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CNN Live Today

The Astros Get a Rocket

Aired January 13, 2004 - 11:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Forget the pinstripes, veteran pitcher Roger Clemens coming out of his brief, ever so brief, retirement to throw for his hometown team the Houston Astros. The Rocket gets a $5 million, one-year deal, a chance to seal up a few major league records, as if he did not have enough records as it is. Of course, this is an impressive resume, one of the all-time in baseball, two World Series rings, a record six Cy Young Awards, 4,099 career strikeouts, behind only Nolan Ryan and Steve Carleton. Let's talk with "USA Today" baseball writer Mel Antonen. He joins us from Arlington, Virginia.
Mel, good morning.

I think we can hear you. Let's try one more time.

MEL ANTONEN, "USA TODAY": Good morning.

KAGAN: Oh, there you go. Hello. Big question, why? Why does The Rocket need to come down this?

ANTONEN: Oh, think it was just so tempting to be at home, you get to see more -- you know, spend more time with his kids, get to pitch with his best friend, Andy Pettitte, and he'll get to pitch for a team that might win the National league Central. The Houston Astros are going to be very good.

Plus, the Yankees are on a downslide. The Yankees would probably not be as much fun to play for in 2004 as they have in the past.

So I think just with the idea that he gets to pitch with his best friend, gets to spend more time with his family and gets to go after these record. It's very exciting. It's a very magical story for Roger Clemens.

KAGAN: Well, and when you look at his recent records, he does have a lot of good stuff left, it would appear, even though he's 41 years old.

And I think what intrigues me the most, he's been in the American League the whole time. He's going to be in the National League. He's going to have to step up to the plate literally, now.

ANTONEN: Yes, he is. Roger Clemens has made a career out of throwing inside and intimidating batters. Now he's going to have to face some of that music himself. The trend in baseball now is to pitch more inside than outside. More pitchers are throwing and trying to take control of the inside corner. So Roger Clemens is going to have to get a taste of his own medicine. Pitchers won't throw at him, per se, but he'll try to brush them back.

KAGAN: It will be interesting times. Now you mentioned the NL Central, this is the division that the Houston Astros are in. This is a very tight race with the Chicago Cubs last year. There is still some speculation that Greg Maddux might end up at his old team. That's going to make some incredible pitching in that division.

ANTONEN: Already, the Cubs and the Astros probably have the best starting staff in the National League, if not in all of baseball, Daryn. And if the Cubs get Greg Maddux, they're going to be even tougher. Maddox has narrowed his list to about eight teams. He wants to pitch in the National League, and the speculation is rampant that he could end up with the Chicago cubs.

KAGAN: Here's what I'm really wondering about this. You know, you mentioned Andy Pettittete. He was the big impetus, bringing his buddy on board, but when he came on board with the Houston Astros, he took number 21 in honor of Roger Clemens. Do you think he'll be giving up number 21 in order so that The Rocket can have it back?

ANTONEN: I think they'll probably talk about that a little bit. But it sounded like yesterday that Clemens will be wearing number 22, and Pettittete will wear number 21, and they're going to have a fantastic time.

Roger Clemens gets $5 million to pitch for the Astros this year, but I guarantee you, it's not about the money; it's pitching for his hometown, it's pitching with Andy Pettittete, and it's getting to spend more time with his family.

I've covered him for 20 years, and he's always said the most difficult thing in baseball is being away from your family. Now he gets the best of both worlds.

KAGAN: Well, it must be a nice world when getting a 50 percent pay cut means you get $5 million.

ANTONEN: That's amazing.

KAGAN: Per year. OK, how long -- because I know you baseball guys live for this. How long until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, because it's next month now.

ANTONEN: Yes, next month. Five weeks, three days and about 2 1/2 hours, I think. We're counting the days. It's very exciting. As soon as the new year hits, everybody starts talking about baseball. So I'm getting excited, and there's a lot of good stories in spring training this year, Daryn.

KAGAN: I just want to show our viewers that people in Houston obviously thrilled with this, but New York a little bitter. Check out some of these headlines coming out of New York -- "Roger the Rat," you know, said he was going to retire, now he's going to go play. And "What an Asstro!."

ANTONEN: Well, that's -- you know, some of the best headlines are written in New York tabloids and New York paper. New York is going to be a little bit bitter for a while. And Clemens is probably lucky that he doesn't have to go to Yankee Stadium. He only has to go to Shea Stadium. They're going to remind him when the Astro go to Shea Stadium, they're going to remind him what he did. But it still won't be as bad as if he has to step on the mound at Yankees Stadium in gray uniform.

KAGAN: Yes, five weeks and change until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. You'll be counting down. Mel, thanks for stopping by again. Appreciate it.

