Clemens decides he will play for Yankees

[TDmvp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2862088



i hate baseball .... and the yanks ...

[DBruleU]

Why does this guy seem to always make a decision about a month or two into the season? Can't he make up his mind by about Feb?

He seems like a drama queen to me.

[Hogan11]

He's gotta follow his butt boy Andy everywhere it appears.

Oh well, at least he's out of the National League.

[Barry Ramey]

Clemens wants to be seen as a savior and saw the Yanks as the team that needs him most, plus the Astros aren't going anywhere. He is a drama queen and I hope he gets lit up all season long.

[-Slap-]

This kind of front running prima donna crap certainly wouldn't have flown when I was a kid. Of course, asking for special accommodations to extend their careers in comfort would have never crossed the minds of guys like Gibson and Seaver in the first place.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by DBruleU

Why does this guy seem to always make a decision about a month or two into the season?

Because he can.

[DBruleU]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Because he can.

Gee, I never thought about that.

[PatsWin2002]

I figured NY would be his third choice. Wow...he went for the Evil Empire $$$$$.

I think they are beyond his help right now. Good!

[Jens1893]

Didn´t think he´d make up his mind by June or July ... George must have offered some extra $$$ ... god knows the Yankees´ rotation needs help.

[Tombstone RJ]

You gotta also know that Steinbrenner(sp?) is probably throwing all kinds of money at Clemens, begging him to come back. At this point, money is not an issue anymore, it's about saving the season (and Torre's job).

[MechanicalBull]

Clemens is one of my favorite players of all time but I hate it how he does this every year. Enough with guys like him and Favre and this fake "Am I going to retire or not?" deal.

[watermock]

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

I figured NY would be his third choice. Wow...he went for the Evil Empire $$$$$.

I think they are beyond his help right now. Good!

Sorry, Oakland is the evil fallen empire, followed by your Patsies.

[watermock]

Clemens doesn't even show up except for a start. Regardless, the Yankees are desperate after another pitcher popped an elbow.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by DBruleU

Gee, I never thought about that.

Well, that's as simple as it is. Clemens can extend his career many years by playing truncated seasons. Teams will pay him because he's that good.

The guy makes his decision a month or two into the season because he can.

[PatsWin2002]

Boston was the best story. It was a way to finish where he started....no pressure after the 2004 win.

This year we don't even need him if all our pitchers stay healthy. He could've just gone for the ride and helped us punish NY and keep them down.

I think he made the wrong decision for the wrong reason.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

Boston was the best story. It was a way to finish where he started...

You think this is Clemens last season? I don't. I think we're going to get this same story for the next 3 years.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

Boston was the best story. It was a way to finish where he started....no pressure after the 2004 win.

This year we don't even need him if all our pitchers stay healthy. He could've just gone for the ride and helped us punish NY and keep them down.

I think he made the wrong decision for the wrong reason.

I can't stand the Yankees either, but it makes more sense for Clemens to go to NY. First, the Yankees NEED him, and they will PAY big bucks for his services. Secondly, if he helps the Yankees win and they get to the post season, he's seen as Superman. If the Yankees tank, it's not his fault because they suck anyway, and it was a desperate move (and he still makes $20m).

[MechanicalBull]

Originally Posted by Taco John

You think this is Clemens last season? I don't. I think we're going to get this same story for the next 3 years.

I agree, I don't think it's his last season unless the Yanks win the World Series then he might call it a career if he feels like it. ESPN is reporting he will be ready to go in about 1-2 months.

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

Boston was the best story. It was a way to finish where he started....no pressure after the 2004 win.

This year we don't even need him if all our pitchers stay healthy. He could've just gone for the ride and helped us punish NY and keep them down.

I think he made the wrong decision for the wrong reason.

As if you ****ing need a pitcher of Clemens´ caliber with Beckett, Schilling and Dice-K. Adding Clemens to that would be almost unfair. How the **** could you beat a 4 men rotation of Beckett, Schilling, Clemens and Dice-K in a 7 game series?

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by Jens1893

As if you ****ing need a pitcher of Clemens´ caliber with Beckett, Schilling and Dice-K. Adding Clemens to that would be almost unfair. How the **** could you beat a 4 men rotation of Beckett, Schilling, Clemens and Dice-K in a 7 game series?

Sssshhhh, don't remind Boston fan that the only team they don't outspend is the Yankees.

[Drek]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

Sssshhhh, don't remind Boston fan that the only team they don't outspend is the Yankees.

And the gap between the Sox and Yankees ($52M) is bigger than the gap between the Sox and the #15 payroll Houston Astros. So?

For several years now the Sox have been back and forth with the Mets for #2 and Chicago, Anaheim, and L.A. have been nipping at their heels. This year when those teams only marginally increased payroll the Sox added Matsuzaka, Drew, and Lugo, a preemptive move to get maximum return out of the last year on each of Schilling's and Lowell's contracts, with Manny and Varitek only two years removed from the end of their tenure.

The Sox saw a window in which to win now, they hit it hard and so far its paying off. You'll likely see their payroll normalize as older contracts retire or move on. Meanwhile the Yankees will constantly keep their payroll high enough to cover two other top 5 teams.

