Clemens Sweepstakes

[TexasTerror]

The Astros said they'll give the Rocket, Roger Clemens atleast $18M for this season, pro-rated based on when he returns. They were allowed back into the discussion today for Clemens' rights after not offering arbitration back in December...

So, where's Roger going to go? I think he has a sweetheart of a deal for Houston. They're looking good at the beginning of the season. He can stay home and live with his family, not missing games for his kids, not going on Astros road trips and of course, his son, Koby, is in the system.

Or could he go to Texas? Boston? The Yankees? What's everyone see happening here?

[UNHWildCats]

Well his wife has been contacting lots of old neighbors in Boston and it seems the most likely of scenerios. Boston among other things has told him they will retire his jersey prior to the last home game of the season if he returns, he would also have a chance to break his tie with Cy Young for most wins in Sox history.

For everything he's accomplished the only real reason to come back for another season is to finish where he started, which he will.

[AppGuy04]

Yankees and Red Sox both have blank checks made out to Roger, so he will go where the money is

[TexasTerror]

Yankees and Red Sox both have blank checks made out to Roger, so he will go where the money is

Are you that sure?

Why'd Roger play for Houston and come out of his retirement? He wanted to play at home infront of his family. He also wanted to watch his kids play...

As Tim Purpura, GM of the Astros said: "I have no idea what our chances are," Purpura said. "Everybody talks about four teams. I think the fifth team, the home team (Clemens' family), may have that strongest say. That's something none of us can compete with."

[AppGuy04]

Are you that sure?

Why'd Roger play for Houston and come out of his retirement? He wanted to play at home infront of his family. He also wanted to watch his kids play...

As Tim Purpura, GM of the Astros said: "I have no idea what our chances are," Purpura said. "Everybody talks about four teams. I think the fifth team, the home team (Clemens' family), may have that strongest say. That's something none of us can compete with."

Just my opinion, I think he goes to the AL East

[UNHWildCats]

Are you that sure?

Why'd Roger play for Houston and come out of his retirement? He wanted to play at home infront of his family. He also wanted to watch his kids play...

As Tim Purpura, GM of the Astros said: "I have no idea what our chances are," Purpura said. "Everybody talks about four teams. I think the fifth team, the home team (Clemens' family), may have that strongest say. That's something none of us can compete with."

Yea the first year in Houston he played for being home, the second year he went for the money and got 20 million.

[TexasTerror]

Just my opinion, I think he goes to the AL East

At the end of the day, he has a 'special services' contract with the Astros. Once he announces his retirement if he doesn't come back to anyone, he'll begin working for the Astros...

I really think the Astros offer the best package when $$$, which he has plenty of, is thrown out...

Roger loves the Astros clubhouse. He said last year was one of the best times he had. His best friend in all of baseball is Andy Pettite, an Astros pitcher.

He can live at home. Not go on all road trips. Keep his younger sons in school in the Houston area and go to their functions (Roger was a constant sight at his son's HS games and his other son's little league games).

He has and continues to be in the process of opening up some eateries in the Houston area, so he can help oversee those from close by, not far away...

It definitely helps out his wife's clothing line if he comes back considering Houston is her big market and his return would help her out even more...

Etc, etc, etc...

[AppGuy04]

At the end of the day, he has a 'special services' contract with the Astros. Once he announces his retirement if he doesn't come back to anyone, he'll begin working for the Astros...

I really think the Astros offer the best package when $$$, which he has plenty of, is thrown out...

Roger loves the Astros clubhouse. He said last year was one of the best times he had. His best friend in all of baseball is Andy Pettite, an Astros pitcher.

He can live at home. Not go on all road trips. Keep his younger sons in school in the Houston area and go to their functions (Roger was a constant sight at his son's HS games and his other son's little league games).

He has and continues to be in the process of opening up some eateries in the Houston area, so he can help oversee those from close by, not far away...

It definitely helps out his wife's clothing line if he comes back considering Houston is her big market and his return would help her out even more...

Etc, etc, etc...

those are all well and good, but we all know that in most cases money supercedes anything else

not saying that will happen this time, but don't underestimate the power of a $20 million check

[UNHWildCats]

At the end of the day, he has a 'special services' contract with the Astros. Once he announces his retirement if he doesn't come back to anyone, he'll begin working for the Astros...

I really think the Astros offer the best package when $$$, which he has plenty of, is thrown out...

Roger loves the Astros clubhouse. He said last year was one of the best times he had. His best friend in all of baseball is Andy Pettite, an Astros pitcher.

He can live at home. Not go on all road trips. Keep his younger sons in school in the Houston area and go to their functions (Roger was a constant sight at his son's HS games and his other son's little league games).

He has and continues to be in the process of opening up some eateries in the Houston area, so he can help oversee those from close by, not far away...

It definitely helps out his wife's clothing line if he comes back considering Houston is her big market and his return would help her out even more...

Etc, etc, etc...

His kids will be out of school for the summer for the most part when hes begins to play.

Boston easily offers the best non $$ Package. Who else can offer him the chance to become the franchise all time win leader, to return where his career began and the use of Tom Werners private plane to shuttle him between Boston and Houston whenever he wants.

Oh and Sox pitching coach Al Nipper is very good friends with him since there days as team mates in the mid 1980s.

[TexasTerror]

not saying that will happen this time, but don't underestimate the power of a $20 million check

The Astros will offer atleast $18M and will surely go up if the need requires...

Remember, Texas has no state income tax and lower cost of living (especially since Roger has his place here), so $18M here could be a few million more in the northeast as proven in the Carlos Beltran study the Astros put together for him. Of course, he ignored it and the Astros found a Rookie of the Year in Willy Taveras (atleast in the eyes of everyone except the NBWA)...

[UNHWildCats]

The Astros will offer atleast $18M and will surely go up if the need requires...

Remember, Texas has no state income tax and lower cost of living (especially since Roger has his place here), so $18M here could be a few million more in the northeast...

Money wont be the biggest thing.

[AppGuy04]

Money wont be the biggest thing.

agreed, Houston's battle with St. Louis for the Central doesn't hold a candle to the Yanks/Sox rivalry. Just for sheer competitiveness, I'd go to one of them

[UNHWildCats]

Also, NY and Boston have better chances of winning the World Series, and even ESPN comentators that think the Yanks will win the East and Sox the WC Boston is better built for the playoffs then the yankees.

[TexasTerror]

Also, NY and Boston have better chances of winning the World Series, and even ESPN comentators that think the Yanks will win the East and Sox the WC Boston is better built for the playoffs then the yankees.

Gawd forbid Boston win the World Series. After their 2004 World Series victory, they became a great annoyance than New York Yankees fans ever were!

And those two teams have won World Series. Why not help the team that he grew up following and going to games of, yes the Astros, that he helped bring to the World Series for the first time in the team's history, even closer to the promised land?

Oswalt, Pettite and a healthy Clemens! The offense is much better this year than last, all we need is the bullpen to get a bit better...Clemens will definitely have more gas in the tank and the Astros can win this thing...

Who cares what the experts think? Even the local Houston fishwrap left the Astros for dead last year!

[UNHWildCats]

Why? because even with Clemens Houston prolly wont even get the Wildcard. let alone a world series

[TexasTerror]

Why? because even with Clemens Houston prolly wont even get the Wildcard. let alone a world series

:boring:

Isn't that what was said last year? Heck, they said we were even worse this year!

With the back three in the rotation having only ten wins (all by Wandy) heading into this year, the Astros are not too far back in the NL Central and actually led the NL Central til the end of last week.

You do realize the NL Central is the only division in the NL with more than two teams above .500. Heck, the NL West has a 13-12 team as their second team with a winning record. The NL Central has the Reds, the Cardinals, Astros, Cubs and Brewers, all atleast four games above the .500 mark.

[UNHWildCats]

:boring:

Isn't that what was said last year? Heck, they said we were even worse this year!

With the back three in the rotation having only ten wins (all by Wandy) heading into this year, the Astros are not too far back in the NL Central and actually led the NL Central til the end of last week.

You do realize the NL Central is the only division in the NL with more than two teams above .500. Heck, the NL West has a 13-12 team as their second team with a winning record. The NL Central has the Reds, the Cardinals, Astros, Cubs and Brewers, all atleast four games above the .500 mark.

Well Gee thanks for making my point.

[AppGuy04]

:boring:

Isn't that what was said last year? Heck, they said we were even worse this year!

With the back three in the rotation having only ten wins (all by Wandy) heading into this year, the Astros are not too far back in the NL Central and actually led the NL Central til the end of last week.

You do realize the NL Central is the only division in the NL with more than two teams above .500. Heck, the NL West has a 13-12 team as their second team with a winning record. The NL Central has the Reds, the Cardinals, Astros, Cubs and Brewers, all atleast four games above the .500 mark.

only 2 at most can go, Cards and one other team, thats a pretty slim margin for error

[bandl]

Am I the only one who thinks that Clemens is a selfish *****ing twit?? Why is it okay for him to sit back for a couple months during the regular season and wait for a team to prove itself to him, to prove that they are worthy enough for him to grace their pitching staff (and to essentially kick one of their current pitchers off the roster)? He's a dick. If he was a true team player, he would be out there with a team from day one, pitching every 5 games just like every other pitcher on the team. That's not how the game should be played. If he's worried about getting hurt over the grind of pitching a full season...then he shouldn't be playing at all! I don't care if he's one of the greatest pitchers ever...it doesn't put him above the game or above anyone else who chooses to play the game the right way. Just retire already and get the hell out of baseball.

