Roger Clemens

white lightning

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Words cannot describe the immense talent that this man posseses!He might just be the greatest pitcher to ever play the game.Seven Cy Young Awards. A 42 year old man who still throws heat,and intimidates even the youngest
of players.He is the most dominant pitcher that I have
ever watched.His win/loss record is amazing and he trails
only Nolan Ryan in strikeouts.I hope he plays one or two more years.Even if he is done right now,thanks for the
memories.I will always remember how lucky I was to watch this guy pitch!
 

Don Wassall

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I agree that a very strong argument can be made that Roger Clemens is the greatest pitcher ever. To be dominant as long as he has, particularly with his won-loss record, is simply unparalleled. His incredible winning percentage, the Cy Young awards, the strikeouts, and last but not least the way he is moving up the all-time list for career wins while playing most of his career in the era of the five-man rotation, all argue strongly in his favor as the best ever.

Although it is always great to go out on top, I hope he plays next year and beyond, until he finally begins to perform at less than at a superstar level.
Edited by: Don Wassall
 

white lightning

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The other good thing is that he is a good family man.He is devoted to his wife and kids.How many athletes can you
say that about.Do you think Kobe or many others would do the same.Roger is the ultimate competitor and not a bad
role model either. He is also one of the few pitchers that won't take crap from anyone.He will pitch Barry Bonds or anyone else inside.He is not scared.He will not
allow todays *******y,arrogant,athletes bully him.If anything,it is Roger who scares them and demands their
respect.My hat is off to Roger Clemens.
 

arad002

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Roger Clemens is an unbelievable pitcher but not the greatest. That honor goes to the incomparable Walter Johnson.
 

Don Wassall

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ESPN's website is currently running a poll in the wake of Clemens asking for $22 million in arbitration. Read the poll questions and answers and it's obvious that there is a pronounced anti-Clemens slant.

For instance, Q. - "Which would you rather see Roger Clemens do?" The only two answers are "return for this season" and "retire for good."

What baseball fan would want to see Roger Clemens retire? And the way it's phrased, "retire for good," as if he was a jerk for deciding to play last year, when he only went 18-4 and won the Cy Young Award.

The other answer, "return for this season," is likewise slanted. Why just for this season?

Why not phrase the question, "How much longer should Roger Clemens play?" and have these answers: 1. as long as he wants. 2. another 10 years at least the way he's going. 3. why even consider retirement at this point. 4. never

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id= 1136
 

IceSpeed

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Roger Clemens is the best prototype pitcher I have
ever seen. Great fastball, curveball, splitter, and work
ethic. He has tremendous stamina and is very similiar to Curt
Schilling. He gave advice to Schilling way back I believe
actually. Other greats include Warren Spahn, Phil Niekro, Bob
Feller, Greg Maddux, and the list could go on.
 

IceSpeed

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As for retirement, Rocket can pitch as long as he wants. He
probably could go until he was 50. I just hope he doesn't end up
like Jim Palmer, who ended his career with a 75mph fastball.
 

Don Wassall

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It really bothers me the way the media keeps mentioning retirement about white players who are still dominant. The attitude ought to be gratitude that we can still see such an all-time great pitch, and encouragement to continue at a high level as long as possible.
 

JD074

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Along with the neverending retirement talk, they also keep
asking, "Is he worth the money?" As if he's the only player in
baseball getting paid a lot of money.
 

Don Wassall

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Clemens is playing again in 2005 and maybe even beyond. I love it!

I also despise the media midgets who are all over Roger because he tried to get the best salary he could for this year, like anyone would and should attempt to do. Here's someone named Stephen Cannella ranting on SI's website today:

"Is anyone else getting a bit weary of Roger Clemens' act? First, the requisite rundown of his laurels: He's a 300-game winner; he has nearly as many Cy Youngs as toes; he's assured of a spot in Cooperstown; even after 20-plus years he's a flame-throwing intimidator; etc. Under the rules of baseball society, if anyone has earned the right to call his own shots and generally behave like a raving egomaniac, it's the Rocket. I'll also grant that he was underpaid last year, when he earned roughly $7 million in salary and bonuses. But Clemens went way over the line with his $22 million arbitration request.

"His endless should-I-stay-or-should-I-retire dance is bad enough. (Let's not forget that Clemens still hasn't said he's definitely playing this season.) The Astros, who made a counteroffer of $13.5 million, stand to benefit greatly on the field and at the box office from having Houston's favorite homeboy in uniform. But they've been exceedingly patient while Clemens hems and haws about whether he'll grace them with his presence in 2005.

"Roger, it's all about you and what's best for your family. But has it occurred to you that, with spring training a month away, Houston GM Tim Purpura might want to know if he has a giant rotation hole to fill? You have the luxury of making a last-minute decision to play golf on Opening Day. The Astros, on the other hand, are pretty much locked in to playing that day, and they're going to need a pitcher.

"How does Clemens show his appreciation for their patience? By smacking them with a salary request that would make him the highest-paid pitcher ever ... by $4.5 million. While the Rocket has boosted season-ticket sales and local interest in the franchise, the Astros still aren't the Yankees. Their payroll has an upper limit; if it didn't, Carlos Beltran would still call Houston home.

