NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens is a Yankee.
With those five words, displayed on Yankee Stadium's matrix screen in a
surprise announcement during the seventh-inning stretch on Sunday, the
44-year-old right-hander ended all the speculation and confirmed his return
to the Bronx.
The Yankees officially announced that they have signed Clemens, a seven-time
Cy Young Award winner, to a Minor League contract.
Following the playing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," public-address
announcer Bob Sheppard instructed the crowd to draw its attention to the
owner's box and the video screen.
The image of Clemens, holding a microphone, drew a loud ovation from the
crowd at the game between the Mariners and Yankees, but his comments would
soon be drowned out by an even more raucous ovation from the paid attendance
of 52,553.
"It's a privilege to be back," Clemens said. "I'll be talking to you all
soon."
Clemens returns to the Yankees, where he pitched from 1999 through 2003,
serving as a member of two World Series championship teams in 1999 and 2000.
As a Yankee, Clemens -- who was originally acquired from the Blue Jays prior
to the 1999 season in exchange for Homer Bush, Graeme Lloyd and David Wells
-- compiled a record of 77-36 with a 3.99 ERA, striking out 946 batters in
157 starts.
On June 21, 2003, Clemens became the 21st pitcher in Major League history to
reach the 300-win milestone, while also recording his 4,000th career
strikeout in a 5-2 victory over the Cardinals.
Clemens made 19 starts for the Astros last season, posting a 7-6 record with
a 2.30 ERA after signing a Minor League contract on May 31, reprising his
role as the Astros' in-season acquisition after going 13-8 with a career-best
1.87 ERA in 32 starts for Houston in 2005.
Dating back to this past offseason, Clemens had declined to say if he
expected to pitch at all in 2007, but he hedged his bets by saying through
his representatives, Alan and Randy Hendricks, that he would consider playing
for only the Yankees, Astros or Red Sox.
Clemens, who also said that he would pitch only for a team with hopes of
playoff contention, will join a Yankees club that has seen its starting
pitching suffer through an extended stretch of inconsistency and injuries.
Clemens' good friend, Andy Pettitte, has twice been pressed into relief
action to help out a beleaguered bullpen, while Chien-Ming Wang, Mike
Mussina, Jeff Karstens, Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano have all spent time on
the disabled list.
Pavano, the Yankees' Opening Day starter on April 2, is expected to be a
possibility to miss the remainder of the season, which created an even more
glaring void for the Rocket's liftoff to fill.
Clemens would likely need a series of Minor League appearances in order to
prepare for Major League action. The future Hall of Fame right-hander is
expected to be made available later in the afternoon Sunday for further
comment.
Clemens ranks second all time among Major League pitchers with 172 career
strikeouts in the postseason, behind only Atlanta's John Smoltz (194). He
leads all active Major League pitchers in wins, strikeouts, games started
(690), innings pitched (4,817 2/3), complete games (118) and shutouts (46).
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 59.114.21.198