7-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens announced during the Yankees-Mariners game on Sunday that he would be retuning to New York for another go 'round with the Yanks. Clemens' contract, worth a pro-rated $28M, will earn him in the neighborhood of $4.5M per month for the months of June, July, August, and Sept.
I question this move by Clemens. At the time of this writing the Yanks in second place in the AL East, 5 games behind the BoSox, and 1 game below .500 on the season. The addition of Clemens surly improves their starting rotation, but his announcement came on the same day that it was released that Carl Pavano may need season-ending elbow surgery.
Rumors flying around had Clemens' choice narrowed down to 3 ball clubs, the Yankees, Boston and the Houston Astros. Currently the BoSox are 5 games up on their division rivals in New York and Houston is 6.5 games behind Milwaukee, who holds the NLs best record.
Houston would have been a good fit for Clemens for several reason. First is that the NL Central is in disarray. While the Brewers do have the best record in the NL, that division is just flat out bad. With the defending World Champion Cardinals losing Carpenter to elbow surgery, effectively ruining their chances of winning any more ball games this year, sub-par squads in Cincy and Pitts (except for Hold extraordinaire, Matt Capps), and under the achieving Cubs, the Astros really have 1 team to beat in that division to make the playoffs. Secondly, he lives in Houston would have been able to work out a deal similar to the one he had previously, where he would only pitch home games. And lastly, his son is a catcher in their organization, possibly leading to the first ever father-son battery in MLB history.
But for as many good reasons for him to re-sing with Houston, Boston would have just been a better fit. Besides allowing his career to come full circle, Clemens would have been on a better team, with better team chemistry and a better shot at winning another title. While I don't have a breakdown like the pro-Houston reasonings above, Boston to me, looks like it'd just be a better fit for the Rocket.
As it stands though, with Clemens, the staff in NY will likely be Andy Petite, Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, rookie Philip Hughes and Clemens. I don't see this as a World Series winning squad.
(I am not sure how I got the Yankees into this Blog for the third straight day, but as stated before, if they are in the news, the will appear here)
==NBA Playoffs==
So there was more blood and action Sunday afternoon in Phoenix than Saturday night in Vegas. Steve Nash’s nose crashed into Tony Parker’s head, leaving a nasty cut on Nash’s nose and keeping him on the sidelines for the final crucial moments of the game. Result, Spurs win a close one.
In the other Sunday game, the tired Nets played better than expected to the fresh-legged Cavs, but in the end, King James and the Cavs came away with the victory, despite James matching a career low in playoff points with 21.
==MLB Roundup==
Tim Lincecum, the highly touted Giants rookie was shaky in his debut, giving up 4 runs in just over 4 innings pitched. His predecessor, last years hyped-rookie call up, Cole Hamels, surrendered only 3 ER in 7 IP against the Bonds-less Giants.
Cubs Are over .500. I am checking the record books to determine if this is the first time in franchise history. Details tomorrow.
==NHL Playoffs==
I saw a highlight of the NHL Playoffs yesterday meaning, that unless it was a replay, the NHL Playoffs are still going on. Details tomorrow.
==Golf Update==
Tiger wins the Waccovia by 2 strokes. I guess a little MJ magic must’ve rubbed off on him.
==Chasing the Record==
Somce my initial post, Capps has given up 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning over 2 games. Might be the new Curse of Strike Em Out, Throw Em Out.
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