News / Sports
Roger Clemens Back in New York Yankees Uniform for Saturday Start
Roger Clemens will take the mound on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates wearing the familiar number 22 on his back with every New York Yankees fan holding their breath.
Currently 10.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, the New York Yankees are hoping that Clemens will infuse their staff with the same type of intensity he displayed when he captured two World Series titles with the club.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner spent the last three seasons on the hill for the Houston Astros but New York lured him back to the city with a $28 million contract and the prospect of adding one more ring to his collection.
Saturday will be a good indicator of whether or not that will happen.
After three minor league starts Clemens has said he’s ready to face major league hitters and he has the good fortune of hurling against an opponent he has dominated in the past. Over his career Clemens has bested the Pirates on five of six occasions and last year collected a 2-0 record against the Bucs.
Yankees manager Joe Torre isn’t looking for Clemens to come out and throw nine but rather a good five to six innings would be an impressive debut. More important than innings is the number of pitches Clemens throws and Torre doesn’t expect him to top 90 before he calls the bullpen.
The 44-year-old Clemens has compiled a 348-178 mark in his 23-years with a 3.10 ERA and 4,604 strikeouts.
