2006-11-09 08:50:03 · 22 answers · asked by hawkeye316 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Clemens will probably be selected to the Hall of Fame with the highest percentage of votes ever. Seven Cy Young awards says it all.
No, he's not hurting his legacy at all, especially since he's still a dominant figure while he's out on the mound (even though he only goes 6 innings at the most)...
Even if he was hurting his legacy, what right does anyone else have to tell him not to? It's his life, it's his legacy, isn't it? None of us lose anything by having him pitch as long as he has.
I saw Willie Mays hit a home run when he was playing for the Mets in 1972...it didn't matter to me that he was 41 years old at the time, and a mere shadow of his former self... hey, I saw the great Willie Mays hit a home run... Clemens is a far better player since turning 40 than Mays was (Mays actually had an excellent year at 40, but slipped badly as a 41 and a 42 year old)... but it doesn't matter...he has long since been a shoo-in to be a first ballot Hall of Famer... the fact that he's pitching so great at his age simply means that he will approach or exceed Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver's vote percentages, in my opinion.
2006-11-09 11:32:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, I don't think he's hurting his legacy at all. If anything, I think he's adding to it by continuing to pitch so well at an advanced age.
He won the ERA title handily in 2005, and would have done so again this season if he'd pitched enough innings to qualify. His record in 2006 wasn't very impressive, but that had to do more with the Astros' offensive futility than Clemens' pitching. And the fact that he's putting up these great numbers in a home run haven of a park is even more amazing.
I admit that it's still strange to see him in an Astros uniform, but I don't think he's hurting his legacy. I don't want to see him bounce around to different teams, or hang around too long, but I don't think he'd let himself do that. We're still watching a legend play well, and it's certainly not a sad case like watching Willie Mays with the Mets or Steve Carlton with the Twins, great players who stuck around too long. Clemens is still a premier pitcher, and I think he'll quit as soon as that changes.
2006-11-09 17:23:04 · answer #2 · answered by Craig S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. Stupid question. Players hurt their legacy by staying too long when they have lost their skills, and even then the great ones, like Willie Mays never hurt their legacy. If you have a career .320 hitter and he hits .240 over his last three years, then he may damage his legacy by staying too long.
If Clemens had ERAs of 5.00 or 6.00 the last couple of years, he might have hurt his legacy, but he's still great. He should play as long as he is able to produce.
2006-11-09 23:23:48 · answer #3 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you talking about? He's still playing at an elite level.
This is the type of question that can really only be asked about the clowns who insist on sticking around long after the fork has been stuck in their back. (Ricky Henderson, I'm looking in your general direction here)
But even then I don't buy into that non-sense. When a player reaches a certain level of greatness, nothing he can do can hurt his legacy, his legacy is made up of what he has done. Just enjoy the show man.
2006-11-09 21:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. It's the Headhunter thing, and the money thing. He said last season he didn't want to play, but did it for the money. And he is kinda crazy on the mound sometimes. Remember when he throw the broken bat at Piazza in 00' WS. Everybody, remembers Clemens for that and that is the most memorable part of that WS.
2006-11-09 18:08:53 · answer #5 · answered by julyanletona 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not at all. the only strange thing about him is that he cant make up his mind. he just needs to participate the entire year. he cant sit around for half the year then decide to play. he would be lights out if he played all season, including spring training.
hes only 44. Jamie Moyer is the same age and he just signed a 2 year deal with the Phillies. age is no factor in this game. as long as you are good, you are in. look at my man Julio Franco! hes like 100 and hes still around.
Clemens is the man! and i look forward to his return to the Major Leagues. i hope he gets on a better team that makes the post season. i want to see him do battle against the best of the best! Cardinals should pick him up!! haha.
2006-11-09 17:11:49 · answer #6 · answered by merffergesin 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No way, he won a Cy Young and took Houston to its first World Series, while putting up ERA numbers that no startes in either league could match. He is making his legacy even stronger by showing that he is still in his prime. Although, I agree that all the waiting to see if and where he will play is frustrating.
2006-11-09 16:55:45 · answer #7 · answered by pdigoe 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No way! He is still a dominating pitcher and would be a 1 or 2 starter for just about any team. It helps his legacy. Its the steroid allegations that hurt his legacy.
2006-11-09 17:15:05 · answer #8 · answered by goose24_2001 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think he is getting a bit greedy about the money. If he was really trying to help a ballclub he would be there at the start of the season and not just a half of it. He is a great player and a heck of a great pitcher,but like I said "GREEDY"
2006-11-09 21:53:18 · answer #9 · answered by beakman57 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not at all
he went 6-4, thats not bad
if he plays fo 10 mo years, and goes 8-18 for every year
he'll still go into the hall of fame
2006-11-09 22:22:07 · answer #10 · answered by Antwaan M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