ANTONEN: Thank you, Daryn.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 13, 2004 - 11:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Forget the pinstripes, veteran pitcher Roger Clemens coming out of his brief, ever so brief, retirement to throw for his hometown team the Houston Astros. The Rocket gets a $5 million, one-year deal, a chance to seal up a few major league records, as if he did not have enough records as it is. Of course, this is an impressive resume, one of the all-time in baseball, two World Series rings, a record six Cy Young Awards, 4,099 career strikeouts, behind only Nolan Ryan and Steve Carleton. Let's talk with "USA Today" baseball writer Mel Antonen. He joins us from Arlington, Virginia.
Mel, good morning.

I think we can hear you. Let's try one more time.

MEL ANTONEN, "USA TODAY": Good morning.

KAGAN: Oh, there you go. Hello. Big question, why? Why does The Rocket need to come down this?

ANTONEN: Oh, think it was just so tempting to be at home, you get to see more -- you know, spend more time with his kids, get to pitch with his best friend, Andy Pettitte, and he'll get to pitch for a team that might win the National league Central. The Houston Astros are going to be very good.

Plus, the Yankees are on a downslide. The Yankees would probably not be as much fun to play for in 2004 as they have in the past.

So I think just with the idea that he gets to pitch with his best friend, gets to spend more time with his family and gets to go after these record. It's very exciting. It's a very magical story for Roger Clemens.

KAGAN: Well, and when you look at his recent records, he does have a lot of good stuff left, it would appear, even though he's 41 years old.

And I think what intrigues me the most, he's been in the American League the whole time. He's going to be in the National League. He's going to have to step up to the plate literally, now.

ANTONEN: Yes, he is. Roger Clemens has made a career out of throwing inside and intimidating batters. Now he's going to have to face some of that music himself. The trend in baseball now is to pitch more inside than outside. More pitchers are throwing and trying to take control of the inside corner. So Roger Clemens is going to have to get a taste of his own medicine. Pitchers won't throw at him, per se, but he'll try to brush them back.

KAGAN: It will be interesting times. Now you mentioned the NL Central, this is the division that the Houston Astros are in. This is a very tight race with the Chicago Cubs last year. There is still some speculation that Greg Maddux might end up at his old team. That's going to make some incredible pitching in that division.

ANTONEN: Already, the Cubs and the Astros probably have the best starting staff in the National League, if not in all of baseball, Daryn. And if the Cubs get Greg Maddux, they're going to be even tougher. Maddox has narrowed his list to about eight teams. He wants to pitch in the National League, and the speculation is rampant that he could end up with the Chicago cubs.

KAGAN: Here's what I'm really wondering about this. You know, you mentioned Andy Pettittete. He was the big impetus, bringing his buddy on board, but when he came on board with the Houston Astros, he took number 21 in honor of Roger Clemens. Do you think he'll be giving up number 21 in order so that The Rocket can have it back?

ANTONEN: I think they'll probably talk about that a little bit. But it sounded like yesterday that Clemens will be wearing number 22, and Pettittete will wear number 21, and they're going to have a fantastic time.

Roger Clemens gets $5 million to pitch for the Astros this year, but I guarantee you, it's not about the money; it's pitching for his hometown, it's pitching with Andy Pettittete, and it's getting to spend more time with his family.

I've covered him for 20 years, and he's always said the most difficult thing in baseball is being away from your family. Now he gets the best of both worlds.

KAGAN: Well, it must be a nice world when getting a 50 percent pay cut means you get $5 million.

ANTONEN: That's amazing.

KAGAN: Per year. OK, how long -- because I know you baseball guys live for this. How long until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, because it's next month now.

ANTONEN: Yes, next month. Five weeks, three days and about 2 1/2 hours, I think. We're counting the days. It's very exciting. As soon as the new year hits, everybody starts talking about baseball. So I'm getting excited, and there's a lot of good stories in spring training this year, Daryn.

KAGAN: I just want to show our viewers that people in Houston obviously thrilled with this, but New York a little bitter. Check out some of these headlines coming out of New York -- "Roger the Rat," you know, said he was going to retire, now he's going to go play. And "What an Asstro!."

ANTONEN: Well, that's -- you know, some of the best headlines are written in New York tabloids and New York paper. New York is going to be a little bit bitter for a while. And Clemens is probably lucky that he doesn't have to go to Yankee Stadium. He only has to go to Shea Stadium. They're going to remind him when the Astro go to Shea Stadium, they're going to remind him what he did. But it still won't be as bad as if he has to step on the mound at Yankees Stadium in gray uniform.

KAGAN: Yes, five weeks and change until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. You'll be counting down. Mel, thanks for stopping by again. Appreciate it.

ANTONEN: Thank you, Daryn.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com