Clemens not coming back to Astros

by hoosiercubbie on Dec 7, 2005 5:28 PM CST

According to ESPN.com, Clemens is not coming back to the Astros next year, or at least, he can't until May 1. Any thoughts on whether or not the Cubs could woe him away from retirement (it sounds more like a money issue than anything else)? Any thoughts on whether or not they should want to? I don't even know how I feel about it for health reasons, but the Cubs need another starter and can afford him--if he's upset with the Astros for not offering arbitration and feels the competitive desire one more time, who knows?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Arbitration

The Astros couldn't offer him arbitration. I saw somewhere that 22-23% of the 2005 Astros payroll went to Clemens. Not knowing if he's coming back or not prevents them from making any further moves. Now they can go out and upgrade other areas.

Clemens, if he has a brain, will understand why this decision was made. What I'm left wondering is why exactly this Dec. 7th date exists.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 7, 2005 5:35 PM CST reply actions

I cannot imagine...

... Clemens playing for anyone but Houston next year. I think he's retired.

by Al Yellon on Dec 7, 2005 5:37 PM CST reply actions

Agree

Why would he go somewhere else at this time in his career. The question is simple: will he even come back in '06? I ready to see him go...I just hope he doesn't pull an MJ on us. That's always a waste of our precious time.

C'mon now...anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 7, 2005 5:50 PM CST reply actions

Oh by the way...

I'M ready to see him go...

C'mon now...anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 7, 2005 5:51 PM CST reply actions

Nope...

not on the Cubs. The Red Sox or Yankees might go for it.

I hope he retires.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 7, 2005 6:21 PM CST reply actions

Hoosiercubbie?

I like it. I went to IU---so I feel a strong bond with you, hoosiercubbie.

I'm also so ready to see him go. I was ready to see him gone for good after Karros hit that homer off him in 2003. Would have been a great way for him to go out. Plus, I will not longer have to look at that awful, sweaty neck roll of his.

Hey-Dawson backwards is Noswad!---Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on Dec 7, 2005 6:38 PM CST reply actions

The Karros homer...

... was hit off Juan Acevedo, not Clemens.

It pissed off Steinbrenner so much that he released Acevedo three days later.

True. Look at Acevedo's transaction list.

by Al Yellon on Dec 7, 2005 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

AH

that's right. I am revising history---remembering that Clemens got removed like one pitch before that. It did keep him from getting 300 that day---which was nice.

Hey-Dawson backwards is Noswad!---Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on Dec 7, 2005 7:19 PM CST up reply actions

wow,

that was a great game. Wood was dominant that day. One of his better games the last few years.

The next night we rocked Pettitte. Good memories.

by cubbie08 on Dec 7, 2005 7:30 PM CST up reply actions

That was a weekend...

... that indeed lived up to the hype.

Here, read what I wrote about those games back then:

Friday, June 6, 2003 game

Saturday, June 7, 2003 game

Sunday, June 8, 2003 game

Great memories, indeed.

by Al Yellon on Dec 7, 2005 7:40 PM CST up reply actions

IU!

I went to IU, too, but now I live up in Canada. CanuckCubbie just doesn't flow as well as hoosiercubbie. As for Clemens... feh. The idea of him in a Cubs uni makes me slightly ill. Hopefully, he'll truly retire this time.

by daubs on Dec 7, 2005 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

Let's get more pitching

Why don't we make an offer to Clemens?
Couldn't hurt.
We absolutely need more pitching. Look to the A's, Twins, White Sox, Marlins, Braves. These teams barely had people who can hit at all and they are always competitive.

Wood cannot be relied upon. Personally, I think he should be made a closer, like Gagne, and share duties with Dempster. We need a 3rd starter and I say we trade for a workhorse like Zito or Radke or even Clement. I also say we pay for Washburn or give Millwood a reasonable offer. That would push Wood into a closer's role and make Rusch an emergency backup.

Look to the White Sox guys... pitching wins championships. If Prior and Wood had not gotten hurt this past year, we would have won the division. Whatever bucks are left over after getting pitchers can be used for some extra bats, but that should take lowest priority.

by nickler on Dec 7, 2005 9:44 PM CST reply actions

It's a nice thought

It'd be damned entertaining except it won't happen. Roger wants to be near his family. I remember hearing that he even had it worked out where he didn't go on roadtrips if he wasn't scheduled to pitch so that he could be close to his family. I'd love to have him, cause I think he can still do it, but I just don't see it happening.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 7, 2005 10:29 PM CST up reply actions