Is Roger Clemens a fraud?

Question

He says he's back with the Yankees to do what the Yankees do best, win a title and anything else "is a failure." Isn't this the same guy who begged out with an injury in the World Series against the White Sox? What's the point in getting Clemens if he's just going to get hurt for you in your biggest hour and then act like you are the one with the problem?

Answer 1

I'm wit u. he is nothing more than a washed up butter ball who is past his time and should have just hung it up. But the Yankees needed to do sumthing to distract everyone from how bad they have been sucking this season

Answer 2

If you think he's a fraud, then you don't know much about the dynamics of Roger Clemens.

First, he WAS hurt, or there is no way he would not have played and tried to impact the Series a couple of years ago. Believe me, he is more of a gamer than about anyone I know, and he would have done anything possible to be able to do more during that series. If there would have been any way to physically be there for his town and his teammates, he would have done so.

Another point has been made that he is somewhat of a hired gun - a mercenary pitcher who is simply out there for the money. Hm... how many of you reading this would turn down the opportunity to play a game for the amount of money he is being offered? I'll be willing to conjecture that many of you would WALK NAKED from coast to coast if you were guaranteed that the minute your feet hit the coastline, a check for that amount would be waiting. Let's face it: we are all mercenaries to a certain degree, it just happens that he is in a profession which is very much in the public eye. Those who live in glass houses......

Thirdly, why not the Yankees instead of Houston or Boston? Houston is not the same team they were a couple of years ago, and don't really show too many signs of attaining that level this year. Remember: Clemens wants to play for a team that will definitely be a contender to win it all in 2007. The Astros have a long way to go to reach that plateau, for certain, and it will NOT happen this year. The Red sox already have a good pitching staff, so were not ready to fork out the money the Yankees were. It is that simple. Would YOU sign for about $10 million less when you saw the Bronx Bombers offering you what they offered him? I sincerely doubt it.

Let's face it: whether we care to believe it or not, baseball - just like any sport - is at its core nothing more than a very glamorous business which is designed to make money. The days of loyalty are long gone, and you are not going to see the Ernie Banks/Tommy Lasorda "Stay with one club through thick and thin" mentality any more - the almighty dollar is the incentive these days. Is there anything wrong with this? I used to think so, but recent years have made me think differently. Were the Red Sox particularly loyal to Nomar Garciaparra? I doubt it, and that is only one example.

In other words, baseball is now a very big business, and teams will do what they feel they need to do to bring people through the turnstiles. Why can't players do the same and seek out the highest bidder? Roger Clemens just did what most of the rest of us would do, so let's not pick up the stones and throw it at his glass house yet; he might just pick up the stones and throw it through our glass houses. Last time I looked, he can throw a little better than most of us....

Answer 3

No, he's not a fraud. You're a big man calling him a "failure". The guy was hurt. Try walking, let alone pitching, with a pulled groin muscle. Do you think he wanted to leave a World Series game, knowing it might be his last?

I guess I don't understand the "act like you are the one with the problem" part of your rather bumbling rant.

Answer 4

In this situation, I'd say yes. I was horrified to hear that Boston was sniffing around him, I'm so glad they didn't waste any money acquiring him. He pitches what, 5 innings if you're lucky? And the Yanks are hurting for middle relief, too, so I don't see how Clemens is really going to help, except maybe their spirit. He should just hang it up and go home, wait until he's inducted into the hall of fame. Guy just doesn't know when to let go.

Answer 5

This is why the Yankees haven't won anything in a while. They go after old, past their prime players because they have more money than Iraq, courtesy of the taxpayers in America, and then said players break down when they most need them.

Answer 6

It boggles my mind that this guy is getting 28 million dollars and probably won't even win 10 games for the Yankees! How much longer can baseball remain financially solvent doing business this way?

Answer 7

He is not a fraud if you are a good pitcher like him popular thats bring fans in to the stand in get paid $ 4.5 million A MONTH you well take the money ok ....pal
plus the Astros went to the world series thanks to who i wonder in they choke. The Astros need it to match the pay in would stay..... not he is a YANKEE now so stop crying cause you would done the same take the money

Answer 8

Its all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and Roger is just as greedy as the next guy. I bet if Kansas City had offered him a dollar more then he'd be in KC

Answer 9

I think Roger should retire and stay retired. He has nothing left to prove. I think he is just there for the money and the publicity and frankly I don't think he will become an asset to them. He will be nothing but a liability. They will regret this move.

Answer 10

I hate Clemens.
He is a manipulator of the highest order.
A greedy BSer who hurts all baseball fans alike.
He holds teams hostage and torments the real fans of baseball by being loyal only to MONEY!!!
I never wanted him back with the Sox.... not after he wore pinstripes and swore allegiance to the Yankees.
Then .....like the selfish jerk that he is, stipulates to the team he signs with for record sums for a half season. I will only play home games and I refuse to travel.
SCREW HIM!