Clemens and the Astros

Let's step outside of the Pirates box for a minute and move into the larger pool of the NL Central (I don't put stock into the theory that it's harder to write about a good baseball team, it's just that I am tired at the moment and having trouble putting my "Who are the real Pirates?" post, which is obligatory at this point, into words). The only news in the NL Central these days besides Albert Pujols is Roger Clemens, of course. As I'm sure all of you know (because if you're reading a blog about the Pittsburgh Pirates you can't not know something like this, it's not possible) he resigned with the Astros this week. It officially happened yesterday, but I'm sure that it unofficially happened a long time ago. I had said a couple times in the past few months that I didn't think that would happen, but I know realize that was a stupid statement. I realize that, because I can't believe how stupid all of the stuff other people are writing about how he should've signed with the Red Sox is. I know I've read similar things in several places, though all I can dig up at the moment is this Daily Quickie from two days ago. The sentiment is, of course, that Clemens should've returned to Boston on his white horse and lead them to another World Series. This assumes the people of Boston would've automatically forgiven him and that the World Series would be if he signed there. It also ignores what is the most important thing to Roger Clemens. It's not "winning" as Clemens claims, no, the thing most important to Roger Clemens is Roger Clemens.

Clemens comeback is, in fact, about 2 things, and they aren't winning or his family. First off, it's about his place in history. He needs to put space between himself and Greg Maddux on the all-time wins list. He needs to put space between himself and Randy Johnson on the all-time strikeout list. I think those two things are as important to him as 756 is to Barry Bonds. Second, this is all about his image. If Clemens goes to Boston and wins a World Series, he wins their second series in three years, not their first in 86. Whatever Clemens would do this year in Boston wouldn't outshine Schilling's bloody sock or David Ortiz's heroics against the Yankees. It's just not possible. On the other hand, if he comes back and struggles (which is possible, his body broke down around his arm last year and he's certainly not any younger), there's no worse place for him to be than Boston. That's why Houston is the only logical choice. If he wins a World Series in Houston (unlikely, but plausible, they got off to bad starts WITH him in the past two years and still made the Series in one year and just missed it in another) he's immortalized. His face would be bronzed in Houston just like Biggio and Bagwell's faces will be. In fact, it would be his defining moment, a moment that I'm not sure any other pitcher could claim, that he almost single handedly resurrected a team in June, put them on his back, and won the franchise's first World Series all at the age of 43. He's already won two Series' rings where he was just another cog in the machine that was expected to win when he was a Yankee. In the long term I think that's all he'd be remembered for on a Boston team that won the '06 Series. Conversely, if he struggles this year he fades into the sunset, after all the 'Stros were struggling before he got there and in his three years there he took a franchise without a playoff series win to an NLCS and their first World Series, what more could Houston fans ask for? He's Houston's adopted son at the moment. Pittsburgh should know well what happens to the adopted son of a city when injuries force a fantastic career to end in manner that is less than dignified (I'm talking about Mario, of course). Going to Houston is a win/win situation for Clemens that no other city provides. If he succeeds, he pads his lead in the two most important categories for him to be regarded as the best pitcher of this generation (wins and Ks) while leading a city that reveres him to a World Series. If he doesn't, hey, he was just doing it for his kids anyways.