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TAMPA, Fla. -- Throughout this past week, several Minor League players have referred to Roger Clemens as the best pitcher in baseball history. So it was appropriate that the Rocket began his second run with the Yankees in a stadium called Legends Field.
Clemens created a buzz for Friday night's game between the Tampa Yankees and Fort Myers Miracle, a night after the two teams drew 1,108 fans. Clemens' debut attracted the largest crowd in Florida State League history, a sum of 10,257 that included Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in his suite seats and a number that far surpassed the previous record of 9,421,set in 1996.
And Clemens gave them what they wanted.
The 44-year-old right-hander allowed one run on three hits, including a solo home run, over four innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out two. He reached a peak velocity of 91 mph while tossing 58 pitches, 42 strikes. And he looked sharp.
Following the game, though, Clemens was pleased about his control, but he was the most concerned about his leg strength.
"I feel fine, but it didn't seem effortless," said Clemens, who has spent the entire week working out in the 90-degree heat at the Yankees' player development complex just down the road from Legends Field. "I had my mouth open a few times there in the first inning. My control was better than expected, but my lower half is my biggest concern."
But while fans delighted in the spectacle of it all, including a video tribute that ran prior to the game of the Rocket's accomplishments in his 23-year career, Clemens, who shied away from commenting on Kyle Farnsworth's comments on Thursday about his contract, understood the sense of urgency in his first Minor League outing.
Earlier this week, during his preparation, Clemens worked intensely on his conditioning and his mechanics, and he discussed the importance of getting in game shape as quickly as possible.
"You understand the pace the Red Sox are setting, so they're in good shape and good pitching shape," said Clemens. "If they're rolling like that, we're gonna have to get things going as quickly as possible."
Thus, after he tossed a little over 40 pitches in his warmup session and after he escorted four-year-old Field of Dreams player Nicholas Ketterer to the pitching mound for a celebration of the youth group, Clemens began his outing by working all his pitches as much as he could.
"It's different than in Spring Training where you can work your breaking ball just twice in an inning," said Clemens, who threw for an additional 15 minutes following the game. "I was going to try and make myself tired. My pregame routine was altered a bit from what it would be in a Major League game. But I wanted to overextend myself to make sure I was warmed up and ready to go."
Thus, in New York fashion, with a capacity crowd in attendance, the stage was set for a Rocket showcase.
And Clemens, who has a flair for the dramatic, put on quite a show.
He retired the first two batters he faced on a flyout to left and a groundout to second.
Looking settled in, he worked a 2-2 count to the left-hand-hitting Erik Lis, a 2005 ninth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins, and almost struck him out with two high fastballs, which Lis fouled off.
But Clemens left a fastball up over the plate which the 23-year-old Lis deposited over the right-field wall.
"His fastball was flying up in the first inning," said Tampa Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli. "But he fixed his mechanics and it was a lot better the rest of the game. His control was very good and he hit his spots."
Clemens induced the next batter following Lis into a groundout to end the inning and he allowed only two hits over the next three innings.
While he stated firmly earlier this week that his pitch count limit would hover around 45-50 pitches, the Rocket went to the mound one more time in the fourth after having already tossed 50 pitches in three innings.
"I'm trying to push myself and get ready as soon as possible," said Clemens. "But I'm trying to be smart about it as well."
Clemens finished strong, retiring the side with a groundout, flyout and groundout in eight pitches, seven of which were strikes.
Once the final out was recorded and Clemens sauntered off the field, he waved his hand to the adoring fans, who gave him a standing ovation, and tipped his cap in appreciation.
He tossed 19 pitches (11 for strikes) in the second, which included a deep flyout to center, a strikeout, a single and a groundout.
In the third inning, in which he tossed 18 pitches, he allowed a leadoff double before retiring the side with a groundout, a strikeout and a groundout to Lis to end the inning.
