The Houston Astros arrived at RFK Stadium yesterday afternoon without their most renowned player. Where was Roger Clemens? Had the Rocket misfired and landed somewhere else?
A locker was set up for No. 22 in the visitors’ clubhouse, but the future Hall of Famer was nowhere to be found. Teammates last saw him in St. Louis five days ago, skipping a subsequent four-game series in Pittsburgh.
Did Clemens need a midseason vacation in his 22nd year of major league pitching? Was anybody concerned about his absence?
“I never have to worry about him,” Astros manager Phil Garner said. “[The mini-vacation] is something you probably wouldn’t do with anybody else. … It was important that we give him this time of freedom. I don’t think he would have come back this season if he didn’t have that.”
The right-hander received an $18 million one-year contract in the offseason to pitch every fifth day and do whatever he wants on off days. Instead of being in Pittsburgh earlier this week, Clemens was in Greenville, Tenn., watching his 18-year-old son, Kobe, make his minor league debut as a third baseman for the Astros’ rookie team.
All Garner cares about is that the seven-time Cy Award winner with 335 victories shows up for his scheduled starts. The soon-to-be 43-year-old fireballing right-hander will be on the mound tonight for his turn in the rotation against the Washington Nationals.
“It’s a unique situation,” said Houston second baseman Craig Biggio, a perennial All-Star along with Clemens. “But when he comes out to pitch [today], that man will be ready to pitch. That’s what he is all about.”
The deal coaxed Clemens, who won the National League Cy Young last season with an 18-4 record and 2.98 ERA, out of retirement and allows him to spend more time with his wife and four sons at their home outside Houston. And this season Clemens has been his usual overpowering self despite — or maybe because of — the unorthodox schedule. He has a 7-4 record with a 1.47 ERA, the latter leading major league starters by nearly a full run.
Clemens has 113 strikeouts on his way to his way to recording 200 for a 13th season. On the road, he has been nearly untouchable with an 0.34 ERA. In eight starts away from Minute Maid Park, he has allowed two earned runs.
“You can legitimately say he should not have lost this year,” Garner told reporters Sunday after Clemens allowed one run in seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Cardinals. “He should have had a decision in every game, and it should have been a win if we just hit the ball at all.”
There seems no ill will among teammates toward Clemens’ family-friendly schedule — perhaps because he is so successful and such a hallowed figure in his hometown. However, at least Biggio sounds a bit envious.
“He is doing a lot of things that a lot of guys wish they could, but they are still working,” said Biggio, who played in his 2,500th major league game last week at 39. “When you have kids, you miss out on a lot. As an everyday player, you can’t do that. As a pitcher, in his situation, he is able to do it. I am happy for him. I think he is glad he was able to go see his son’s first at-bat in the minor leagues. It’s a special situation that is warranted for a special individual. He has earned it.”
Clemens, who has a career record of 335-168 with a 3.13 ERA, made the transition from intimidating pitcher to encouraging dad within moments after Sunday’s game as he began thinking about Kobe, the Astros’ eighth-round draft pick.
“He is a man now,” Clemens told the Houston Chronicle. “I am going to see some of his firsts. And then I will get back and lock in on my job.”
Tonight the Astros know exactly where he will be — and probably to the Nationals’ regret.
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