2006 Roger Clemens

The Astros’ Rocket blasted off yesterday for the first time this season, but returned to earth quickly along with many Houston fans following a 4-2 defeat. I wonder if any Houston fans thought that the franchise should be spending their money on younger talent while watching 22-year-old Francisco Liriano shut down the ‘stros for 7 innings instead of on a 43-year-old in his 23rd Major League season. The thought crossed my mind over and over again.

It makes one wonder if Houston really cares if the 2006 Roger Clemens is successful or if it’s just a huge money making publicity stunt. All the pats on the back he received from the organization and media alike after last night’s loss lends to the notion that they are just happy that one of baseball’s greats will still be on the field. Talk of the future in regards to Clemens doesn’t seem quite right. He’s 43, it’s already half way through the season, and the Astros are struggling to support their staff as was the case last season. A few more rough outings and it’s August and Houston may not even be in the playoff picture. The crutch that it’s the Rocket’s first outing seems too gentle of an approach to take when talking about a 7-time Cy Young Award winner. I know that I should give him 1 game of leeway or even 2 to be fair, but my point is that perhaps it’s time for Houston to answer the actual call this team has in bringing in bats. It may have been pitching that got them to the World Series last season, but ultimately it was a lack of fire power that caused them to taste defeat.

The hubbub surrounding Clemens and all that he would add to this team prior to his return appears to have been a major setback in retrospect for the ball club and I believe their baseball picks record reflects it. If the Rocket is still only throwing an 89mph fast ball in his next couple starts, then will we start to wonder about Houston’s decision to pay an average pitcher who’s past his prime such a handsome amount? Clemens said himself, “I’m trying to fight off age…,” which tells me that he knows he’s not at his best and although it was only his first start, there’s not a lot of time left in this season for a 43-year-old pitcher to fight off age.

I’m writing this in hopes that I will be proven wrong by the Rocket’s right arm and that he will somehow spur on this inconsistent ball club. It just seems to me at some point that you’ve got to rethread an old mit. The Astros are 6 games back in the Central already and in 3rd place, and now Puljols is back for the Cards. It appears the Astros will be playing for the Wild Card again. I just can’t help but think that even if Clemens were able to win every start the rest of the season that ultimately the Astros bats will fail them and the reacquisition of the Rocket will look like a waste of time and money while other teams like the Twins develop talent.