08/07/2002 08:31 am ET
The Rocket returns
Clemens, off DL, to make first start since July 13
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens may have lost his shot at winning his 300th game this season, but he can still help the Yankees get back to the World Series. He begins that quest on Wednesday, as he makes his first start since going on the disabled list on July 13.
"I think it will give us a lift just having him around, knowing what he's meant to this ballclub in the few years he's been here," said Yankees manager Joe Torre. "Hopefully he's healthy, and we're pretty sure he is, he'll be in a good frame of mind and hopefully we'll score him some runs."
Clemens is 8-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 19 starts, but has been on the shelf with a strained right groin since July 12, when he aggravated it in his start against the Cleveland Indians.
He made two minor-league rehab starts, allowing four runs in 12 innings. He had no problems with the groin, but used the second start to tune up his mechanics.
Clemens will not be on a strict pitch count, though Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre will keep a close eye on the Rocket.
"We're pretty cautious with everybody, we'll watch his pitch count," Torre said. "The first rehab he did, he threw 120 pitches, and then he threw 80 in his last start. If you can throw 80, you can throw 100. He'll be fine, because it wasn't an arm thing."
The Yankees have had some inconsistent performances from their starters, including the last two games they played. David Wells gave up five runs in two innings on Sunday, and Mike Mussina surrendered five runs over seven innings in the series opener against the Royals on Tuesday, a 6-2 Kansas City win. Torre hopes that Clemens' layoff can give him an extra kick when he returns to the mound.
"I think there are certain advantages to having a pitcher go on the DL during the season, because he doesn't use up all of the fuel. We hope that's the case," Torre said. "He doesn't rest very often, especially during the season. He drains it pretty good when he goes out there, so the fact that he hasn't done it over the last three weeks could help."
His teammates are excited to have one of their emotional leaders back on the mound, though the Royals wouldn't have minded seeing him delay his return until the weekend.
"He's a Hall of Famer," said Rondell White. "Any time you get him out there, he's the best competitor in the game. We'll get him back, we'll be ready to Rock and Roll."
"It will be interesting to see since he is coming off of rehab," said Chuck Knoblauch, a former Yankee teammate of Clemens. "I'm sure he will not have all his guns loaded, but he'll come out as good. We have to hit strikes and hope he is not at the top of his game."
Yankees relaunch Rocket tonight
By ROGER RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Good as new? Or better than new? With Roger Clemens returning to action today, the Yankees expect the former, but are hoping for the latter.
Clemens gets the ball for tonight's game against the Royals at the Stadium, his first start since July 12. Clemens came out of that game after five strong innings when he felt tightness in his groin that landed him on the disabled list the next day.
After returning to the clubhouse yesterday, Clemens said, "I feel good and I am looking forward to getting back out there."
Joe Torre thinks the stint on the disabled list might have served the Rocket in unexpected ways.
"There are certain advantages to having a pitcher go on the DL during the season," he said. "You don't use up a lot of the fuel."
Torre remembers the last time Clemens returned from the disabled list, in 2000. He came back that July 2, went 9-0 over 15 starts and finished that season 9-2 with a 3.00 ERA in the 17 starts after his return.
"A lot of that was the rest," Torre said. "(Clemens) doesn't rest himself very often, especially during the season when he knows you're counting on him."
Clemens has struggled with groin injuries several times in his career. The Yankees took their time with his return, hoping the extra rest will prevent a breakdown further along in the season.
When asked about the injury, Clemens said, "I think it's all out of there now."
Clemens' record this season is 8-3 with a 4.02 ERA, and because he is looked upon as the ace of the staff, his return should have a positive psychological effect, too.
"It's good to get a guy like him back," Torre said.
Clemens will be making his sixth attempt at his 289th career win, which would pull him out of a tie with Tommy John and into sole possession of 21st place.
Torre said he did not expect to treat Clemens gingerly "though we always try to be cautious." Because Clemens threw more than 110 pitches in one rehab assignment and more than 80 in the other, Torre feels confident the righthander's endurance will be there.
Asked if he thought Clemens could turn in the kind of comeback that he had in 2000, the manager said, "We aren't expecting it, but that doesn't mean we aren't hoping for it."
The Rocket returns
Clemens, off DL, to make first start since July 13
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens may have lost his shot at winning his 300th game this season, but he can still help the Yankees get back to the World Series. He begins that quest on Wednesday, as he makes his first start since going on the disabled list on July 13.
"I think it will give us a lift just having him around, knowing what he's meant to this ballclub in the few years he's been here," said Yankees manager Joe Torre. "Hopefully he's healthy, and we're pretty sure he is, he'll be in a good frame of mind and hopefully we'll score him some runs."
Clemens is 8-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 19 starts, but has been on the shelf with a strained right groin since July 12, when he aggravated it in his start against the Cleveland Indians.
He made two minor-league rehab starts, allowing four runs in 12 innings. He had no problems with the groin, but used the second start to tune up his mechanics.
Clemens will not be on a strict pitch count, though Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre will keep a close eye on the Rocket.
"We're pretty cautious with everybody, we'll watch his pitch count," Torre said. "The first rehab he did, he threw 120 pitches, and then he threw 80 in his last start. If you can throw 80, you can throw 100. He'll be fine, because it wasn't an arm thing."
The Yankees have had some inconsistent performances from their starters, including the last two games they played. David Wells gave up five runs in two innings on Sunday, and Mike Mussina surrendered five runs over seven innings in the series opener against the Royals on Tuesday, a 6-2 Kansas City win. Torre hopes that Clemens' layoff can give him an extra kick when he returns to the mound.
"I think there are certain advantages to having a pitcher go on the DL during the season, because he doesn't use up all of the fuel. We hope that's the case," Torre said. "He doesn't rest very often, especially during the season. He drains it pretty good when he goes out there, so the fact that he hasn't done it over the last three weeks could help."
His teammates are excited to have one of their emotional leaders back on the mound, though the Royals wouldn't have minded seeing him delay his return until the weekend.
"He's a Hall of Famer," said Rondell White. "Any time you get him out there, he's the best competitor in the game. We'll get him back, we'll be ready to Rock and Roll."
"It will be interesting to see since he is coming off of rehab," said Chuck Knoblauch, a former Yankee teammate of Clemens. "I'm sure he will not have all his guns loaded, but he'll come out as good. We have to hit strikes and hope he is not at the top of his game."
Yankees relaunch Rocket tonight
By ROGER RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Good as new? Or better than new? With Roger Clemens returning to action today, the Yankees expect the former, but are hoping for the latter.
Clemens gets the ball for tonight's game against the Royals at the Stadium, his first start since July 12. Clemens came out of that game after five strong innings when he felt tightness in his groin that landed him on the disabled list the next day.
After returning to the clubhouse yesterday, Clemens said, "I feel good and I am looking forward to getting back out there."
Joe Torre thinks the stint on the disabled list might have served the Rocket in unexpected ways.
"There are certain advantages to having a pitcher go on the DL during the season," he said. "You don't use up a lot of the fuel."
Torre remembers the last time Clemens returned from the disabled list, in 2000. He came back that July 2, went 9-0 over 15 starts and finished that season 9-2 with a 3.00 ERA in the 17 starts after his return.
"A lot of that was the rest," Torre said. "(Clemens) doesn't rest himself very often, especially during the season when he knows you're counting on him."
Clemens has struggled with groin injuries several times in his career. The Yankees took their time with his return, hoping the extra rest will prevent a breakdown further along in the season.
When asked about the injury, Clemens said, "I think it's all out of there now."
Clemens' record this season is 8-3 with a 4.02 ERA, and because he is looked upon as the ace of the staff, his return should have a positive psychological effect, too.
"It's good to get a guy like him back," Torre said.
Clemens will be making his sixth attempt at his 289th career win, which would pull him out of a tie with Tommy John and into sole possession of 21st place.
Torre said he did not expect to treat Clemens gingerly "though we always try to be cautious." Because Clemens threw more than 110 pitches in one rehab assignment and more than 80 in the other, Torre feels confident the righthander's endurance will be there.
Asked if he thought Clemens could turn in the kind of comeback that he had in 2000, the manager said, "We aren't expecting it, but that doesn't mean we aren't hoping for it."
