Bergen County Record
Saturday, June 9, 2007
NEW YORK -- During his first tenure in pinstripes, Roger Clemens would shock his teammates by rubbing heating liniment all over his body -- practically cooking his skin before taking the mound in order to stimulate every nerve ending. Crazy? You bet, but that's what made the Rocket so unique: Pitching in an altered state was his natural state.
When he walks into the clubhouse this morning, Clemens will be greeted by a legion of Yankees who obviously know of him and respect him. But Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu -- not to mention youngsters such as Robbie Cano and Melky Cabrera -- have no idea that a John Wayne-type leader is about to join their ranks.
This much is certain: No one had better get in the Rocket's way, at least not after the countdown begins to that other world Clemens travels to when he's pitching. He's the anti-Damon, as focused as the center fielder is playful. Imagine the newer Yankees' shock when they hear Clemens shouting at himself between innings in the dugout runway, beating himself up over pitch location.
That's unheard-of behavior among the laid-back Yankees. Derek Jeter, Mr. Cool, doesn't act that way. Damon, Mr. Nice Guy, certainly doesn't. Manager Joe Torre doesn't give off that kind of intensity. For all their talent, the Bombers mostly sleep-walked through the first two months of the season, leaving them a million miles out of first place.
Can Clemens change that? The Yankees would be wrong to think one player – a pitcher, no less – can remake their profile. But it'll be a different clubhouse starting today, and it's not impossible to imagine that energy spilling over onto the field.
If so, this will be the smartest $18 million general manager Brian Cashman has ever invested, just because there are no David Justice-like trades to make this year. Unlike 2000, when Justice was acquired from Cleveland and single-handedly took the Yankees to the World Series, Cashman already has made his move. It's Clemens and tightly crossed fingers from here to October.
"The fact that Roger is who is he, definitely helps you believe you'll have an advantage over the other team," Torre was saying on Friday afternoon. "Roger commands attention and respect. We're starting to feel good about ourselves, and Roger's presence adds to that."
Of course, the Yankees are rightfully cautioning against expectations that exceed the capabilities of a 44-year-old man. Remember, Clemens suffered a strained groin after his third minor league start, so it's anyone's guess how he'll respond to a more taxing assignment today against the Pirates.
The stadium will be sold out. The dejà vu will cover the Yankees like a second skin. The Rocket will take a deep breath, and for one moment of magic, it'll feel like 1999 or 2000 again, back when he threw 96 mph fastballs and the Yankees were just as untouchable.
That's the kind of script Torre and Cashman dream about, although they know the reality will be somewhat grainier. The Rocket's fastball is now clocked at a more modest 90-91 mph, and he rarely uses it in strikeout situations. Instead, the right-hander relies on the splitter and two-seam fastball, trying to out-think and outguess hitters who are no longer intimidated by his arsenal.
While Clemens' skills have eroded since he left the Yankees in 2003, his ability to control hitters' bat speed has become more polished. One scout who has followed the Rocket's progression this year says: "I think he's actually a better pitcher than he used to be. In terms of getting outs, you can pretty much count on him giving you a good game."
And that's all the Yankees are asking for. Forget the blowaway radar gun readings, or the double-digit strikeout totals. None of that matters anymore. Torre would be happy with five or six solid innings in a low-scoring game, which is more than the Yankees have been getting from Matt DeSalvo and Tyler Clippard for the last month.
Clemens is about to give the Yankees the aura of invincibility they've been lacking. Now, as Jorge Posada put it: "We feel we can win every game in a series. We need that confidence."
If first impressions count for anything, it should be a profitable June for Clemens. He's scheduled to face three National League teams -- the Pirates today, the Mets on Friday and the Rockies in another 10 days -- before hunkering down against the more challenging American League lineups.
We'll know long before the All-Star break if the Yankees are getting their money's worth from Clemens. But if nothing else, they're getting an attitude upgrade. As much of a stranger some Yankees are to the Rocket, he's equally unaware how soft the Bombers have become, and how they've been replaced by the Red Sox as the division's tough guys.
Think the Rocket will let that stand? Just wait until the final 45 minutes before game time today, when he affects that million-mile stare, and he gives off a vibe that says – even to teammates – no trespassing.
After that comes the liniment. The Yankees should consider this fair warning.
E-mail: klapisch@northjersey.com
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