Clemens said he will pitch next Wednesday for Double-A Trenton and would make a determination following that start on whether an additional Minor League start is necessary.
Chris Girandola is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Clemens created a buzz for Friday night's game between the Tampa Yankees and Fort Myers Miracle, a night after the two teams drew 1,108 fans. Clemens' debut attracted the largest crowd in Florida State League history, a sum of 10,257 that included Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in his suite seats and a number that far surpassed the previous record of 9,421,set in 1996.
And Clemens gave them what they wanted.
The 44-year-old right-hander allowed one run on three hits, including a solo home run, over four innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out two. He reached a peak velocity of 91 mph while tossing 58 pitches, 42 strikes. And he looked sharp.
Following the game, though, Clemens was pleased about his control, but he was the most concerned about his leg strength.
"I feel fine, but it didn't seem effortless," said Clemens, who has spent the entire week working out in the 90-degree heat at the Yankees' player development complex just down the road from Legends Field. "I had my mouth open a few times there in the first inning. My control was better than expected, but my lower half is my biggest concern."
But while fans delighted in the spectacle of it all, including a video tribute that ran prior to the game of the Rocket's accomplishments in his 23-year career, Clemens, who shied away from commenting on Kyle Farnsworth's comments on Thursday about his contract, understood the sense of urgency in his first Minor League outing.
Earlier this week, during his preparation, Clemens worked intensely on his conditioning and his mechanics, and he discussed the importance of getting in game shape as quickly as possible.
"You understand the pace the Red Sox are setting, so they're in good shape and good pitching shape," said Clemens. "If they're rolling like that, we're gonna have to get things going as quickly as possible."
Thus, after he tossed a little over 40 pitches in his warmup session and after he escorted four-year-old Field of Dreams player Nicholas Ketterer to the pitching mound for a celebration of the youth group, Clemens began his outing by working all his pitches as much as he could.
"It's different than in Spring Training where you can work your breaking ball just twice in an inning," said Clemens, who threw for an additional 15 minutes following the game. "I was going to try and make myself tired. My pregame routine was altered a bit from what it would be in a Major League game. But I wanted to overextend myself to make sure I was warmed up and ready to go."
Thus, in New York fashion, with a capacity crowd in attendance, the stage was set for a Rocket showcase.
And Clemens, who has a flair for the dramatic, put on quite a show.
He retired the first two batters he faced on a flyout to left and a groundout to second.
Looking settled in, he worked a 2-2 count to the left-hand-hitting Erik Lis, a 2005 ninth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins, and almost struck him out with two high fastballs, which Lis fouled off.
But Clemens left a fastball up over the plate which the 23-year-old Lis deposited over the right-field wall.
"His fastball was flying up in the first inning," said Tampa Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli. "But he fixed his mechanics and it was a lot better the rest of the game. His control was very good and he hit his spots."
Clemens induced the next batter following Lis into a groundout to end the inning and he allowed only two hits over the next three innings.
While he stated firmly earlier this week that his pitch count limit would hover around 45-50 pitches, the Rocket went to the mound one more time in the fourth after having already tossed 50 pitches in three innings.
"I'm trying to push myself and get ready as soon as possible," said Clemens. "But I'm trying to be smart about it as well."
Clemens finished strong, retiring the side with a groundout, flyout and groundout in eight pitches, seven of which were strikes.
Once the final out was recorded and Clemens sauntered off the field, he waved his hand to the adoring fans, who gave him a standing ovation, and tipped his cap in appreciation.
He tossed 19 pitches (11 for strikes) in the second, which included a deep flyout to center, a strikeout, a single and a groundout.
In the third inning, in which he tossed 18 pitches, he allowed a leadoff double before retiring the side with a groundout, a strikeout and a groundout to Lis to end the inning.
Clemens said he will pitch next Wednesday for Double-A Trenton and would make a determination following that start on whether an additional Minor League start is necessary.
Chris Girandola is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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