KISSIMMEE, Fla.
Earl
Watford Jersey . -- Roger Clemens tried to get across a sense of urgency
to Houston Astros pitchers Wednesday. "If its working for you, stay with it. If
its not, you need to change something. Thats something I said," Clemens said.
"Obviously its not working for some of you so you need to re-evaluate what youre
doing." In his capacity as special assistant to the general manager, Clemens
addressed a group of young pitchers who were often overmatched last season. With
a staff significantly different from the one assembled this spring, the Astros
posted a 4.79 ERA while losing 111 games. "If you need to stay and do some extra
work, conditioning, whatever it might be, that will make you mentally tougher
than the next guy," Clemens said. "I think with all the conditioning I did
throughout my career, that made me feel like I had an edge." On the eve of the
teams first full-squad workout, the Astros brought in the 51-year-old,
seven-time Cy Young Award winner for a morning pep talk. "I think these guys
have got to realize that its not only just about them, that everybodys rooting
hard and they want em to do well," Clemens said. "Obviously when they do that, a
lot of people are going to start coming through the turnstiles again to watch
em." Clemens pitched three of his 24 major league seasons in Houston, winning
the National League ERA title in 2005 when the Astros won the pennant. The years
since have been lean, especially the past three in which the Astros lost 106,
107 and 111 games. Thats one of the reasons Clemens was brought back last year,
according to general manager Jeff Luhnow. "He really understands our philosophy
as an organization," Luhnow said. "Hes been a part of this organization for a
long time and he sees eye-to-eye with everything that were doing and is able to
communicate the messages." One of the messages is to no longer accept defeat.
"Theres more than a handful of guys that have an opportunity and they need to
take a big step forward," Clemens said. "In spring training everybodys all giddy
right now, and then you start the season and everybody gets punched in the face.
Its not a lot of fun. I think theyre kind of taking the kid gloves off em a
little bit and asking a lot of em to step up." The catchers, too. "I asked those
guys today to step up a little bit when the pitchers not doing very well, and to
get after him a little bit, see if you can stroke his emotions, get his
attention so hes not lethargic out there," Clemens said. "Theres a fine line
there, but its time for some of these guys to really take a giant step forward."
Veteran Chad Qualls, brought in to compete for the closer job, said Clemens got
his points across. "Anytime somebody with his presence steps into a room, he
just kind of demands your attention," Qualls said. "You always open up and
listen to what he has to say because hes been through everything, the ups and
the downs. He knows exactly what hes talking about." And at some point in the
spring, it will go behind talking. "At my advanced stage, I still enjoy putting
the cleats on and demonstrating when I can. I like the teaching aspect, and then
to turn em loose and for them to get after it," he said. "I enjoy rooting for
the underdog and trying to motivate guys and answer their questions when they
have them." Notes: Relief pitcher Jesse Crain strained his right calf while
exercising in a gym Tuesday. The Astros are awaiting the result of an MRI. "That
will be some sort of setback; I dont know how many days," Luhnow said. ... First
baseman Japhet Amador, who hit .368 with 36 home runs in the Mexican League,
will not report to spring training until further notice because of a family
emergency.
Rodney
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many threes. Im not helping them out at all.
Robert
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estimates of as many as five getting voted in this time around and as few as
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http://www.footballcardinalsmall.com/Youth-Kurt-Warner-Elite-Jersey/ . -- Jerome Williams glanced at Philadelphias schedule and realized he would be
facing the Oakland Athletics yet again, with another new team.GENOA, Italy -
Genoa was held to a controversial 1-1 draw by visiting Empoli on Monday in the
first match since the port city was hit by devastating floods.Genoa went ahead
with a goal from Andrea Bertolacci 14 minutes in and Lorenzo Tonelli equalized
with his arm in the 77th following a deflection.It was a handball by Tonelli.
That was clear, Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini saiid.
Tyvon
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bottom half of table, with Genoa 11th and Empoli 14th.Before kickoff, a minute
of silence was observed for a victim of the flooding, caused when two rivers
burst their banks and sent a torrent of water and mud down Genoas
streets.Residents have been left without electricity and schools closed.
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