How it all went down

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 9:37 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

My favorite baseball writer, Buster Olney, has a great piece describing how Clemens landed in Yankee pinstripes.

The Yankees' charter touched down in Texas last Monday evening, and general manager Brian Cashman sent a text message to Randy Hendricks, the agent for Roger Clemens. "I just landed in your wonderful state."

Hendricks responded: "I'm out of town." And a couple of hours later, as Cashman dined with manager Joe Torre, he said, "I wonder if he's at Fenway Park."

This was just one more anxious moment, in the Yankees' months-long pursuit of Clemens. They had lost out on the bidding for the future Hall of Famer last year, but Clemens had remained close friends with a lot of the Yankees -- Derek Jeter, Torre and Cashman. And his very good friend Andy Pettitte re-signed with the team in January.

It's not often there is virtually no objection by Yankee fans to a free-agent signing. Regardless of the amount of cash it took to bring him back to The Bronx, the Yankees needed Clemens in the worst way if they are going to make a run at the division title.

This is purely speculation on my part, but I have a theory about Clemens and the exchange he had with Steinbrenner during Spring Training that Clemens says he will reveal "when the time is right."

Although there may be quite a bit more to the story, I think Steinbrenner wants to retire Clemens' jersey #22 and enshrine him in Monument Park with a "Roger Clemens Day." Clemens is a baseball historian as much as anyone and I think the idea of having his own monument next to Babe Ruth and immortalized in Yankee history intrigued him.

Yes, Clemens is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and is going to be enshrined in Cooperstown soon enough, but he has only played 5 seasons in NY and has enjoyed most of his success in other uniforms (his 2 World Series rings notwithstanding).

Again, there is probably a lot more to this story than a retired number, but I believe that is one of the perks Steinbrenner was whispering in his ear during Spring Training.

Of course, the $28M pro-rated contract might've had something to do with it as well.

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He's gotta perform

I was at The Stadium on Sunday and when the announcement was made everyone cheered - but in moderation. I think that a lot of people feel like I do - glad that we have a new arm coming into the rotation but not necessarily over the top thrilled that it is Roger. Don't get me wrong, if Clemens can be effective and win some games for the Yankees we all will be appreciative. But the really sickening pandering to this prima dona sets him up for intense ridicule - even at the Stadium - if he is unable to perform suitably. So I think his somewhat muted welcome yesterday warns that if he should not live up to the Royal treatment he now demands, the boos raining down on him will dwarf anything A Rod has ever heard in the Big Apple.

by MQAblog on May 7, 2007 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Couldn't disagree more....

I don't think Clemens will get the same "A-Rod treatment" (circa 2006) if he doesn't meet expectations.

Clemens won't get the barrage of hatred that A-Rod received last season (and will receive again this season if he falls into a bad slump) because he's got two rings with this team and A-Rod doesn't -- plain and simple.

I think that is a stupid and unfair way for fans to differentiate and label superstar players, but that is the way it goes in NY -- no matter how truly moronic it is.

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

There is not excuse for Booing any of them.

Anyone who has played and lost (so anyone who has played) knows it is no fun.

To get to the level that they are takes a ton of talent, and they have worked very hard. I promise they are competitve and they love to win.

Booing from the home fans never made anyone play better.

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 7, 2007 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I never booed anyone

but I might've hissed at Carl Pavano.

by zukatesta on May 7, 2007 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

It is ok

to boo umps and Red Sox. Sometimes the odd other opponent.

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 7, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Sox reaction

I've been reading some of the Sox fan reaction, and I'm struck by how much they sound like guys who got dumped by their girlfriends for another guy. They're attacking him personally, he's just in it for the money, saying how they didn't really want him, he's not that good anyway. No one's considering factors besides money that may have made NY more attractive-

More players he knows, especially Pettitte;
Less negative history- about the only bad memory from NY is that he said he was retiring, got a gold car as a gift, then turned out to be lying about it, vs. being run out of Boston by their former GM;
Better run support- I'd rather have Cano and Jeter backing me up than Cora and Lugo;
Yankees want him sooner, which matches his desired timetable;
HOF situation with Sox vs. Yankees cap.

by SP on May 7, 2007 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think Clemens "lied"

about retiring in 2003. I just think he changed his mind after his buddy landed in Houston and talked him out of it -- not to mention that he was close to home and all the perks to go with it.

Alleging that he "lied" about his impending retirement after the 2003 season suggests that he had no intention of retiring, but told the Yankees -- and baseball -- otherwise.

I just don't believe that.

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

but I was unhappy at the time.

Very glad to see him now.

We need arms and his has been great.

All we gave for him is money.

If he is better than Igawa, Karstens & Rasner he'll help the team. Anyone want to bet he won't?

The moral value for the team matters. That 14-11 cannot have been fun.

Sometimes the Yankee idea that anything short of the WS is a lost season bothers me. But I like the organizations determination to do what is needed to win.