And that's my rant for the day...

[AppGuy04]

Am I the only one who thinks that Clemens is a selfish *****ing twit?? Why is it okay for him to sit back for a couple months during the regular season and wait for a team to prove itself to him, to prove that they are worthy enough for him to grace their pitching staff (and to essentially kick one of their current pitchers off the roster)? He's a dick. If he was a true team player, he would be out there with a team from day one, pitching every 5 games just like every other pitcher on the team. That's not how the game should be played. If he's worried about getting hurt over the grind of pitching a full season...then he shouldn't be playing at all! I don't care if he's one of the greatest pitchers ever...it doesn't put him above the game or above anyone else who chooses to play the game the right way. Just retire already and get the hell out of baseball.

And that's my rant for the day...


I don't disagree that he is playing the system, but they are willing to pay

[UNHWildCats]

He's sitting out the first 2 months mostly cause he felt he was wore down by the playoffs last year and wants to make sure he has enough left come October to help whom ever it is hes playing for.

[bandl]

He's sitting out the first 2 months mostly cause he felt he was wore down by the playoffs last year and wants to make sure he has enough left come October to help whom ever it is hes playing for.

Interesting...is the Astros entire team taking the first 2 months off of the season because they are worn down by a few dozen games that they played OVER 6 MONTHS AGO?!?!?! That's a lame, and selfish, excuse. : smh :

[bandl]

I don't disagree that he is playing the system, but they are willing to pay
Very true...there are two sides to the issue. I just find the whole issue despicable.

[TexasTerror]

Interesting...is the Astros entire team taking the first 2 months off of the season because they are worn down by a few dozen games that they played OVER 6 MONTHS AGO?!?!?! That's a lame, and selfish, excuse. : smh :

They may have taken the first two months off last season...but not because of that! Luckily, they were the best team in baseball post-All Star Break...

Here's hoping that starting off solid will not lead to them taking off the final two months this year to make up for it! :nod:

[AppGuy04]

Clemens knows exactly what he is doing, trust me

[TexasTerror]

Clemens knows exactly what he is doing, trust me

Which is why I think a deal with the Astros was agreed upon before all of this went down...

[bandl]

Which is why I think a deal with the Astros was agreed upon before all of this went down...
While the wittle baby rests his poor wittle arm that he wore out i the pwayoffs 6 MONTHS AGO!! I guess the rest of the pitchers on the Astros staff must have interchangeable arms or something....their arms lasted through the off-season just fine, they were able to start pitching at the beginning of the season. xcoffeex

[UNHWildCats]

While the wittle baby rests his poor wittle arm that he wore out i the pwayoffs 6 MONTHS AGO!! I guess the rest of the pitchers on the Astros staff must have interchangeable arms or something....their arms lasted through the off-season just fine, they were able to start pitching at the beginning of the season. xcoffeex

The rest of the Astros pitching staff isnt 44 years old having already played 23 Major League seasons. Hes not tired now from last season, he just doesnt want to be worn down when the games count in October like he was last season!

[AppGuy04]

It's really no different than a guy getting hurt in spring training and not playing a game until September, but b/c its Clemens, people make an uproar

[bandl]

The rest of the Astros pitching staff isnt 44 years old having already played 23 Major League seasons. Hes not tired now from last season, he just doesnt want to be worn down when the games count in October like he was last season!

Like I said before...if he's too old to handle the grind of an entire season, then retire. Do the games not count in the beginning of the season? Are the players that are playing the games in April/May just wasting their time with meaningless games? Or are the games that Clemens might pitch the only meaningful games in a season? I'm sure he sees it that way. It's a selfish act.

[bandl]

It's really no different than a guy getting hurt in spring training and not playing a game until September, but b/c its Clemens, people make an uproar
Getting hurt is different than getting worn out. Every single player that plays an entire season or pitches every 5 games can get worn out to a degree. But they don't sit out part of the next season.

Sorry...but I've never been a fan of the man. I respect his game and his tremendous talent, and I understand that he is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of MLB. But that doesn't make up for the selfish act.

[McNeese75]

Well I saw him and the wife here at a local golf tournament yesterday and he looked quite happy to be in the south. If he plays, my bet is on the Stros. :nod:

[AppGuy04]

Well I saw him and the wife here at a local golf tournament yesterday and he looked quite happy to be in the south. If he plays, my bet is on the Stros. :nod:

with the kind of money he makes, he has no reason not to look happy

doesn't mean he'll be a Stro