Aug
22
2012

Roger Clemens: There’s Still Some Stuff In The Basement

An article by Mitch Petanick

Fans of the Rocky movies know what I am referring to. After being retired for years, Rocky was asked why he was returning to the ring in the last Rocky installment, his response was “there’s still some stuff in the basement.” In other words, he couldn’t move on with his life until the fire burning inside him was completely out. That is the fire of competition, which all athletes have burning inside them. It causes men like Brett Favre to keep coming back to the game they love, even after the game has passed them by.

Roger Clemens seems to still have some stuff in the basement. Apparently there are still some embers from that competitive fire that once burned inside of him, still glowing. We know this because it has been announced that Clemens will be starting for the Sugar Land Skeeters, an independent league team down in Texas, on Saturday. However, Clemens has stated this is just for fun, meaning it isn’t really a comeback…yet.

This reeks of a comeback. If Roger just wanted to have fun, he could join a men’s amateur league similar to the one I play in now (HVNABA), which is comprised of former professional and college players. That could have been competitive enough for Roger if he just wanted to have fun, so there are other options out there for him aside from professional baseball. Pursuing professional baseball at any level shows that he is attempting a comeback at 50 years old. The question is would any team give him a chance?

Roger is throwing in the high 80s right now, so if he makes a comeback, we won’t be able to call him the “Rocket” anymore. That being said, he will probably be able to help some teams, the Mets being one of them. I would swap out Chris Young for Roger Clemens without even seeing Roger’s Independent League start this Saturday. If the Mets planned on starting pitchers that throw 83mph, they should have angled Citi Field so a breeze would come in from center field, and give Chris Young’s fastballs a chance to hit 85mph on the radar gun.

Roger Clemens isn’t one of the more popular names in baseball these days, but a lot of fans would be intrigued with a comeback story. It would give people a reason to root for Roger for a change, instead of root against him. This may be a way for Roger to clear his name a little. If people see him as a vulnerable athlete, with a true love of his sport, it may lead to some forgiveness for what Roger has been accused of over the past decade.

Roger is going to see how he feels this Saturday, and who knows, maybe he will just decide to hang them up after he gets the stuff out of his basement. But something tells me that Saturday won’t be the last we see Roger standing on the hill, playing professional baseball. I don’t have a crystal ball, but some team will be inviting him to spring training in 2013. I wonder if he’ll wear the number 50?

About the Author: Mitch Petanick

Mitch is currently an Editor and Minor League Analyst for Mets Merized Online. His baseball experience includes being a former All-Conference collegiate baseball player who had numerous professional tryouts, and he is currently a hitting instructor. He has been involved with the game of baseball for over 30 years now as a player, coach, and consultant. Mitch is also a former Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @FirstPitchMitch.

23 Comments + Add Comment

Joey D. August 22, 2012 at 8:44 am

Hi Mitch,

I’d like him to have a shot in the national league just so he can understand how dangerous it is to have a 95 mile per hour fastball deliberately thrown at his head. Maybe then he would learn how to respect human life.
srt August 22, 2012 at 8:50 am

Clemens? In a NY Met uniform?
No.
He takes ‘competitor’ to a whole new level. One that includes lying and cheating.

The Mets wouldn’t win anything with Clemens pitching here. Even contemplating it just smacks of a gimmick to try and increase attendance. It would be an all time low for this franchise.
- jessep August 22, 2012 at 9:14 am
  
  they would sell a ton of tickets though. That you can bank on
  - srt August 22, 2012 at 10:00 am
    
    Possibly. Too high a price to pay though. We’d become that laughingstock again across MLB.
  - Donal August 22, 2012 at 11:51 am
    
    So would bringing Charlie Sheen out of the bullpen, but no one is suggesting that.
    - Mr North Jersey August 22, 2012 at 11:57 am
      
      “Oh my God it’s him.”
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHJS-i_ajFA
    - jessep August 22, 2012 at 11:59 am
      
      True – but lets be realistic. Rick Vaughn is not an undervalued talent. Therefore he can not be a target for the Mets.
Metfan Lou August 22, 2012 at 9:11 am

I heard from a sportscaster that the reason The Rocket is doing this is to be kept off the HOF ballot because he said that if he is on an active roster in organized baseball he couldn’t be on the ballott. He went on to say the reason was that he doesn’t want to be on the ballot now with all the steroid guys and wants to wait till things cool down. I have no idea but could this be true?
- jessep August 22, 2012 at 9:14 am
  
  that sportscaster couldn’t be more wrong. Independent Baseball does not impact your eligibility into the HOF
- mitch petanick August 22, 2012 at 9:15 am
  
  I don’t know if that was Roger’s intention, but it is true about not being eligible for the hall while on a roster for a professional team…I believe it restarts the clock on eligibility
  - jessep August 22, 2012 at 9:24 am
    
    No it doesn’t.
    
    Independent Baseball is in no way affiliated with Major League Baseball. The only way it can impact his HOF eligibility is if a MLB team signs him
    - mitch petanick August 22, 2012 at 9:30 am
      
      My bad..it did effect hall of fame eligibility at one time but not anymore.
    - Metfan Lou August 22, 2012 at 9:32 am
      
      Thanks for the insight BUT do you think his plan would be to get in shape and then in September sometime sign with his old team the Astros. They have only 40 wins and it would bring some fans in. Just a thought.
      - jessep August 22, 2012 at 9:35 am
        
        I think its POSSIBLE yes but you also have to remember the Astros have a different owner since Roger played there.
        
        There’s no ties to Roger Clemens with that team anymore.
        
        I am sure they will scout him and take a look. Will they sign him? Who knows. If they do and he’s put on the roster then yeah his eligibility goes +5 years.
Metstheory22 August 22, 2012 at 9:21 am

As my Nephew said. – hoping he would be in the California Penal League.

I guess he found a league that does not check for steroids.
Lifelongmetsfan August 22, 2012 at 9:35 am

Gracious what a pisser this guy is! haha… I see this as Clemens putting his thumb in the eye of MLB and if he does make it back to a MLB roster and pitches well…. that is one of the biggest “FU’s ! ! ! ” ever…
stick August 22, 2012 at 9:53 am

Can the Mets get Greg Maddux out of retirement instead?
- Mr North Jersey August 22, 2012 at 10:55 am
  
  This.
Clayton Collier August 22, 2012 at 11:19 am

After seeing all the lies he spewed in his perjury trial and over the years proclaiming innocence, think a laxative would help him better with the “stuff left in the basement” than a possible comeback, because he has, is and always will be full of crap.
Metsie August 22, 2012 at 12:53 pm

I’m sure Clemens has some stuff still in the basement where he stashed it when they presented a search warrant for his house….

A Unopened box from Balco!
Christopher Masiello August 22, 2012 at 2:03 pm

If he’s cheap and bad this front office will be sniffing around him like a dog to a fire hydrant.
Joey D. August 22, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Am I sensing a subconscious connection between Clemens and a general manager who had suspicions in Oakland but left it at that?
jacob chalif August 22, 2012 at 3:32 pm

He should wait till he gets inducted…And then come back.

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