THE FIRST STEP BACK? Roger Clemens takes the mound last night in Sugar Land, Texas, pitching for the indepedent Atlantic League team. He allowed no runs and struck out two batters in three-plus innings against the Bridgeport Bluefish. (
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SUGAR LAND, Texas — On a hot summer night in what should be the autumn of his days as a big league competitor, Roger Clemens showed he might be ready to spring forward with an improbable comeback.
The 50-year-old Rocket took the mound for first time in five years Saturday night, pitched 3 ¹/₃ scoreless innings, struck out two batters and gave up just one hit for the Sugar Land Skeeters against the Bridgeport Bluefish.
Clemens faced 11 batters, threw 37 pitches, 24 for strikes and allowed no walks. He got four flyouts and four groundouts to go with the two strikeouts. He topped out at 88 mph on the radar gun.
The outing answered the skeptics who wondered whether there was anything left in the tank of the former Yankees pitcher, but not the bigger question: Is this the start of a return trip to the major leagues?
“No, it doesn’t,” Clemens said. “I’ve had success before at that level and at other things. It’s a great deal of work. I’m not thinking that at this point.”
That answer doesn’t exactly close the door permanently, and it won’t stop others from considering the possibilities for him.
Jim Crane, owner of the Astros, just 25 minutes down the freeway, have said the door is open for a Clemens return. The club with the worst record in the majors has a Legends Weekend scheduled for Sept. 21-23 and is struggling at the gate.
Returning to the major leagues also would reset the clock on Clemens’ Hall of Fame eligibility for another five years, allowing more time to pass following his acquittal on charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
There were a handful of Major League Baseball scouts in the stands at Constellation Field, representing the Astros, Royals and Orioles, among others. What impressed, several said, was a pitcher who showed many of the skills and characteristics of the perennial All-Star who has played and excelled at the game for three decades. Clemens demonstrated good mechanics and a smooth delivery, able to place his fastball and curve where he wanted, as well as a couple of split-finger pitches that drew attention.
Clemens took the mound to a standing ovation and promptly fired two strikes past Joey Gathright, the first batter he faced in a professional game in five years. After two balls and two fouled off pitches, Clemens delivered a curveball that sent Gathright flailing and the stands leaping and screaming in delight. He ended the first inning by freezing Prentice Redman with a curveball and left the game to another ovation in the fourth after facing one batter.
Was it just a one-time event, just for kicks, or the beginning of an improbable quest?
“Who knows?” said Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti, former big leaguer and Clemens friend who had first hatched the idea back in the spring. “He looks similar, except for the velocity. His determination and drive is there.
“I’m just going to keep my phone handy and wait for the call, if he wants to try it again. Only he knows. I wouldn’t put it past him. It was a joy tonight.”
So what comes next?
“A lot of ice,” Clemens said. “That’s what’s going to be in my future for the next few days.
“I had fun. I don’t know exactly what’s next. I’m sure I’ll call Gary in the next couple of days and we’ll visit. If we can do something down the road, we’ll do it again. I’m definitely open to it.”