ROCKET JUICED FOR SHOWDOWN
By GEORGE KING
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October 15, 2001 -- OAKLAND - Roger Clemens is pumped about getting the chance to complete a memorable Yankee comeback tonight by pitching the defending world champions into the ALCS.
No team has ever come back to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home, but the Yankees will get that chance tonight and Clemens, who was forced to leave Game 1 in the fourth inning with a right hamstring problem, will be on the mound against the A's in Game 5 of the ALDS.
When the Rocket left the Coliseum yesterday morning bound for New York on a commercial flight with his wife Debbie, that was all he could think about.
"If we get there, I will be out there," Clemens said before the Bronx Bombers hammered the Athletics 9-2 in Game 4. "My approach is all out."
It will be Clemens versus Mark Mulder, the Game 1 winner.
When Clemens landed in New York, he was headed for Yankee Stadium for another workout.
For the second day in a row, Clemens tested the hamstring. Yesterday's session started at 9:45 a.m. and ended at 10:05. Clemens jogged lightly in the outfield, did some shuffle-step runs and back-pedaled.
He then long-tossed with fitness guru Brian McNamee before getting on a bullpen mound and throwing for 10 minutes to McNamee, a former St. John's catcher. When he was done with that, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre hit him a few fungos which he fielded and threw to McNamee.
"Mel moved me around pretty good with the fungos. I wanted some quick movements," Clemens said. "It wasn't a game situation, but [the leg] was better. The stickiness [in the hamstring], if you will, was a lot less."
After a light workout Friday, Clemens didn't sound too optimistic about pitching tonight. Saturday, he reported progress. Yesterday, he was convinced he could help.
By GEORGE KING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 15, 2001 -- OAKLAND - Roger Clemens is pumped about getting the chance to complete a memorable Yankee comeback tonight by pitching the defending world champions into the ALCS.
No team has ever come back to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home, but the Yankees will get that chance tonight and Clemens, who was forced to leave Game 1 in the fourth inning with a right hamstring problem, will be on the mound against the A's in Game 5 of the ALDS.
When the Rocket left the Coliseum yesterday morning bound for New York on a commercial flight with his wife Debbie, that was all he could think about.
"If we get there, I will be out there," Clemens said before the Bronx Bombers hammered the Athletics 9-2 in Game 4. "My approach is all out."
It will be Clemens versus Mark Mulder, the Game 1 winner.
When Clemens landed in New York, he was headed for Yankee Stadium for another workout.
For the second day in a row, Clemens tested the hamstring. Yesterday's session started at 9:45 a.m. and ended at 10:05. Clemens jogged lightly in the outfield, did some shuffle-step runs and back-pedaled.
He then long-tossed with fitness guru Brian McNamee before getting on a bullpen mound and throwing for 10 minutes to McNamee, a former St. John's catcher. When he was done with that, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre hit him a few fungos which he fielded and threw to McNamee.
"Mel moved me around pretty good with the fungos. I wanted some quick movements," Clemens said. "It wasn't a game situation, but [the leg] was better. The stickiness [in the hamstring], if you will, was a lot less."
After a light workout Friday, Clemens didn't sound too optimistic about pitching tonight. Saturday, he reported progress. Yesterday, he was convinced he could help.
