Saturday, October 16, 2004
Clemens, 42, ready for one for the ages
Failure is not an option for Rocket or Astros
By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service
HOUSTON - It is up to Roger Clemens now. He must be the cavalry to Houston's rescue. The steadying voice at the other end of the 911 line.
He must be the avenger, dispensing fastballs, to slow down the slugging horde from St. Louis.
Which, all in all, is a rare thing to ask of a guy 42 years old. Broadcasters and managers are supposed to come in that vintage. Not the moment's leading man, who is counted on to find a fire extinguisher, before the St. Louis Cardinals burn out of control.
"What he definitely brings to the game, to our team, (is) what he himself feels," manager Phil Garner was saying Friday. "It's not sort of a YMCA, 'I'm going to go out, play the game and have fun' deal.
"This is, 'I love the game, yes. But we're going to win or somebody's going to die.'
"It's almost that serious."
Clemens not feeling age
In this amazing sequel to a career - Roger Clemens II - today will be the latest twist that no one could have seen coming six months ago.
But when does he feel 42? "About 25 minutes after they take me out of every game," he said Friday.
Clemens was born in 1962, the same season as the Astros. Now he must save them.
When Clemens pitched his first major-league game, Albert Pujols was 4 years old. Now he must stop Pujols, the most combustible of all the Cardinals.
The St. Louis hitters have been feasting on Houston pitches. He must be the enforcer. And if that means pitching inside, well, everyone this side of Mike Piazza knows he can do that.
"You'll notice during the game, if I'm making good pitches and guys are getting their nose where they might not should be, you have to adjust," he said, "It's as simple as that."
The Cardinals are rolling. Clemens must turn their momentum into as big a mirage as his own retirement.
The playoffs are full of Clemens' past and present employers. He began with the Red Sox, was once a Yankee, is now an Astro.
All three have sent their championship hopes to the mound with him. He wore his Yankee World Series ring Friday.
Everything has changed, but nothing has.
"I've been in this position before," he said. "I've been in pretty tough situations, when you're backed in the corner.
"I would expect to be anxious tomorrow."
Failure is not an option. Not if the Astros want to stay in this series. Should Clemens be plowed over at home, should the St. Louis lead grow to 3-0, it is all over but the champagne uncorking.
It could even be Clemens' last game. He might not want to come back at 43. "I catch myself every once in awhile thinking about that," he said.
Then again, he retired once before, didn't make it through the winter, returned and went 18-4.
Age can tell a lie. Especially today.
Houston on fire at home
The Astros have scrambled for survival for six weeks. "Pitching with the back of our hair on fire," Clemens called it.
They rely now on their newfound magic touch in Minute Maid Park. They have won 19 of their last 20 home games. It has become the Cameron Indoor Stadium of baseball.
"We had a lot to play for, and we had to win almost every single game coming down the stretch," Jeff Bagwell said, trying to explain the phenomenon. "The numbers kept piling up.
"It's a loud atmosphere to play in right now. I think the guys feel the energy of the crowd."
The noise can make an old player feel young again. Even if he's 42. Roger Clemens is in the arena. One more time.
