Clemens struggles a bit in second tuneup
May 23, 2007
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -Roger Clemens didn't look ready for the major leagues on Wednesday night.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings while pitching for the New York Yankees' Double-A Trenton farm team against Boston's Portland, Maine, affiliate.
In his second minor league start since signing with the Yankees, he threw 64 of 102 pitches for strikes, struggling at times with his control and what appeared to be heavy legs.
The 44-year-old, who may make his next start for the Yankees next week at Toronto, was given a standing ovation by the Thunder's record crowd of 9,134 at Waterfront Park.
He walked four, struck out five, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. Clemens had planned to throw 70-75 pitches but he was at the number after four innings. He got through the fifth with only 10 pitches, but got into trouble in the sixth, giving up consecutive singles, hitting a batter and walking another as Portland tied the score 2-2.
Thunder manager Tony Franklin walked to the mound, talked to Clemens and summoned reliever Michael Gardner, who walked in the go-ahead run against the Sea Dogs.
Before the game, Clemens said his return would depend on how he pitched both in the game and in a bullpen session on Friday.
If all goes well, he could jump into New York's rotation Monday or Tuesday against the Blue Jays - one of his former teams.
If he wants more work, Clemens might choose to make another minor league start, perhaps for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, before returning to the big leagues June 2 or 3 at Boston, his original club.
Current Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein sat behind home plate and watched the game.
``I'm just here to watch my guys play,'' Epstein said.
Clemens took the ``Madden'' bus from New York and arrived at Trenton about 1 p.m. Less than an hour later, he was holding court on the mound with members of the Thunder.
``It's exciting,'' Clemens said. ``I mean I am happy I get an opportunity to maybe perform in places where I normally would not have the opportunity to. I have gotten to see some neat towns. Coming here from New York it was a pretty neat drive. I am meeting some new guys and that's all part of it, I enjoy doing it.''
Clemens took the ``Madden'' bus from New York and arrived at Trenton about 1 p.m. Less than an hour later, he was holding court on the mound with members of the Thunder.
``It's exciting,'' Clemens said around 2:30 p.m. ``I mean I am happy I get an opportunity to maybe perform in places where I normally would not have the opportunity to. I have gotten to see some neat towns. Coming here from New York it was a pretty neat drive. I am meeting some new guys and that's all part of it, I enjoy doing it.''
A Yankees' season ticket holder, Kevin Carpenter of Norwalk, Conn., gave up his seats for Wednesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankees Stadium to see Clemens.
``He's been my Babe Ruth growing up. I even made the ultimate sacrifice switching from a Red Sox fan to a Yankees fan,'' Carpenter said.
Clemens threw 58 pitches in four innings for Class-A Tampa on Friday night. He allowed one run on three hits - a solo homer - and struck out two against the Fort Myers Miracle, a Minnesota Twins affiliate.
Clemens struggled with his control in the first inning, when plate umpire Clory Blaser didn't give him the 13-time All Star any breaks.
Leadoff hitter Jeff Corsaletti led off the game with a fly out to deep drive to left center and the inning ended when Bryan Pritz's long fly was caught on the warning track with the bases loaded.
Clemens mixed in more sliders and breaking balls the rest of the way.
Iggy Suarez, the No. 9 hitter, hit a two-out triple down the third-base line in the second. It probably would have been a double but it took a weird bounce off the bullpen fence. Clemens got the next hitter on a weak liner to third.
Portland touched Clemens for a run in third. Jed Lowrie hit a lead-off double to right center on a hanging slider and scored on a pair of groundouts - on the first one, Clemens hustled to cover first base.
Clemens gave up a one-out double to Scott Youngbauer in the fourth, however Thunder third baseman Aarom Baldiris caught a hard line drive and made a nice stop on a ground for the next two outs.
Clemens agreed to a $28,000,022, one-year contract on May 6 and began working out at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., last week.
Clemens probably will make another minor league start
Thu, May 24, 2007
By Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens probably will make another minor league start before rejoining the New York Yankees.
Clemens struggled a bit Wednesday night, allowing three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings for Double-A Trenton with four walks, five strikeouts, a hit batter and a wild pitch.
While a final decision won't be made until after a bullpen session Friday, there's a good chance the 44-year-old right-hander will start Monday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Toledo, several Yankees officials said Thursday.
That would put the seven-time Cy Young Award winner on track to make his first start for the Yankees at Fenway Park on June 2 or 3 against the Boston Red Sox, his original team.
Clemens agreed to a $28,000,022, one-year contract on May 6 and made his first minor league start on May 18, giving up one run and in four innings for Class A Tampa. He threw 58 pitches in his first start and 102 in his second.
