TORONTO - Roger Clemens is ready to return to the New York Yankees' rotation and likely will start at the Chicago White Sox next Monday.
Clemens pitched six shutout innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday, and Yankees manager Joe Torre said before Tuesday's game against Toronto that he'll stay with Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte as his starters for this weekend's series at AL East-leading Boston.
“I'm not disappointed that he's not pitching at Fenway,” Torre said. “I don't think that series needs any more hype than it gets every time we play it, whether it's in Fenway or at the Stadium. You'd obviously be tempted if you had a kid pitching and you can replace him with Roger Clemens. When you have Wang, Moose and Andy, there's really not the temptation to do that.”
Torre wasn't ready to finalize his decision.
“Until I talk to him personally, it's tough to pick a particular day,” he said.
If Clemens is put on the major league roster Monday, he would receive $18,207,665 this season, a prorated share of his $28,000,022 salary.
The 44-year-old right-hander struck out six and gave up two hits and two walks in Monday's start, showing improved command from last week's outing at Double-A Trenton.
“He's going to be 45 but he plays like a 20-year-old with that enthusiasm,” Torre said.
“It's going to be a big lift. He's going to help us but he's not going to carry us.”
New York began Tuesday 13.5 games behind Boston in the AL East and 7.5 games back of Detroit in the wild-card race. Clemens will be the 12th starting pitcher used by New York this season.
Also Tuesday, the Yankees said designated hitter Jason Giambi tentatively is scheduled to have a cortisone shot in his injured left heel on Thursday's off day in New York.
“Hopefully, by Friday it's comfortable enough to play,” Torre said. “We had no choice there. That's the best we can do. The fact that we had an off day is a plus for us.”
Giambi began the day in a 4-for-44 slide since May 5 with one homer and one RBI.
“Singles aren't going to get it done,” he said. “I've got to be able to drive the ball. We can't afford to let ourselves get any further back.”
“I'm not disappointed that he's not pitching at Fenway,” Torre said. “I don't think that series needs any more hype than it gets every time we play it, whether it's in Fenway or at the Stadium. You'd obviously be tempted if you had a kid pitching and you can replace him with Roger Clemens. When you have Wang, Moose and Andy, there's really not the temptation to do that.”
Torre wasn't ready to finalize his decision.
“Until I talk to him personally, it's tough to pick a particular day,” he said.
If Clemens is put on the major league roster Monday, he would receive $18,207,665 this season, a prorated share of his $28,000,022 salary.
The 44-year-old right-hander struck out six and gave up two hits and two walks in Monday's start, showing improved command from last week's outing at Double-A Trenton.
“He's going to be 45 but he plays like a 20-year-old with that enthusiasm,” Torre said.
“It's going to be a big lift. He's going to help us but he's not going to carry us.”
New York began Tuesday 13.5 games behind Boston in the AL East and 7.5 games back of Detroit in the wild-card race. Clemens will be the 12th starting pitcher used by New York this season.
Also Tuesday, the Yankees said designated hitter Jason Giambi tentatively is scheduled to have a cortisone shot in his injured left heel on Thursday's off day in New York.
“Hopefully, by Friday it's comfortable enough to play,” Torre said. “We had no choice there. That's the best we can do. The fact that we had an off day is a plus for us.”
Giambi began the day in a 4-for-44 slide since May 5 with one homer and one RBI.
“Singles aren't going to get it done,” he said. “I've got to be able to drive the ball. We can't afford to let ourselves get any further back.”
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Brew wrote on May 31, 2007 1:25 AM: