Roger Clemens cost us the season

by Tom Leach on Sep 6, 2006 8:51 AM EDT in News

Seriously. Where would we be if Roger Clemens had decided to make his triumphant return to Fenway in July and pitch for the Sox rather than the Astros?

I believe we'd still be atop the division.

With Clemens pitching, there's absolutely no way the Yankees sweep those five games. The Heavens wouldn't have allowed such nonsense. We wouldn't have been swept in Kansas City, Tampa, Oakland or Seattle either.

I'm just saying.

Since his return, and with scant run support, Roger Clemens has won 6 games in 15 starts. I'm thinking he probably wins at least 10 for the Sox. And in a little more than 91 innings, he's struck out 79, has an ERA 2.27 and a WHIP of 1.02. That's incredible! He's got a slight groin problem, but let's face it, the guy's a 44-years-old fastball-flipping freak!

I think I speak for all of us when I say:

"Roger, my man, how's about we close the circle on this career of yours? I'm thinking you and Mr. Splitty can come back to Boston for one final, glorious season--at a reasonable price, of course, and close this bitch out proper! With another World Series championship! What do you say?"

Okay, so the reasonable price-thing is probably out of the question, but what's $20 million dollars these days? George would pay him. And I think we should, too. Clemens's influence on Beckett and the young guns in the dugout would be invaluable, and his affect on the spirits of the entire city of Boston, from at least April to October, would be incalculable.

Please, talk amongst yourselves.

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Re: Roger Clemens cost us the season

I couldn't agree more. How often do you get a chance to watch a fairlytale be written. And they all have a happy ending, so you know the Sox would win it all with Clemens. Pay him the money.

by gosox on Sep 6, 2006 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Roger Clemens cost us the season

I'd be happy to have him return next season, but I don't think his absence cost us this season. As good as he has been for Houston, he wouldn't put up the same numbers in the AL, any more than Arroyo would have the ERA he has if he'd stayed with us.

Just as importantly, Roger only pitches every fifth day -- he couldn't make up for the other pitching injuries (our rotation du jour is Beckett, Tavarez, Gabbard, Snyder, and Jarvis), or the hitting ones (remember the thread about our "minor league lineup"?).

by argo0 on Sep 6, 2006 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Roger Clemens cost us the season

Clemens presence, though, would be a huge boost to the club. He wouldn't have stopped injuries or made the offense better, but he certainly would have helped more than just being a great arm.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Sep 6, 2006 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Roger Clemens cost us the season

Especially if Lester has to miss next season -- I think we were all counting on him to be the #4 or #5 starter, now that we know at least part of his recent difficulties are health related -- bringing in Clemens for one final season would be a great idea. Can you imagine having both him and Schilling in their final seasons leading this team?

by RSNexile on Sep 6, 2006 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

2007

I think it would be great to have him for next year, but I'd hope they wouldn't spend so much that they wouldn't be able to go after another solid YOUNG starter. I'd like to see them make another run at Zach Miner or someone like that, but please, NO MORE NL (AAAA) pitchers (Clemens being the obvious exception here), please.....I don't know if I'd be able to handle another Clement or Beckett.....

A 2007 rotation of Schilling, Clemens, Wake, Beckett and Mystery Man #5 would be nice, as long as we also take into consideration the fact that this will most likely be the last year for three of them.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I want Paps to become a starter for next year. It would leave a gaping hole in the bullpen, but imagine a rotation of Schill, Zito/Clemens/Lilly, Paps, Beckett, and Wake.....

Problem is, the free agent market for starting pitchers next year looks weak, I think we'd have a better shot at Zito or Lilly, but we'd definitely have to overpay for either one.

Hey, I notice Ponson and Suppan are free agents next year!!!!!!! Let's grab one of 'em!!!!!!!!
(hahahahahhhhhhhahahahahahha...no, j/k.....)

In re: Lilly - his WHIP has gone up like crazy this year, almost 0.5; in a contract year, no less - a bit worrisome.....

by jack on Sep 6, 2006 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

Re: 2007

Don't forget Lester for the rotation if he's healthy. He'd be the #5 starter. Of course, given the ages of Clemens, Schilling, and Wake, the unreliability (at least this year) of Beckett, and the youth of Lester (and Miner if we could get him -- that would be a coup!), maybe a six man rotation would be worth a shot.

As for Paps, I'd rather see him in the bullpen next year. He can take Schilling's place in the rotation after next year, and the Sox are going to need next year to develop an adequate bullpen, including a replacement for Paps as the closer (MDC?).

by RSNexile on Sep 6, 2006 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: 2007

Yeah, I was kind of going on the assumption that Lester would need to take next year off, or at least take it easy in Pawtucket and the 'Pen.

Maybe you're right about Paps, though. I'm thinking he'd be more valuable as a starter; but without him, that thing is just a disgusting mess. The free agent market for relievers is even weaker than that for starters. It would be nice to get David Riske back; but other than that, the only other guy I would go near is Francisco Cordero, and he ain't the answer either. Phil Seibel down in Pawtucket and Edgar Martinez in Portland intrigue me, though.....

by jack on Sep 6, 2006 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: 2007

With any luck, Seibel and Martinez will get a shot next September, and Hansen will be better next year. Assuming Hansen is ready next year, MDC continues to improve, and Paps is about the same (or even a little worse -- he couldn't be much better), the Sox have the makings of a decent pen next year. Move Paps to the rotation, though, and I don't know what happens.

by RSNexile on Sep 6, 2006 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: 2007

Agreed, with Schilling/Wake aging I'd rather they look for a possible SP to fill they're future void and continue to try to develop MDC/Hansen/someone else to closer caliber and move Paps to SP once Schilling does retire that way both we have an effective closer next year and not a question mark and so in two years we don't hit the FA market and bring someone in not knowing how they react to the Boston expierence (i.e. Renteria). Bring them in next year vs. 2008 they have a year to learn from a veterans like Schilling and Wake and adapt instead of being new to a rotation/team in 2008 that is headed by young pitchers like Beckett, Lester, and Paps

by Realistic on Sep 7, 2006 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions