KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Roger Clemens was reluctant to tell Astros manager Phil Garner of his desire to record his first career stolen base, for fear that Garner would "have a heart attack."

The Rocket knew what he was talking about.

 

"Oh I would have a heart attack [if Clemens tries to steal a base this season]," Garner said Friday. "It wouldn't surprise me if Roger could pull it off, but it would give me a heart attack. I don't know if you noticed or not but [first base coach Jose] Cheo [Cruz] will be carrying a rope, and it's not because he's in the rodeo, it's because he's going to have to lasso Roger. I don't think he can stop him, but at least he might slow him down a little bit."

 

Astros general manager Tim Purpura was asked what he would do if he saw his $18 million pitcher, all 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds of him, propel his 42-year-old body towards second base.

"I'm going to cover my eyes and pray," Purpura said. "He is not a stealth bomber. He will be noticed out there. I just hope it's in a game when the outcome is well in order, in our favor."

 

Clemens has spent 21 years in the Major Leagues and all but last year were in the American League, so he's only had 92 career at-bats. He is, however, a good hitter for a pitcher, with 16 hits and a .174 career average. So it is likely he will have a few opportunities to steal, though he has never attempted a stolen base.

 

"He'll need some sort of cloaking device to make him invisible for 90 feet," catcher Brad Ausmus said. "I think Roger needs to hope that the catcher drops the ball."

 

And Clemens can probably forget about tagging along as the back end of a double steal.

 

"I usually hit in front of him and don't steal very often, so that's going to make it even tougher for him," Ausmus said. "I'm not going anywhere, so he's on his own if he goes."

 

On the other hand, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner has always stuck to his guns. If he puts his mind toward accomplishing something, his track record shows that something, whatever it is, gets done. Especially on a baseball diamond.

 

"Roger, the way his career has gone, if the guy says he's going to do it, he's going to do it and get it done," Ausmus said. "Good luck to him on that."

 

Teammate Craig Biggio was surprised to hear of Clemens' goal.

 

"I'm lost for words, I don't know what to say. I hope he makes it if he goes," Biggio said. "I've seen him run to first. He's not very fast. Hopefully he'll get some old-school pitcher out there with a [1.7-second] leg kick, he might have a chance."

 

To be successful Clemens would of course, need a very healthy lead. And probably a jump worthy of Evel Knievel.

 

"You ever see his leads?" Biggio said. "My kids aren't allowed to take leads yet, and I think they get a bigger lead than Roger gets."

 

? Of course the shock of The Rocket blasting off from first might be enough to startle the opposition into making a mistake with the peg.

 

"If it's the right situation, I think he knows how to take care of himself," said Tal Smith, Astros president, baseball operations. "It would be interesting."

 

Clemens said he would be willing to pay any fine and can probably count on one from Garner if he tries to steal.

 

"Mind you the hold will be on all year," Garner said. "Our sign for the hold, just so anybody doesn't get confused is [third base coach Doug Mansolino] has a sheet of paper and holds it up like this, it's that obvious."

 

 

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/h...5news&fext=.jsp

:lol Boy would I LOVE to see that!

lol

the catcher that gives that up should be.... :whistle

that is awesome

 

i bet he goes like 0 for 20 in attempts this year

"And there goes Clemens! And he is....out by about 35 feet.."

That'd be pretty cool.

Well.. he had 12 hits last year so its not like he's gonna have many chances.

Well.. he had 12 hits last year so its not like he's gonna have many chances.

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Add in all those Intentional walks.

That would be outrageous if he attempted it and made it. :lol

the catcher that gives that up should be.... :whistle

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Mike Piazza :whistle

Clemens would need an overthrow and for the CF'er to misplay it

that would be awesome if he got it. who ever the catcher is should take it easy.

You think he'd want a home run before a stolen base.

That's not gonna happen. He should probably stick to the goal of 20 wins or something that matters to a pitcher.

I think he can make it. Seriously, the pitcher is not going to be holding him at all in a blowout and the catcher will probably be so caught off guard that he might make a bad throw. I hope he can get one! :lol

"He'll need some sort of cloaking device to make him invisible for 90 feet," catcher Brad Ausmus said. "I think Roger needs to hope that the catcher drops the ball."

 

LOL!

he'll probably pull a hammy half way there....