I got to see Clemens pitch a few times for the Stros, few years back the first time they went to the NLCS. They came from way back, had to win most of their games. I got the company tickets, we have several sets, and I was behind the dugout, between home plate and first base, the first row. I gotta say, during the game when he had his game face on, he was really something to watch. When he went out to the mound, he looked at the batter and ump, and he said with his eyes, ok, this I'm in the office now, and I'm in control here. Then he delivered and won the game. But he pretty much could no longer run worth a darn. Some dribbler got a little past him on the first base side, and he made a feeble attempt at it, I thought, I can run better than him! Between innings I was only 30 ft. from him when he stepped into the dugout, kept his gameface on the whole time. He was intense during a game, all business. He may have been 10% below his peak, but he was still quite a pitcher then. He had an interesting deal with the Astro's, he had retired from the Yankee's and wanted to minimize his time away from home. If he was not up in the rotation, he didn't have to go on the road with the team. If he was pitching on the road, they flew him to meet the team the day before he pitched. If he was not pitching at home, he didn't go to the ballpark. He squared it away up front, cut a custom deal, and we got a couple of great seasons out of Roger. I haven't heard of another deal like his.