Clemens to pitch at Triple-A level Monday
May 25th, 2007
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - The Yankees announced Friday that seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens will start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Monday in a game against the visiting Toledo Mud Hens.
Assuming that will be Clemens' final minor league start, that would align him to pitch against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday, June 2. Pitching on that day would be a monumental return, as Clemens would take the mound in the city where he spent the first 13 seasons of his major league career.
Clemens, who was signed to a prorated $28 million contract on May 6, has already pitched a pair of minor league games. His most recent outing was Wednesday night for Double-A Trenton, when he allowed three runs on six hits with four walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter on 102 pitches in 5 1/3 frames against Portland.
The 44-year-old Clemens spent the past three seasons with the Houston Astros after his first retirement following the 2003 campaign with New York. He pitched with the Yankees from 1999 through 2003, winning a pair of World Series titles during his five years with the club.
An 11-time All-Star, Clemens' 348 victories rank eighth in big league history. He is also one of just four pitchers with more than 4,000 strikeouts, as his 4,604 trail only Nolan Ryan on the all-time list.
Clemens looks strong in third tuneup
May 28, 2007
MOOSIC, Pa. (AP) -Roger Clemens pitched six shutout innings in Triple-A on Monday, leaving to a standing ovation from an overflow crowd in what the New York Yankees hope is his final start in the minors.
Clemens showed improved command from his last outing at Double-A, this time giving up two hits and two walks for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 44-year-old ace struck out six against Toledo in his third tuneup.
New York began the day 12 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East. On Sunday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team would evaluate Clemens' performance Monday before deciding when he would join them.
All told, the seven-time Cy Young winner threw 89 pitches, 58 for strikes. His two walks came on full-count pitches and he was primarily in the strike zone when he needed to be. He struck out Timo Perez to end the first, and fanned at least one batter in each inning except the sixth.
Clemens gave up a sharply hit single in the second and a ground single in the sixth, and never allowed more than one runner in an inning.
Clemens' control was a concern at Trenton last week when he walked four and allowed six hits and three runs over 5 1-3 innings.
In the opening inning against Toledo, Clemens got two weak grounders and struck out Perez on a split-finger fastball.
The second inning started with a 10-pitch at-bat by Ryan Raburn - Clemens had thrown a total of 12 pitches the entire first inning - before a popout. With two outs, Mike Hessman got the Mud Hens' first hit of the game, lining a 1-2 pitch into left field for a single. Ramon Santiago then struck out.
In the sixth, the Mud Hens got their second hit on a ground ball that first baseman Eric Duncan knocked down but couldn't turn into an out.
Raburn grounded out to end the inning, sending Clemens off the field to a loud ovation from the crowd of 11,310, a number that's 1,000 over capacity at PNC Field, where the team sold standing-room-only tickets for the first time this season.
Clemens likely to make first start for Yankees on Monday at Chicago
May 29, 2007
TORONTO (AP) -Roger Clemens is ready to return to the New York Yankees' rotation and is likely to start at the Chicago White Sox next Monday.
Clemens pitched six shutout innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday. Torre said before Tuesday that he'll stay with Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte as his starters for this weekend's series at AL East-leading Boston.
``I'm not disappointed that he's not pitching at Fenway,'' Torre said. ``I don't think that series needs any more hype than it gets every time we play it, whether it's in Fenway or at the Stadium. You'd obviously be tempted if you had a kid pitching and you can replace him with Roger Clemens. When you have Wang, Moose and Andy, there's really not the temptation to do that.''
Torre wasn't ready to finalize his decision.
``Until I talk to him personally, it's tough to pick a particular day,'' he said.
If Clemens is put on the major league roster Monday, he would receive $18,207,665 this season, a prorated share of his $28,000,022 salary.
If Clemens is put on the major league roster Monday, he would receive $18,207,665 this season, a prorated share of his $28,000,022 salary.
That's just wrong 😛
Clemens scratched from Monday's start
June 2nd, 2007
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Roger Clemens was scratched from his scheduled start against the Chicago White Sox on Monday with fatigue in his right groin.
Clemens, who the Yankees signed to a prorated $28 million contract on May 6, pitched in three minor league starts, most recently on Memorial Day for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner will be revaluated in Tampa, Florida.
New York was hoping that Clemens would be able to help the team make a major turnaround this season. The Yankees are 23-29, 12 1/2 games behind the first- place Red Sox in the AL East.
Clemens spent the past three seasons with the Houston Astros after his first retirement following the 2003 campaign with New York. He pitched with the Yankees from 1999 through 2003, winning a pair of World Series titles during his five years with the club.
An 11-time All-Star, Clemens' 348 victories rank eighth in big league history. He is also one of just four pitchers with more than 4,000 strikeouts, as his 4,604 trail only Nolan Ryan on the all-time list.