Roger Clemens looked pretty good in his return to baseball Saturday night, of course with the exception of those blonde highlights… Seriously though, for a 50 year-old who hasn’t stepped on a mound in five years, it was pretty impressive.
Now all of this has to be taken in context. Clemens threw 3 1/3 shut out innings, for the Independent league Sugar Land Skeeters. Is what he did really that impressive? I’ll give it a 7 out of 10, and a nice golf clap.
What I like more than actual performance that Clemens put on, is just the fact that he wanted to do it. He can say it was all about bringing some people out to the ballpark in Sugar Land, but we all know what this is about. It’s about MLB, and specifically the Hall of Fame.
I’m not completely sold that Clemens is going to try and make one last run in the majors, but I’m certainly not ruling it out either. On one hand, I just want the whole Clemens/PED cloud to go away.
On the other hand, the baseball fan side, I’d really like to see him give it a shot. I’d like to see him prove the “doubters” wrong. If Clemens could be successful at 50, and for sure not be on PEDs, wouldn’t that have to change the minds of some who think he’s a cheater and a liar?
Talk about storylines galore…
Regardless of his performance, if he did come back, would anyone be vindicated? Just because a 50 year-old fails in the majors, it doesn’t mean used PEDs, after all he’s 50; but if he could rekindle some of his old magic, it might go a long ways towards clearing his name in eyes of many. But there’s still a chance we could be in the same position we are now, with the majority of fans believing he’s a cheater.
Personally, I think Roger Clemens was a stud with or without PEDs. I do believe he used them later in his career, and I don’t think his career would of lasted as long as it did without them, but the guy is still an all-time great. Clemens in his prime, stands toe-to-toe with the best of em’.
While I don’t believe him when he says he never used performance enhancers, I do admire the way he fought for himself, and won his perjury trial. Lying or not, the guy never wavered. He took a stand, and I respect that. Just like how he wants to prove to himself, or whoever, that he can still pitch at 50. I respect that.
The important question though, is a Roger Clemens comeback good for baseball? Is baseball better off with the Clemens chapter closed, or is there room in the book for one more?
Given the decreasing popularity of the game, I vote for a Clemens comeback. It’s an intriguing storyline that will draw in casual fans. Baseball needs viewers, and I don’t think most fans would argue that some closure on this whole Clemens story would be a bad thing…
Clemens has said that he has no further plans to pitch, “at this point.” I hope he “misremembers” saying that.
Follow Andrew Fisher on Twitter @the_realfish