"Even if the Astros could afford $22 million for a pitcher who will soon be 43, Clemens' request turns the stomach because of his charade that he didn't come out of retirement last year for the money. He wanted to play in his hometown. He wanted to watch his kids play ball and spend as much time as possible with his family. (The Astros let him skip road trips when he wasn't pitching, a perk I suspect he's not willing to surrender even if he does get the $22 million.)

"We've been led to believe the comeback decision is time-consuming because Clemens needs months to consult his family and search his soul. Turns out he's actually been spending the time doodling dollar signs and zeroes on his arbitration paperwork."

Get a life, Stevie.
 
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Nolan Ryan retired at 46, and even then he still had better stuff than just about anyone else. Wouldn't it be great if Clemens can continue to pitch at a high level for a few more years? If so he'd have to be considered as among the very best baseball players ever, certainly the best pitcher. As it is, he should go over 340 career wins in '05, accomplished in the era of the five-man rotation. Unbelieveable feat. That's probably why the media is clamoring for him to retire. White athletes just aren't supposed to reach this level of greatness anymore.

Let's see now, Barry Bonds will be 41 this season. Will the media be badgering him with questions about retirement? Silly question.
 

JD074

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If you're black, you have to suffer from brain damage, a la
Evander Holyfield, to get the "retire already" bit. And even then
it's not as bad as what Clemens is getting- and especially what
Favre has gotten over the last couple of seasons. Every time
the Packers lose it's "time to retire, Brett!" So annoying.
Michael Jordan got it a little bit when he was with Washington,
but that was only because he's considered a god and they
didn't want to see him look mortal. Clemens, on the other
hand, was a Cy Young winner last year, unlike Jordan's good
but not godly 20 ppg with Washington.
 

Don Wassall

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329 game winner Clemens was defeated by 306 game winner Greg Maddux the other night. It was the first time two NL 300 game winners had faced each other in 113 years.


In the AL Don Sutton had two matchups against Phil Niekro and one against Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton between 1986 and '87.


After these two greats retire, unless baseball goes back to four-man rotations we won't see two 300 game winners facing each other again for a lot longer than 113 years.
 

Don Wassall

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The infantile American attention span and the natural pace of baseball continue to be sorely mismatched.


ESPN's website has two articles today about Roger Clemens being traded from the Astros. The gist of them is that the Astros' season is over because they are 11-13 and aren't hitting well and should give up on 2005 and trade Clemens to the Yankees or some other contender because he's started off so well.


11-13 is roughly one-seventh of the season. It is absurd to write off an entire year based on a tiny one-seventh slice of it, especially with the wildcard in play. I generally don't even start to follow baseball closely until May because so much can and does happen between now and October. The season is just getting started. Take a look at the standings now and watch how much they change by the end of the season, just as the leaders in batting, homers, ERA, etc., will be much different by then.


As for the Astros, Lance Berkman has yet to play. They have plenty of good hitters. It is very possible that they will go on a prolonged streak where they are one of the higher scoring teams in the NL. Roger Clemens is a Texas icon, is pitching great and wants to finish his career with the Astros. All this talk about trading him is pathetic. Of course these are the same media people who are constantly badgering him about retiring, too.


[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers _phil&id=2051922[/url]


[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark _jayson&id=2052208[/url]
 

IceSpeed

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Out of all the pitchers in baseball, why is Rocket criticized the most? He has made mistakes and is at fault for certain things, but who isn't? Rocket cannot seem to get any redemption for the Mike Piazza incidents. Bob Gibson threw at hitters too. A lot of pitchers have. But why can't they see the positives in his stamina, work effort, intensity, and traditional values(family, good guy, good to younger players)?
 

whiteCB

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Roger Clemens to tell you the truth is a jerk. He has not spoken to or given one cent to any of his family. Just go ahead and ask his nephew Luke Clemens. Yes, the same Luke Clemens that was 1 of 3 white RBs starting last year. Clemens was born in Dayton, OH and he treats his family up here like crap. So save me the family man b.s. Besides bob Feller is the best pitcher of all-time. 273 wins despite serving 4 years of his prime in WWII.
 

KD52171

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Clemens can throw that aspirin people.





I love that guy.
smiley32.gif
 

Don Wassall

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Houston's owner now says Clemens won't be traded. Lance Berkmanjust returned to the lineup and the Astros are due to start playing better. Remember last year when everyone had written them off at the All-Star break just like they've already been written off this season? They went on a big-time tear down the stretch. They have a lot of talent and it will show before this season's finished.
 

white lightning

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The "Rocket" Roger Clemens got win number 330 tonight!
Man is he incredible.He just seems to defy Father Time.
Clemens works out in a gym as hard as anyone that has
ever played the game.He has worked his ass off and
deserves everything he has.He just might be the best of
all time or at least modern times.
 

Don Wassall

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Clemens is now up to 334 wins, to go with a Major League best 1.51 ERA. This man is not getting nearly the publicity and recognition he deserves to still be pitching at such a high level as he nears his 43rd birthday. He is truly one of the very best baseball players of all time.
 

Bart

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Don, he could easily have several more wins under his belt but the closers haven't done a good job and his team doesn't score any runs.
 

whiteCB

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If it weren't for WWII Clemens would probably be passing the most underrated pitcher of all time Bob Feller in a little bit. Roger will be the last modern day pitcher to get these many wins.
 

Bart

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Bob Feller, isn't spoken of as often as the more recent players but he was a great one who could throw smoke. Feller and Williams both lost a few of their prime years to the service.
 
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