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Is Clemens Signing Enough For Astros?

Signing Roger Clemens will vastly improve the Astros chances of repeating last year’s odyssey into the World Series, but will he get them there again?

By: Adam BielamowiczSince the Astros’ World Series appearance last October, Houston baseball fans have not had much to smile about.  After a press conference Wednesday afternoon, however, they are once again showing their pearly whites.

When Roger Clemens signed a $22 million contract on Wednesday, many fans thought that the Astros had just punched their ticket to play again this October.

“This is great,” said John Hobratschk, a University of Texas student and lifelong Astros fan.  “With Clemens’ rest, he should be strong going to the postseason.  We’ll be there in October.”

Comments like this might be reaching just a little too far.

Roger Clemens on the mound helps the Astros dramatically.  Clemens will be depended on to shore up a starting rotation that has been inconsistent at best this season.  Three youngsters, Wandy Rodriguez, Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve have all shown flashes of brilliance this year, but their performances have definitely shown their ages. Local favorite Brandon Backe has been on the disabled list with a sprained elbow since April 15 with absolutely no signs of making a comeback anytime soon.  Plus, nobody seems to know what has happened to Andy Pettitte this season, who currently is 4-6 with a 5.65 ERA.

Clemens will be called upon to, and probably will do a good job of, taking care of a few of these problems.  Clemens mere presence will mean that the Astros have one more sure-fire Hall-of-Famer in their starting rotation and one less young pitcher with less than 40 career starts there, with Fernando Nieve looking like the top candidate to get demoted to either the bullpen or Triple-A.  

Clemens’ presence also will help out Rodriguez and Buchholz.  If these youngsters are showing flashes of brilliance right now, they will no doubt be helped by having another seven Cy Young awards watching them pitch.

Also, Clemens might be able to help Andy Pettitte through his recent slump.  It is widely known around baseball that Clemens and Pettitte are good buddies and that Pettitte truly flourished after adopting Clemens’ training routine.  Not to say that Pettitte is a slacker or is not working as hard, but there is no doubt that he will feel much more comfortable with his good pal Roger in the same clubhouse.

Clemens will improve the Astros rotation at least twofold.  Unfortunately for the Astros, the starting rotation is not the only problem spot on the team.

The bullpen has been more horrific than the starting rotation.  Brad Lidge has been nothing like the pitcher he was during the last two seasons, when one could have argued that he was the most dominant reliever in the game.  Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls are also having sub-par years, and middle relievers like Mike Gallo and Trever Miller are having forgettable seasons.  The Astros could use another good arm in the bullpen.

Also, the Astros offense, while better than last year’s, is still not what one would call explosive.  Left fielder Jason Lane is hitting a paltry .195 on the year, and the Astros best hitter so far this season is normally light hitting catcher Brad Ausmus at .301.  The Astros could use another bat, preferably one that can replace Jason Lane.

Though the Astros may need to make another move or two to make a true World Series run, the addition of Clemens makes the Astros almost exactly the same as their 2005 version.  There is one thing this year’s team has though; the Astros sit at 27-27 right now, while last season the Astros were 13 games under .500 on May 31.  

Astros fans also are quite different now; the fans have expectations of a return to the World Series.

“I’m not riding around in the back of a convertible, waving my hat and selling tickets,” Clemens said. “They expect me to get on the field and win ballgames and do it the way they’re used to seeing me do it.”

Astros fans will get to see Clemens win ballgames for another half season.  And, if they see their management make another move, they may see the World Series in Houston again.

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