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Astros jolly with Roger

Commentary

Christian Schmidt

In seven innings, Roger gave up one hit and no runs, struck out nine and walked only three. He even got a hit.

Roger is back.

A casual baseball observer might not remember Roger Clemens was gone. After all, he didn't actually miss a game in his brief hiatus. He did switch teams, leagues and states, but looking at him last night it was hard to remember all that.

If you squinted, it was hard to tell that anything had changed. Roger was still out on the mound, throwing fireballs. The trademark scowl still peered down at hitters from the top of his huge frame. The uniform even had pinstripes. And opposing hitters were still trying to figure out what just happened to them as they walked slowly back to the dugout, victims of a strikeout.

Roger retired? Are you sure?

"But wait ... I do remember something about that," you say. "I remember Yankees' fans angry that Roger would 'abandon them' to pitch for the hometown team after retiring."

The absurd idea that any Yankees' fan would ever complain about anything aside, Clemens didn't abandon them. After five solid years and two World Series championships, Clemens owed the Yankees nothing. And who could be angry at one of the best pitchers in baseball history deciding to give it one more go? Particularly when he can pitch like Clemens did Wednesday night at age 41 in his 21st Major League Baseball season.

Roger is still Roger, but the Astros aren't just the Astros anymore. Yes, they will struggle with both streaky hitting, particularly at the front end of the order, and with pitching, because those kind of things happen once in a while during the interminably long 162-game season.

But Clemens won't let this team do what it's done in the past. The Astros won't be soft. He won't let them.

Roger will throw inside. Roger will hit someone if he feels it's necessary. Roger isn't worried about someone throwing right back at him. Roger is 6-4 and weighs 238 pounds. You aren't going to hurt him. Besides, he knows that pitcher will have to come up to bat sooner and later, and opposing pitchers know it too. And Roger's 94-mile per hour fastball hurts when it hits you. Ask Mike Piazza. He knows, and he's scared.

The Astros need Roger. They know the kind of impact he can have on their club. They know he's back, and they couldn't be happier.

Roger's back? Who said he ever left?

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