I just want to clarify, because a few letter-writers have taken Clemens to task for wanting to be traded to a contender, or complaining, etc.

Unless I read it wrong, and I don't think I did, Stark was speaking for himself, saying HE (Stark) thought it was wrong of the Astros not to trade Clemens. Clemens himself has not, as far as I know, expressed an opinion on the matter.

I'll admit, I cheated a little by leaving off last year (although this was laziness more than anything else). I'd contend that his failures (and blowups) happen to be particularly memorable.

1986, for example. I don't know why he was pulled (there was much speculation). He'd pitched a fine game, but we all know what happened. Similarly, the Piazza bat incident is well remembered. You're right that he coulda been tossed right there, and it was big news, more well remembered than the actual effort.

But again, these are two of his most famous meltdowns, and the actual pitching was pretty good.

Personally, I think I'd take 1990 off the list: the Sox had been outscored 17-3 in the first 3 games, and no team had ever come back from 3-0 at that point. Not impossible, but not the same as a game 6 elimination or something. It makes the point he is unstable (no argument here), but doesn't really fit the "big game," at least to my thinking.

Not saying he's never had a bad game. And if you are a manager, better grab some Tums, cause Roger can be an adventure, and if something bad does happen it is likely to be memorable. But the results are actually pretty good. (Unlike, say, Morris, who was great at times, forgetably bad a few times, but most memorable in '91 at his best).

brad-

I dunno, it seems I can't read about steroids or about Clemens where someone doesn't mention the possibility. It only took a dozen comments for two people to bring it up here. I think there is a healthy (and valid) suspicion that surrounds him.

I'm currently a denizen of the Bay Area, so most of the steroid talk out here naturally centers around Barry Bonds and other hitters such as Canseco,McGwire,Palmeiro, and Sosa. After Googling Clemens and steriods,however, I guess I've not been looking in all the right places.

As far as not being a big game pitcher... that is an urban myth: before last October his World Series record was 7 GS, 3-0, 1.91 ERA, 4K:BB, 0.95 WHIP, and his overall playoff record was perfectly comparable to his regular season stats.

If you don't need to win a game that you absolutely have to win, Clemens is fine since he'd certainly help you get there. But consider this:

1986 - Clemens's mysterious disappearance from Game 6 of the World Series. Did he ask to be taken out or did McNamara yank him for...Calvin Scharaldi?

1990 - Clemens gets ejected in the 2nd inning of Game 4 for arguing a ball or strike call. What kind of pitcher does that? It was a game the Bosox had to win to keep from being eliminated by the A's (they were)

2000 - In Game 2 Clemens loses his mind and throws the barrel of a broken bat at Mike Piazza. If he hadn't rightfully been ejected or, failing that, Piazza had punched him out, maybe he wouldn't have shut down the Mets for the rest of the game. (yeah, I know)

2003 - Clemens gets lit up for four runs in Game 7 of the ALCS vs Boston after 3+ innings. The Yanks won anyway, no thanks to him.

2005 - I know you excluded this fiasco, but he lasted two innings in Game 1.

Would you really want to hand this guy the ball in a do or die postseason situation? Koufax would have done the job without throwing at anyone. Gibson on the otherhand...

The real question about guys like Clemens (and Bonds) is whether or not they can limit the perception of their certainly-doped-eras to a brief enough window of time in order to enable their probably-clean-eras to carry them into Cooperstown. That, and keeping their doping-enablers out of the gunsights of the feds.

Rings are so passe', now that the HOF is no slam dunk for these guys...

Maybe Clemens could take Don Felder's place with the Eagles on their equally endless "farewell" tour.

One more thing about Clemens: despite his great numbers and his endurance (why is the possibility of juicing hardly ever mentioned?), Clemens has never been much of a big game pitcher. If I had one game I had to win, Clemens wouldn't be on my short list. Juan Marichal, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, hell, Jack Morris anyone?

I dunno, it seems I can't read about steroids or about Clemens where someone doesn't mention the possibility. It only took a dozen comments for two people to bring it up here. I think there is a healthy (and valid) suspicion that surrounds him.

As far as not being a big game pitcher... that is an urban myth: before last October his World Series record was 7 GS, 3-0, 1.91 ERA, 4K:BB, 0.95 WHIP, and his overall playoff record was perfectly comparable to his regular season stats.

As has been pointed out, this seems more about the media than about Clemens. The thought that The Astros owe Clemens anything more that the fortune they are paying him is ludicrous. He had his chance to sign with a more probable contender and took the easy swag instead.

One more thing about Clemens: despite his great numbers and his endurance (why is the possibility of juicing hardly ever mentioned?), Clemens has never been much of a big game pitcher. If I had one game I had to win, Clemens wouldn't be on my short list. Juan Marichal, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, hell, Jack Morris anyone?

Jenbynight is right on. I can’t believe how many sportswriters are still drinking the Clemens kool-aid. He’s with the Astros because it was an easy way to pitch, stay home and earn tons of cash. He’s starting to rival boxers and Brett Farve for wavering on the retirement date. Enough already.

Jack Burden is right about Roger not being as important to the fans as he is to the media. They need something to talk about.

Judging by the increase in Roger’s velocity between his stint with Tornonto and his tenure in New York, I’d bet he doesn’t lag far behind Bonds in the juice department. Still, Clemens is arguably the greatest pitcher of my lifetime and one I’ve been privileged to watch.

The person Clemens reminds me of the most is Jimmy Connors. Jimmy and Roger are all about… “me! me me me me me!” They love to talk about how they’re grinding it out, they’re working so hard, their bodies are falling apart, it’s all about grit and guts…blah blah blah. They build their own mythology.

That doesn’t take away from what they’ve accomplished, but both men were not always selfless team-first guys. Rog wanted the dough. Connors routinely turned down the opportunity to represent the US in Davis Cup. McEnroe was the Davis Cup stalwart (then Agassi, and now Roddick).

I know King doesn’t like to talk tennis, but let me just say that Connors is coaching Andy Roddick now, and I wish Roddick well, but make no mistake, it’s still about Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy! Journalist Pete Bodo has a great post about Connors over on the tennis.com blog. About Connors playing with hate in his heart.

Remember when Agassi smashed Connors at the US Open, and some guy yelled out “c’mon Jimmy, beat him, he’s a punk!” Bet we hear that again when Agassi, whose back is just a wreck right now, is getting beat by some kid in the fourth round.

By the way, please check out Rafael Nadal. He reminds me of LeBron James. They were teenagers with the bodies of men. Their competitiveness and maturity and athleticism at the ages of 20 and 22 respectively is simply mind-boggling.