Yes, it’s not like you saw it here first. But we’d be awfully neglect if we neglected to note that 44-year-old Roger Clemens picked the Yankees as the team he is going to rescue this year. On the surface, it may seem astounding that the Red Sox let him go to their rivals but, we suppose, Boston felt comfy with a double-digit lead in the AL East and the knowledge that the Yankees would need to play something like .600 baseball for the rest of the season to have a chance of seeing October. So, the Red Sox decided to save the plane fare. After all, a sure first ballot Hall of Famer (whenever he finally decides to retire) doesn’t come cheap. The Yankees shelled out a cool prorated $28M for the favor. The favor is supposed to start in Toronto on May 28th. You know what? I’m finding myself pulling for the guy. This is likely because I am faced 
with turning 40 this fall and think we in our 4th decade should band together. Then again, he could choke on a calzone, too and I probably wouldn’t bat an eye. Ah, the Boston/Yankee rivalry dies hard, doesn’t it?
Yet, I am captivated with the Yankees, it seems. So, allow me to wonder about good ol’ Bernie Williams. The guy was pushed from the team with an invitation to join one of the club’s minor league teams. Not that he didn’t see the writing on the wall when the team signed Johnny Damon to his position after the 2005 season. Williams optimistically says he’s staying in shape and will “be back” in the majors. Meanwhile, the ex-centerfielder busied himself last week addressing the graduating class for Iona University in Madison Square Garden and collecting an honorary degree for his work with homeless people.
Unfortunately for Williams, no team seems primed to take the Bernie Bait. Not that it would matter — it’s no secret that the good natured Williams wants back in pinstripes. He was a Bronx Bomber lifer after being signed as a 16-year-old punk in Puerto Rico. And he could be playing this season, but for him declining offers to play with other teams. But who knows? His Yankees may be looking for a new designated hitter after current DH, Jason Giambi, apologized for using steroids (“that stuff”) and suggested that Hank Aaron Huntin’ Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants should do the same. And everyone else involved in the scandal, for that matter, including Bud Selig. For his candor, Giambi, currently a .272 hitter with six home runs and 34 RBI, may be tossed into the cold. The New York Post suggests that Steinbrenner would gladly release Giambi from his contract. In fact, the paper implies that the ballclub would simply love to have a good reason to do so and it’d be a legal no-brainer if it’s found that Giambi used steroids after he joined the Yankees in 2001. So, Bernie, a career .297 hitter, may be a good fit.
photo credit: www.BernieWilliams.com
Nutmeg Sports Media 