11/21/24
October 23, 2003
The Hardest Working Man in Sports: "I want my final legacy to be that I worked harder than any worker in the history of the world has ever worked," Clemens said while doing one-armed pushups during a press conference. "I want people to think, 'Think how much I could accomplish with my life if I occasionally worked half as hard as the Rocket did every day of his career.'"
I hate him too. I think he's a jerk. That being said, I wish Duquette didn't run him out of town.
posted by jerseygirl at 06:27 AM on October 23, 2003
if I occasionally worked half as hard as the Rocket did every day of his career. Nuts to that. Did Peter Gammons get to the folks at Baseball Encyclopedia and have the years 1993-1996 removed? Clemens was an overweight baby who often gave 10% rather than the 110% he gave after leaving. If Duquette had never pushed him out of the nest, he'd still be wearing headphones during every spring training, ignoring the latest manager he was about to run out of town. If only Pedro can have such a Renaissance and improve his image with the media. I think the constants arguments about Clemens between Gammons and Wil McDonough were what drove Gammons to ESPN.
posted by yerfatma at 06:38 AM on October 23, 2003
I think he's been a very fantastic pitcher, one of the best of his generation...what a fitting ending to his career. Funny article too, thanks justgary.
posted by therev at 06:39 AM on October 23, 2003
I'm fairly sure those quotes are fabricated/exaggerated, aren't they? Or did Caple just use them and make everything else up? Therev, it would have been more fitting if the Yankees offense wasn't god damned terrible and he got a W out of it. But the final strikeout at the end of 7 was fitting... So he's done, Wells could be done, Pettitte is looking more and more likely to be gone, damn, this could be a problem, especially considering the fact that Weaver sucks and Lieber can't be trusted yet.
posted by Bernreuther at 08:11 AM on October 23, 2003
Is it just me or does it sound like Caple doesn't like Clemens all that much. Gotta say - that it was damn fine of them Florida folk to send him off like that last night. I hope he is used in relief in game 7 so New York can give him a send off too.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:21 AM on October 23, 2003
ayone else think the standing O was because the Marlins were leading at that point? (not always a pessimist, but usually.) a nice gesture regardless. either way, it was cool to see Roger get a hit (almost 2) and pump his fist for capitalizing on what he could control, striking out his last batter.
posted by garfield at 09:27 AM on October 23, 2003
I really admire Roger as a baseball player even though I never really had anything invested in his performance. Here are his career stats, since it seems like we are eulogizing his career. He was a decent pitcher even in those years from 93-96, despite a middling record and injuries. So where does he fit in with the rest of the pitchers in Cooperstown? BR lists his top 5 similar pitchers as Palmer, Seaver, Grove, Maddox, and Gibson. That seems about right to me. Here is an old Rob Neyer column debating the best post-war pitcher topic. He says it's Seaver, with Clemens right behind. Won't Cashman and Steinbrenner do everything they can to keep Pettitte? Is Pettitte is making noise about leaving town?
posted by mbd1 at 09:54 AM on October 23, 2003
Pettitte's wife is making noise about leaving town. Pettitte may be swayed by the lack of Roger, the pending lack of Joe and Mel (maybe not next year, but certainly before his contract ends), and thus could very easily sign with one of the Texas teams if they offered, since it'd be closer to home and please the wife. They'll do everything in their power, but ultimately he may choose not to return. I think he has a good deal of loyalty, but it's still not a guarantee.
posted by Bernreuther at 10:13 AM on October 23, 2003
I find that to be very hard to fathom. I can understand people who never wnat to be Yankees, but Petitte has always been one, been crazy successful and won 5 championships. If he stays with George and co. he could win 250 - 300 games barring injury. Plus, he'll get paid. Clemens behind Seaver? I would challenge that. Clemens is retiring at the right time though. At 41 to go 17-5 and finish up with good starts in the post-season I say he's doing it right.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:31 AM on October 23, 2003
Let me just say that I hate ESPN.com's Page 2. Every fecking time I heedlessly click through one of these links my browser (SlimBrowser) blows up and I have to use Task Manager to shut SB down.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:53 PM on October 23, 2003
The only thing Roger "worked hard at" in Beantown, was throwing down the 'Chowda'!
posted by lilnemo at 01:35 PM on October 23, 2003
It was 17-9, wasn't it? Either way, he didn't hang on too long like Nolan Ryan did. Anyway, Weedy, I can only hope you're right, but it seems like he might be a bit whipped by the wife, and she really wants him in texas.
posted by Bernreuther at 03:09 PM on October 23, 2003
Is it just me or does it sound like Caple doesn't like Clemens all that much. I don't think he likes him at all, and sounds, as I am, annoyed with all the 'he walks on water' talk when it comes to clemens. I can't stand him for many, many reasons. Don't get me wrong. I think he was once a great pitcher, and has been a very good pitcher for a long, long time. Far longer than I would have guessed. That said I find it amusing that going to the yankees and growing older seems to have made all opinions about clemens glowing. From not keeping his mouth shut and getting thrown out of a playoff game, from asking out of the 6th game of the 86 world series (that's what I believe), from the whole head-hunting/throwing the bat at piazza (he really should keep his mouth shut when it comes to martinez) from beginning each of his 4 kids' names with K (how narcissistic can you get?), to demanding to go to the hall with a yankees cap, clemens has always been full of crap. But now clemens has the mystique of the yankees behind him, and all is well. Look at clemens touch the ruth monument! What class? What crap! Clemens knows that being associated with the yankees (and ruth) makes him even bigger in baseball history, despite the fact that the yankees were good before clemens and will be good without clemens. I should also add that I only saw clemens in person one time. It was at Logan airport. Maybe he was having a bad day, but let's just say he wasn't the friendliest player I've ever met. I just thank god he's not leaving as a world series champion. Actually, he lucked out. He very well could have left on two losses, and should have left sending the red sox to the world series. How poetic that would have been.
posted by justgary at 11:16 PM on October 25, 2003
I hate Clemens. I'm going to miss him.