Comments on: Roger Clemens on verge of taking “active role” with Astros

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:28:54 +0000

stex: I would like to say that where I am is on the roof of the Walgreens across the street from Macondo Banana Massacre Field with my paintball gun, waiting for a chance to plant a brown stain right between Scrooge McLoria’s eyes as he’s climbing into his limousine.

Unfortunately, I’m not that good a shot – I wouldn’t want to hit the Chihuahua instead and knock the little twerp on his nates, of course.

In any case there’s an ongoing federal investigation of what went down with the entire negotiation for building the stadium. What the legal status of this ownership is remains to be seen. For me, despite my opposition to the Patriot Act, I’m perfectly comfortable in this particular case with guilty until proven innocent.

By: stex52

stex52 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:51:21 +0000

You know, I have absolutely no idea (kind of refreshing to have someone admit that, doesn’t it?). I don’t know what they want him for. I understood the general M.O of Luhnow’s moves last year, when wholesale delayering and stripping was the order of business.

So far in the off season we have seen them do relatively little and to my eye what they have done doesn’t accomplish much, if not being outright harmful. The only clear message I come up with watching the staff is that they expect a looooooooooooonnng interim of poor play. Doesn’t sit very well.

They may also be very disappointed in the patience of Houston fans. They will be making too much money off of a cheap lineup to expect patience.

By: thereisaparty

thereisaparty — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:05:28 +0000

@simonfoster

Senators BA rank among AL teams in ’68: 9/10
Senators/Rangers BA rank w/ Ted Williams as manager: 3/12, 11/12, 11/12, 11/12
Rangers BA rank in ’73: 9/12

There are too many variables here at play, but even by the stat you chose to measure him by, Ted Williams as manager does not look like a success.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:36:58 +0000

Are they doing that though? I think they are just saying “this is a guy that can help, that wants to help, so let’s take advantage of it”. StL didn’t try to make McGwire the face of anything, and the media quickly just left him alone even though his was with the MLB team every day. I bet this turns into a non-story except for pitchers occasionally giving Clemens credit for helping them develop a pitch or refining their approach to pitching.

By: makeham98

makeham98 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:52:43 +0000

What’s the evidence anyone has on Clemens? MacNamee? Just garbage. The standard of proof is now “prove that you never beat your wife”?

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:13:48 +0000

Well, once upon a time we were questioning the Cardinals hiring Mark McGwire as a Hitting Coach… 1 World Series victory later…

By: stex52

stex52 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:11:35 +0000

Do you seriously think he was clean? All they proved in court was he wasn’t legally liable for lying to Congress. Barry Bonds got off, too.

By: stex52

stex52 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:08:56 +0000

I wouldn’t bet on this one, Paper. They went out to the Skeeters game for him. (Hell, I almost did that). But I don’t think he is in much better odor in Houston than he is elsewhere.

He may be an asset to the organization in some respect. The young players do actually seem to respond pretty well to him. And he is clearly looking for something to do.

But I think making him some kind of face of the franchise would be a mistake. It would be a big one from my point of view.

By: makeham98

makeham98 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:33:13 +0000

Amazing how badly people want to “get” someone they don’t like. . . believing the garbage from the Mitchell Report is an illness for some people. Clemens faced his accusers and prevailed. Move on from your pettiness.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:14:56 +0000

Anyone that states this is bad PR don’t understand at least two things. First, how PR works in general. This would be a PR neutral move at worst. Second, the love of Texans for their own (which isn’t particularly different than anywhere else, just a stronger effect). If this has any PR effect whatsoever it will be 100% positive. Just because a few of you hate Clemens and he may be a miserable human being doesn’t mean that he won’t have a positive effect on Houston’s organization or that Astros fans are obliged to hate him (they don’t and won’t).

By: stex52

stex52 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:00:32 +0000

Let’s assume that it’s true half weren’t in organized sports. It probably isn’t.

So what? Does that prove something?

By: ctownwriter

ctownwriter — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:47:54 +0000

Most of you are idiots. Seven CY Young awards dont happen because of HGH . Half of you probably never played organized sports.

By: stex52

stex52 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:35:55 +0000

Hey, Harry? Back for a quick troll, or are you going to troll around for a while?