Clemens choosing the Yankees doesn't surprise me. The Sox have a solid top four (Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield) and a handful of options for #5 (Tavarez, Hansack, and most importantly Lester). They aren't in desperate need and therefore aren't offering crazy money.

Meanwhile the Yankees' rotation is in absolute disarray. They'll pay more (reportedly $28M contract prorated for the two months he's missed, making him $20M, last year he had a $22M contract prorated to $12M), put up with more, and give him the chance to play the hero again. Clemens is arguably the best pitcher of all time but he is the poster child for self absorbed athletes.

I'm sure Clemens sees this as a great chance to be the white knight saving the day in New York once again, then he'll replay this drama again next year. He won't go to the Red Sox until he's truly ready to retire because thats the storybook ending he craves. Personally I'm hoping Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester are so damn good that the Sox don't even waste their time.

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by Drek

And the gap between the Sox and Yankees ($52M) is bigger than the gap between the Sox and the #15 payroll Houston Astros. So?

For several years now the Sox have been back and forth with the Mets for #2 and Chicago, Anaheim, and L.A. have been nipping at their heels. This year when those teams only marginally increased payroll the Sox added Matsuzaka, Drew, and Lugo, a preemptive move to get maximum return out of the last year on each of Schilling's and Lowell's contracts, with Manny and Varitek only two years removed from the end of their tenure.

The Sox saw a window in which to win now, they hit it hard and so far its paying off. You'll likely see their payroll normalize as older contracts retire or move on. Meanwhile the Yankees will constantly keep their payroll high enough to cover two other top 5 teams.

Clemens choosing the Yankees doesn't surprise me. The Sox have a solid top four (Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield) and a handful of options for #5 (Tavarez, Hansack, and most importantly Lester). They aren't in desperate need and therefore aren't offering crazy money.

Meanwhile the Yankees' rotation is in absolute disarray. They'll pay more (reportedly $28M contract prorated for the two months he's missed, making him $20M, last year he had a $22M contract prorated to $12M), put up with more, and give him the chance to play the hero again. Clemens is arguably the best pitcher of all time but he is the poster child for self absorbed athletes.

I'm sure Clemens sees this as a great chance to be the white knight saving the day in New York once again, then he'll replay this drama again next year. He won't go to the Red Sox until he's truly ready to retire because thats the storybook ending he craves. Personally I'm hoping Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester are so damn good that the Sox don't even waste their time.

Whatever makes you feel better about it. To most of the rest of the league, the Red Sox aren't much different from the Yankees, whether you want to believe it or not. Paying $50 million just for the chance to talk to a pitcher tends to do that.

[rbackfactory80]

My friend was a caddy for Clemens at a golf club in Arizona and he called him Mr. Clemens. Clemens looked down at him and told my friend never to call him that and if he had anything to say to him call him the rocket. What a dick.

[TheChamp24]

Really, I think I'm losing respect for Clemens. Wait until some team throws $28 million at you in May, then only pitch for half a season not really caring what happens. Yeah, whatever.

[PatsWin2002]

Originally Posted by Drek

And the gap between the Sox and Yankees ($52M) is bigger than the gap between the Sox and the #15 payroll Houston Astros. So?

For several years now the Sox have been back and forth with the Mets for #2 and Chicago, Anaheim, and L.A. have been nipping at their heels. This year when those teams only marginally increased payroll the Sox added Matsuzaka, Drew, and Lugo, a preemptive move to get maximum return out of the last year on each of Schilling's and Lowell's contracts, with Manny and Varitek only two years removed from the end of their tenure.

The Sox saw a window in which to win now, they hit it hard and so far its paying off. You'll likely see their payroll normalize as older contracts retire or move on. Meanwhile the Yankees will constantly keep their payroll high enough to cover two other top 5 teams.

Clemens choosing the Yankees doesn't surprise me. The Sox have a solid top four (Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield) and a handful of options for #5 (Tavarez, Hansack, and most importantly Lester). They aren't in desperate need and therefore aren't offering crazy money.

Meanwhile the Yankees' rotation is in absolute disarray. They'll pay more (reportedly $28M contract prorated for the two months he's missed, making him $20M, last year he had a $22M contract prorated to $12M), put up with more, and give him the chance to play the hero again. Clemens is arguably the best pitcher of all time but he is the poster child for self absorbed athletes.

I'm sure Clemens sees this as a great chance to be the white knight saving the day in New York once again, then he'll replay this drama again next year. He won't go to the Red Sox until he's truly ready to retire because thats the storybook ending he craves. Personally I'm hoping Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester are so damn good that the Sox don't even waste their time.

Drek, you're my new favorite poster.

Thankfully the Red Sox can spend what they can, but believe me, they have squeezed out every of the Fenway area to be able to compete with NY.

Management has had to be very creative and has had to add new roof seats every year!

We are MAXED OUT to get that close to the Yankees. What's scary is that nobody knows what the Yankees' ceiling even is. George would spend $300 million if it guaranteed him a championship.

So, from Denver, I'm sure the Red Sox and Yankees look similar, but NY is the driving force behind it all. We're just trying to keep up. And we really are much closer to the rest of the pack than people think.

NY isn't called The Evil Empire for nothing ya know.