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
I worry more about the man's health than I do about him hitting home runs or whatever this witch hunt we're on.
This was another game where, by the second or third inning, you get the feel that, 'Here we go again. You want to have good stuff and make good pitches. Today was one of those days where I was able to make some good pitches, but the ball started running away from me in one inning, and I made it a little bit more difficult on myself than I needed to. Overall, it was a battle.
The process was long and hard on me. When everybody was out having a good time, I'm running trying to get my body ready.
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 planned on pitching the whole time, ... No way I was going to run out on the team.
I figured I'd get strike one on the kid with a fastball, 92, 93 mph, and he runs into it. So, of course, I was a little pissed. I said, 'OK, if that's the way it's going to be.' So next time up, I went in on him.
I appreciate what my teammates said to me tonight, ... I told them there was no way I was going to run out on them for what they've done for me over the last few years.
I mean what I featured out there tonight to allow them to get up by four runs and then add to that, it's just not going to get it done. I don't care who you're facing or who you're playing, it's not going to get it done.
My main concern is when it's 2-0, I've got to keep it at 2-0. It gives us a little more of a chance. To give up four more runs, that isn't going to get it done. I don't care who you're facing or who you're playing, it's not going to get it done.
We tried to encourage him on many occasions to come out and work with us. He was a big-bodied kid. It was a lot of fun when he started showing up in the mornings, working with us. We had fun and got to know him better.
We were like two tired old men walking out of the tunnel, and then we were like two kids having a good time. We were holding each other up.
When I step away from the game, our game is in good hands. We have some good, young talented players, everyday guys, and definitely pitchers. He's right there at the top of the list. You feel you pass the baton along to the next generation of guys. I think the fans out here will enjoy this kid for a long time.
I've never really been nervous at all in my playoff experiences,
It was worth the wait. This is for the city. This is for our fans at home.