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 7, 2007 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you the grey-haired lad in those pics?

Just curious.

I find it fascinating to put faces to names after the thousands of comments posted over the last year.

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep that's me

And I'm the father of Jscape and Edwantsacracker (do you know why he wants it?)

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 7, 2007 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

It's like "All in the Family" at PA....

My father wouldn't know the first thing about turning a computer "ON" much less participate in the same community blog that I do.

He's not even a baseball fan.

Glad to hear you guys had a good time. Sadly, I've never even been to Yankee Stadium.

Pathetic, huh?

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the invitation....

I guess the only baseball shrine I get to see regularly is Wrigley Field.

I've been there a thousand times and it's imperative that every baseball fan sees a game there.

Too bad the team sucks.

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I would LOVE to visit Camden Yards...

I remember Rob Neyer touring the ballparks around the country a couple of years ago and actually rated each ballpark based on a bunch of different factors.

Lots of traveling, but he got the opportunity to visit every ballpark in MLB.

In my opinion, not too many jobs I can think of that would be cooler than that -- especially now that many of the crappy yards from a generation ago have been torn down (Three Rivers, Riverfront, Veterans...etc) and replaced by beautiful ballparks.

by anaconda on May 7, 2007 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

It's a great day

To answer several questions... There is no way Roger would have ever gone to Boston. Forget the time table, the money. It's about ego. Roger isn't going anywhere where he has to share the ego stage.

Houston was fun, but Roger craves the white hot spotlight. He's an opportunist who sees in New York an opportunity to add yet another jewel into his heavy crown. He'll ride into town, take his rightful place as #1, help turn around the rag-tag pitching staff that Cashman mis-assembled, and in the process save the jobs of Torre, Cashman and Guidry.

More than pitching every 5th day and possibly leading the Yankees to the title, I think Roger's presence will have a profound and immediate affect on Rasner, Clippard, Hughes, DeSalvo and Karstens. If these kids are smart, they will follow Roger around as if he were Jesus and they were his disciples. I know I would.

I'm thrilled with this aspect of the signing, and think it's a smart money move.

by Ronster22 on May 7, 2007 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

Oh so right

Take a look at Phil Hughes. Get out early pictures of Andy Pettitte. Being around Roger has helped Andy turn into a strong, beautifilly conditioned athlete. It is my opinion that this has helped his career and durability.

Doing the same for Phil would be a huge plus.

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 7, 2007 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

You guys suck!!!

I was in the air when the announcement came. You guys were all sitting in the stadium. Tell me, was the house rockin' when they made the announcement?

Fill me in.

My meeting was complete bs. I could have done it from my car on the way to NY. Now to know that I missed this ... Well, I blame Pavano and Igawa.

by Ronster22 on May 7, 2007 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I've got wood

thx, mg.

by Ronster22 on May 7, 2007 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

contract.....

this is a "pro rated" $28 mil contract.
Doesn't Arod have a clause in his contract saying that he has to be the highest paid player in baseball?
doesn't this $28 mil eclipse the $27 he got at in year 3(? not sure if this is right year)
And if that is the case what escalator clause does he(arod) have?

by beantownbosoxh8er on May 7, 2007 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

If it did trigger the claus

we'd owe him $29 mil in '09 and '10. More reason not opt out...

Mystique, don't fail me now!

by jscape2000 on May 7, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought if

the clause was triggered he couldn't opt out...

which would be a heck of a good reason to offer Clemens just a little bit more than him if it was supposed to be close anyway.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on May 8, 2007 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

But it's not really close

Clemens will actually earn around 18 million, plus the Yanks will get hit with the 40% luxury tax.

Mystique, don't fail me now!

by jscape2000 on May 8, 2007 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Mike and the Maddog

ripped this deal. I'm not happy about the personal clause crap. For 20 million he should be part of the fabric of the team. I feel kinda like Mike on this one althouhg not as rabid...
If our oitchers didn't all get hurt including Hughes, do you think the Yanks would have caved in on the personal services clause?
Cashman went on and he really has no answer for the Cairo-bench or Igawa...
ANyway, as a fan if Clemens can help, I'm all for it, but there are parts of this deal that I don't like...And he won't be here for a month anyway.

by John Amato on May 7, 2007 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Personal clause my ass

He said it himself. He's not sitting by his pool. He's in effect coaching and working with young talent, and lemme tell ya' it's pretty special to have someone with his pedigree dispensing knowledge. I had a similar opportunity with Bob Gibson. To this day I value what I learned from him. Now 20 some years later, I'm taking that knowledge and passing it on to the kids I coach. It's positively inspirational and vital to learn from someone like that.

Mike and the Maddog need to spend a week doing Roger's workouts (especially Francessa) then see what they have to say.

by Ronster22 on May 8, 2007 8:54 AM EDT reply actions