Roger Clemens: Astros owner thinks righty could pitch for Houston

Clemens earned $160 million and won 354 games in a 24-year career with the Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays and Astros. His 4,672 strikeouts are third-most and he was selected for 11 All-Star games.

Clemens had two great seasons with the Astros after he turned 40, going 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 2004 to win his record seventh Cy Young Award. He was 13-8 with a career-low 1.87 ERA in 2005.

The Rocket’s fastball was clocked at as high as 88 mph, and he also threw curves and splitters in his starts for the Skeeters.

But it seems he isn’t sure if his stuff is major league ready at this point.

“I don’t think I could make an impact,” Clemens said last week when asked about pitching for the Astros. “I think it would be fun for a lot of people, but it would take a lot of work to do and to perform the way I would want to perform. My mind says yes. My body says no.”

Clemens‘ re-emergence with the Skeeters is the first time he has been in the spotlight since he was acquitted of charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens was accused by former personal trainer Brian McNamee in the Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball of using steroids and HGH, allegations Clemens denied before Congress. The Justice Department began an investigation concerning whether Clemens had lied under oath, and in 2010 a grand jury indicted him on two counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstructing Congress.

He was acquitted of all the charges on June 19 after a 10-week trial and had largely stayed out of the public spotlight until signing with the Skeeters on Aug. 20.

Also Monday, Crane said the Astros are beginning the process of hiring a new manager to replace the fired Brad Mills. Crane said they have narrowed down their list to about six candidates and will begin interviews this week.

He would not name any of the candidates, but said interim manager Tony DeFrancesco would be considered.

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