Report: Clemens might start Monday for Yanks

by garp on May 21, 2007 11:49 AM EDT

Roger Clemens could make his first start this season for the New York Yankees next Monday night in Toronto, the New York Post reported.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18729407/

If he comes through that game looking healthy, he could make his first major-league start of the season against the Blue Jays on Monday, the Post said.

This way I guess he can get a couple of starts in before the Yanks are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

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It's either on Monday or Tuesday

He's lined up on Pettitte's day, so it depends on who you want to give the extra day rest.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 21, 2007 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

Looked awful?

Pettitte's only bad start all season was his first.

by anaconda on May 21, 2007 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

True....

he didn't look as sharp, but he still put his team in a position to win each of those games.

Can't ask for more than that no matter how much rest he gets.

by anaconda on May 21, 2007 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly!

That 180 days rest is a killer.

by SP on May 21, 2007 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Clemens being rushed?

I fear the almighty hammie pop if he starts too soon. Power pitchers like him rely on their legs, and he's has a history. I'm heading to my liquor cabinet now...

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 21, 2007 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going to church twice ...

I'll annoint my head with oil, ash, and anything else to warrant away disaster. But the way this season is going ...

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 21, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Roger is an old pro

He has very little extra risk if he pitches in the majors over making the same start in the minors.

I trust them to not have him pitch longer than he should. If the choice is an early Clemens, or DeSalvo or Clippard, don't you want Roger?

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 21, 2007 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Roger's arm is not the problem, it is his legs. When he tires, the risk of hamstring and groin injuries significantly increases. He knows his body better than anybody else, but I am very nervous that he will be the next hamstring injury on the staff.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 7:04 AM EDT up reply actions

He'll be healthy

or he won't.

Not much can be done to predict it or change it.

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 22, 2007 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

That was a brilliant point

Rushing him through the minors and having him join the team before his legs are ready sure would seem to increase the risk of injury to me. Under your throw up your hands approach, there is no need for spring training.

This just in: the Yanks will either win or lose tonight's game.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I keep breaking my resolution

to not answer when you argue with things I did not say. Here is the point again.

He might get hurt in the Yankees game.

He might get hurt in the minors.

There might even be a slightly higher risk in the majors. (Although I do not concede this is true)

I trust him to manage the risk.

If he is ready to go. I want him to go.

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 22, 2007 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

One major difference you are missing

In the minors, he doesn't have to worry about results so he can slowly build up strength and stamina. He can't do that at the major league level so he needs to make sure he is fully ready before he comes back. It is possible that he won't get injured but I think the risk would be soundly diminished if he spent more times getting his legs ready.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

And you have a better finger on his pulse than

He does, or the coaches and trainers working with him on a daily basis.

So, that's it! Case Closed! Leave him in the minors til you say go.

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 22, 2007 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

being consistently wrong

can do that to you.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

What the fuck are you talking about?

Do you not get that trying to face major league hitters and build up stamina at the same time might be slightly more harmful than doing it in the minors where the results don't matter?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you suggesting

that Clemens might say to himself, well I'm pretty gassed after 80 pitches, but I need to "build up stamina," so I'm just going to lob in another dozen pitches cause this is Trenton and the results don't matter?
If Clemen's stamina isn't there, do you really think a single extra start in the minors will make the difference?
Obviously, he'll have a short lease the first few times out, but would you rather throw out DeSalvo for 90 pitches or Clemens for 80?

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 22, 2007 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

No

What I am suggesting is that he can say "boy, I am gassed and it is the third inning. Let me shut it down since I am here in Trenton." He isn't going to do that in NY, so he could push himself too hard too early, thus leading to injury

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions