Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens, nicknamed "Rocket", is a retired American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseballfor four teams. Clemens was one of the most dominant pitchers in major league history, tallying 354 wins, a 3.12 earned run average, and 4,672 strikeouts, the third-most all time. An 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, he won seven Cy Young Awards during his career, the most of any pitcher in history. Clemens was known for his fierce competitive nature...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth4 August 1962
CityDayton, OH
CountryUnited States of America
There will be a week I get up and I feel like I can do it again and then the next week, I don't want to get out in the outfield and start running those poles and doing those things. If last year's World Series was it for me, I'm more than happy. I know we didn't reach our ultimate goal, but it was a lot of fun. I have a lot to think about.
I just wanted to make sure I was ready before I gave (WBC manager) Buck (Martinez) the nod. There's a pride factor. You never want to go out there and embarrass yourself. I'm going to be competing against guys half my age.
Hopefully, we're moving into reaching for higher places, ... The opportunity is there. You know, we see it and hear it and it might not come around again and we might not have that opportunity. We know that there are a handful of us that are a little bit older on this club and might not get that chance, so in that sense there is an urgency.
I still remember my team at UT jumping on me after getting that final out against Alabama to win the National Championship in '83.
Just having him back and having this opportunity now to come to postseason play again with Andy and our guns loaded ... that's nice to have.
I'm sure we'll probably be an underdog. But we've been that before.
I'm sure they could hide me in the outfield. Why not?
I'm sure proud of the guys. It's been a lot of work for us. How 'bout the kid?
I mean, in games like this, it's as important to focus on making pitches. Today I made pitches, quite a few more pitches than I made the other night,
I mean, I'm 43. I can use that as an excuse, can't I?
I know the throwing part of it was fine, and I appreciate the guys letting me get out there and do this. Once we knew we'd be doing the World Game stuff, we talked to (Major League Baseball and got their approval), and it's a nice situation to get out there and get some work done.
I knew when the skipper looked at me and said, 'Put your things on,' he wasn't kidding. So I went out to the bullpen.
I'm looking forward to the next couple weeks. I'm glad they asked me to be a part of this and I'm glad my body responded well enough. I'm here and I'm thankful for it.
The ball was coming out of my hand nice. It's going to make my mind a little more at ease getting ready to head out on this trip.