, and Clemens.

[The Monster is my Mom]

I doubt Clemens would get $20 million. Probably 10, and he's worth every penny. Like 26 to 6 said, if all he cared about was money, he'd sign with whomever wrote the biggest paycheck.

 

That was four years ago? Point is, that whether you like Clemens or not, he would be a HUGE addition to the Red Sox. No way could anyone touch a front three of Schilling, Beckett, and Clemens.

 

That starting rotation would be awesome with Clemens in it. I am not denying he is a great pitcher. I just don't want him back, IMO.

[ksushi]

Why? That doesn't make sense. I don't care who it is, if he is as good as Clemens I would sign Bill Clinton. Who cares! Clemens is still a great pitcher. Any great pitcher is welcome.

[The Monster is my Mom]

I guess I have standards for a player that I want to have on my team. Would you also sign Barry Bonds if SF wanted to trade him or he was a FA??

[26 to 6]

Why? That doesn't make sense. I don't care who it is, if he is as good as Clemens I would sign Bill Clinton. Who cares! Clemens is still a great pitcher. Any great pitcher is welcome.

What do you have against Bill Clinton? He's the man.

[yankeessuck013]

I guess I have standards for a player that I want to have on my team. Would you also sign Barry Bonds if SF wanted to trade him or he was a FA??

 

No, because Barry is an ass and a cheater. Give me one instance when Clemens ahs ever cheated? Yeahhh, that's what I thought.

[Goalstopper]

I would like clemens here but the only thing that is troubling me is the fact that we might not be in first place when he makes his descisson.

[26 to 6]

You're probably right