Around the time when the New Jersey Nets were about to lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, I flipped over to the Yankee game on Fox and saw a man standing with spiky hair and a dark suit, who just happened to be one of the most loathsome players in recent memory: Roger Clemens.
“Well,” said the 44-year-old mercenary, “they came and got me out of Texas. I can tell you it's a privilege to be back."
And just like that Clemens was a Yankee once again. I suppose the Yankees feel they’re doing the right thing by investing about $26 million in Clemens. After all, isn’t it their birthright to play in the postseason every single year and buy, I mean “vie” for a championship? But let me give you three reasons why signing Clemens isn’t such a good thing for the Bronx Bombers.
1. The guy is insincere! Ever since he retired from the Yankees in 2003, he has retired again after the 2004 and 2005 seasons, only to re-sign with Houston both times. Then after the 2006 season he said he was 90% sure he would retire...now this? Clearly this man’s word means nothing.
2. No one is bigger than the game! It’s disappointing that Major League Baseball will allow Clemens to join a team in May instead of February, when ever other pitcher in the league is starting Spring Training. It’s also disappointing that the New York Yankees are giving him the same travel privileges he had with Houston(when he sometimes skipped road trips if he wasn't scheduled to pitch). Since when is it ok for a player to make up his own rules or come and go whenever he pleases?
3. It’s a desperate move! Though it’s hard to ignore Clemens’ success, (he is eighth on the career wins list with 348, second in strikeouts with 4,604 and, oh yeah, he has seven Cy Young Awards) bringing him in at this point in the season is a sign of desperation. Despite the fact that the Yankees (14-15) have a beleaguered pitching staff and are 5 ½ games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, there is still plenty of baseball left to be played. Now is not the time to panic!
Sure it’s nice to have Clemens on any pitching staff but by bringing him in the Yankees are unmistakably sending the message that they believe their current team simply isn’t good enough win…and that’s a problem.
