Rocket Lands In Bronx!

Rocket says No to SOX YES to Yanks!


In a dramatic Yamnkee Stadium moment, Roger Clemens announced to the 53,000 fans assembled that, "they dragged me out of Texas...sooo I guess I will be talking to 'yall real soon." In Roger Speak that means he is going to pitch for the Yanks in 2007. Who can deny that this desperation move on the part of the struggling Yanks is a Huge shot in the buttocks. "Jeet, n Andy, n Jason were texting me and emailing me to return... this is a huge responsibility for me...to git back n do my job." Interpretation - he felt compelled to return to a team he won two rings with and wants to help his buddies return to the World Series.

Here is a story taken from this afternoons New york Post outlining the Rockets retun to the Yankees. he says he should be ready "at the end of May or the 1st of June." Guess what boys and girls...June 1 Yankees play the Red Sox!


05/06/2007 3:40 PM ET
Clemens announces return to Yanks
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com



NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens is a Yankee.
With those five words, displayed on Yankee Stadium's matrix screen in a surprise announcement during the seventh-inning stretch on Sunday, the 44-year-old right-hander ended all the speculation and confirmed his return to the Bronx.

The Yankees officially announced that they have signed Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, to a Minor League contract.

Following the playing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," public-address announcer Bob Sheppard instructed the crowd to draw its attention to the owner's box and the video screen.
The image of Clemens, holding a microphone, drew a loud ovation from the crowd at the game between the Mariners and Yankees, but his comments would soon be drowned out by an even more raucous ovation from the paid attendance of 52,553.

"It's a privilege to be back," Clemens said. "I'll be talking to you all soon."

Clemens returns to the Yankees, where he pitched from 1999 through 2003, serving as a member of two World Series championship teams in 1999 and 2000.

As a Yankee, Clemens -- who was originally acquired from the Blue Jays prior to the 1999 season in exchange for Homer Bush, Graeme Lloyd and David Wells -- compiled a record of 77-36 with a 3.99 ERA, striking out 946 batters in 157 starts.

On June 21, 2003, Clemens became the 21st pitcher in Major League history to reach the 300-win milestone, while also recording his 4,000th career strikeout in a 5-2 victory over the Cardinals.

Clemens made 19 starts for the Astros last season, posting a 7-6 record with a 2.30 ERA after signing a Minor League contract on May 31, reprising his role as the Astros' in-season acquisition after going 13-8 with a career-best 1.87 ERA in 32 starts for Houston in 2005.

Dating back to this past offseason, Clemens had declined to say if he expected to pitch at all in 2007, but he hedged his bets by saying through his representatives, Alan and Randy Hendricks, that he would consider playing for only the Yankees, Astros or Red Sox.

Clemens, who also said that he would pitch only for a team with hopes of playoff contention, will join a Yankees club that has seen its starting pitching suffer through an extended stretch of inconsistency and injuries.

Clemens' good friend, Andy Pettitte, has twice been pressed into relief action to help out a beleaguered bullpen, while Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Jeff Karstens, Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano have all spent time on the disabled list.

Pavano, the Yankees' Opening Day starter on April 2, is expected to be a possibility to miss the remainder of the season, which created an even more glaring void for the Rocket's liftoff to fill.
Clemens would likely need a series of Minor League appearances in order to prepare for Major League action. The future Hall of Fame right-hander is expected to be made available later in the afternoon Sunday for further comment.

Clemens ranks second all time among Major League pitchers with 172 career strikeouts in the postseason, behind only Atlanta's John Smoltz (194). He leads all active Major League pitchers in wins, strikeouts, games started (690), innings pitched (4,817 2/3), complete games (118) and shutouts (46).

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.