oldLOL
On Roger Clemens:
This could potentially be a conflict of interest for me, as old man Rocket is being considered by the Sox and was denied arbitration by the 'Stros. But if you'll allow me my soapbox for a few moments...
1. The Astros had no choice BUT to deny arbitration to the old man, because seriously, they could wait until forever (because it seems like he's going to live that long) and then he could just as easily drop them and retire for serious (or maybe he could be like Michael Jordan and retire and unretire forever), leaving the 'Stros stranded and looking foolish like last year when they waited forEVER on Beltran and then lost him to the free-spending Mets who have yet to actually see results from all that free-spending they do every year. Okay, back to the topic. Even with the denied arbitration, the Astros still did absolutely nothing at the winter meeings, and have yet to make any kind of big trade/buy/decision. Oooh, two-year agreement with Palmiero. Whoopee. They've missed most of the big free agents while they were making up their mind to even offer Rocket time. We need a bat, and, at least until May, we need another arm.
2. Clemens shouldn't go to Boston. It's not that I'm against having the man with the stats (see Suzie's entry below) in my Favorite City on Earth again, but: a) the man had hamstring injuries and a lot of other random (oh, no, wait, he's oldLOL) muscle pain. In case we haven't noticed, it's freezing for half the season in Boston, and our Soxies play in an outdoor park. I'm not thinking that's exactly the best idea for the old man with tight muscles. b) He has the sweetest setup ever with Houston. Didn't have to go on road trips he wasn't scheduled to pitch, lived at home with his family he apparently cares so much about, got to hang out with Koby and will hopefully get to help him get to the bigs, and pitched most of the season in an indoor park with climate control. Seriously, I wouldn't doubt that part of the reason he had so much trouble during the playoffs was because the Astros were playing in colder climates in late October. That, and the fact that normal 48 year-old men aren't throwing baseballs around every five days, and Mr. Clemens isn't exactly rail-thin.
3. Who knows, the man might actually retire this year. He was, after all, in a lot of pain at the end of the season (see #2), but he has, after all, retired before (see #1 and Michael Jordan). Either way, there's just way too much uncertainty. Let's (both teams) find someone younger, with a more stable health bill, and with good prospects for development and a bright future. I know it's risky, but Clemens will be a risk this year too - he is oldLOL for a reason, and he won't stay inhumanly capable of throwing that baseball so well forever. Unless, of course, he's a robot, which would bring up an entirely different argument.
4. Or here's another idea: Clemens doesn't sign, but then comes back to the 'Stros after the May 1 deadline. He'd get an extra month of rest and whatever else he needs to be rejuvinated, and then maybe he could actually make it through September and October without a perpetual limp. He'd still have his sweet deal with his "hometown team," the Astros could progress until then by adding new players without having to rely on him like they've tried to do the last two years, and the Sox could rebuild like they desperately need to without turning to an ancient relic to do so.
I should really never dedicate this much thought to Roger Clemens ever again. I really can't stand that man as a person, although as a pitcher, it would be a baseball sin to not respect him. So... how 'bout them O's?
This could potentially be a conflict of interest for me, as old man Rocket is being considered by the Sox and was denied arbitration by the 'Stros. But if you'll allow me my soapbox for a few moments...
1. The Astros had no choice BUT to deny arbitration to the old man, because seriously, they could wait until forever (because it seems like he's going to live that long) and then he could just as easily drop them and retire for serious (or maybe he could be like Michael Jordan and retire and unretire forever), leaving the 'Stros stranded and looking foolish like last year when they waited forEVER on Beltran and then lost him to the free-spending Mets who have yet to actually see results from all that free-spending they do every year. Okay, back to the topic. Even with the denied arbitration, the Astros still did absolutely nothing at the winter meeings, and have yet to make any kind of big trade/buy/decision. Oooh, two-year agreement with Palmiero. Whoopee. They've missed most of the big free agents while they were making up their mind to even offer Rocket time. We need a bat, and, at least until May, we need another arm.
2. Clemens shouldn't go to Boston. It's not that I'm against having the man with the stats (see Suzie's entry below) in my Favorite City on Earth again, but: a) the man had hamstring injuries and a lot of other random (oh, no, wait, he's oldLOL) muscle pain. In case we haven't noticed, it's freezing for half the season in Boston, and our Soxies play in an outdoor park. I'm not thinking that's exactly the best idea for the old man with tight muscles. b) He has the sweetest setup ever with Houston. Didn't have to go on road trips he wasn't scheduled to pitch, lived at home with his family he apparently cares so much about, got to hang out with Koby and will hopefully get to help him get to the bigs, and pitched most of the season in an indoor park with climate control. Seriously, I wouldn't doubt that part of the reason he had so much trouble during the playoffs was because the Astros were playing in colder climates in late October. That, and the fact that normal 48 year-old men aren't throwing baseballs around every five days, and Mr. Clemens isn't exactly rail-thin.
3. Who knows, the man might actually retire this year. He was, after all, in a lot of pain at the end of the season (see #2), but he has, after all, retired before (see #1 and Michael Jordan). Either way, there's just way too much uncertainty. Let's (both teams) find someone younger, with a more stable health bill, and with good prospects for development and a bright future. I know it's risky, but Clemens will be a risk this year too - he is oldLOL for a reason, and he won't stay inhumanly capable of throwing that baseball so well forever. Unless, of course, he's a robot, which would bring up an entirely different argument.
4. Or here's another idea: Clemens doesn't sign, but then comes back to the 'Stros after the May 1 deadline. He'd get an extra month of rest and whatever else he needs to be rejuvinated, and then maybe he could actually make it through September and October without a perpetual limp. He'd still have his sweet deal with his "hometown team," the Astros could progress until then by adding new players without having to rely on him like they've tried to do the last two years, and the Sox could rebuild like they desperately need to without turning to an ancient relic to do so.
I should really never dedicate this much thought to Roger Clemens ever again. I really can't stand that man as a person, although as a pitcher, it would be a baseball sin to not respect him. So... how 'bout them O's?
posted by Amy at 12:59 AM
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