By: stex52

stex52 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:17:13 +0000

I was thinking PR Consultant. I mean who else could turn one of the best pitching careers of the last 50 years into a subject of scorn and contempt?

The man is an overbearing ass with the ethics of an alley cat. I imagine they think (correctly) that he can help young pitchers develop. He seems to have done some of that in the past. But he certainly comes with a lot of baggage to a franchise does not need baggage.

Gator, I’m not quite where you are with the home team. I wouldn’t characterize them as a criminal enterprise. But I am baffled by a lot of their moves so far.

By: rigatonikid

rigatonikid — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:00:49 +0000

Pot meet Kettle?

By: henryd3rd

henryd3rd — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:41:43 +0000

Pettite had that move down way long before he and Clemens became team mates. Next thing we’ll hear is Conseco is going to work in the PR department for MLB and Barry Bonds will be working with player development for the Marlins.

By: jwbiii

jwbiii — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:06:15 +0000

I always figured Clemens’ “personal services” contract involved either golfing with McLane and his buddies or rubbing Icy Hot on McLane’s privates before business meetings.

By: simonfoster231171

simonfoster231171 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:59:19 +0000

The evidence as displayed in the batting averages of the Senators during the 1st year of Williams’ managing career would seem to negate that remark …

By: tuberippin

tuberippin — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 07:21:50 +0000

He will have an active role in attempting to inject the majority of the Astros’ lineup with enough steroids to make them league-average ballplayers. One step forward in 2013!!

By: dirtyharry1971

dirtyharry1971 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 07:10:34 +0000

Im really happy for Clemens, this board is loaded with scumbags and we got lots of scumbags that start the stories here. But with that said he was never proven in a court of law to be guilty of anything and he is the best post WW2 pitcher of all time and if you dont agree its because you are a stupid hater like proudly is. I hope you all drop dead

By: thereisaparty

thereisaparty — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:05:04 +0000

We have just witnessed a very similar thing just play out in St. Louis. Hiring Big Mac seemed to have worked on all fronts: no bad PR for the Cardinals, positive PR for McGwire, and an impressive offensive output.

By: thereisaparty

thereisaparty — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:01:22 +0000

If they wanted to get Clemens in a uniform, they would’ve.

By: mazblast

mazblast — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:57:03 +0000

If Clemens is around, you can bet that MLB will be paying special attention to Astros organization pitchers.

“Yes, we know we came around for a sample three days ago. We’re here again, fill ‘er up.”

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:54:41 +0000

Pete Rose
Roger Clemens
Barry Bonds

Who are 3 players I would not want associated with my team in 2013 and beyond Alex?

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:52:25 +0000

Same guys that wanted to get Clemens in a uniform and out on the field last year as some PR stunt.
You don’t find that to be an embarrassment? I do

Absolute joke

By: thereisaparty

thereisaparty — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:50:50 +0000

I think Clemens is the best pitcher of all time. It is not crazy to suggest this. Most people would consider him to easily be top 3. I threw in “arguably”, in parentheses no less, to placate those who would focus on that assessment. And no, Heyman would not say that Jack Morris is the the greatest pitcher of all time.

In regards to calling me a homer, I am not by any measure an Astros fan. I respect the moves that have been made throughout the organization since the change in ownership. And I appreciate Roger Clemens’ immense accomplishments.

By: bozosforall

bozosforall — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:45:45 +0000

If Clemens had retired as a Red Sox player, every loser Boston fan like you would be championing Roger. But because you all are just butt hurt that Roger went on and got more, you all just cry lie the little Puh C’s that you all are.

By: thereisaparty

thereisaparty — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:44:16 +0000

Gator: People didn’t know Williams couldn’t teach. We don’t know if Clemens can or cannot teach. The media’s (and audience’s) perception of the player does not affect his ability to relate to and/or mentor players.

By: riverace19

riverace19 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:41:40 +0000

Guess what? Jack Morris wasn’t that great. He was a grinder who had one memorable playoff performance. What is the harm of bringing Clemens in with the Astros? What do they have to lose at this point? You guys just settle down.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:22:18 +0000

And Clemens does love being exploited, boy howdy.