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Clemens proves to be an ace in Red Sox radio booth

By Tim Neverett - For The Telegraph | Jun 3, 2018

HOUSTON – “The Rocket” was back at Minute Maid Park on Thursday night and his pitch came from the Red Sox radio booth, rather than the mound. Roger Clemens’ career included 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts, eleven All Star Game appearances and is the only man ever to win seven Cy Young Awards. Thursday was only his second complete game as a broadcaster. Last June 16th, the seven time ERA leader and five time American League strike out king, joined me for his first ever radio broadcast, start to finish, and he threw strikes all night long.

May 31st of this year was no different as his observations on pitching dotted up the strike zone with in-depth analysis over and over again. I alway gain valuable knowledge when sitting next to him. During the top of the second inning, I asked Clemens about Houston right handed starter, Lance McCullers Jr.’s breaking ball and it’s effectiveness on left handed hitters.

“I was telling people that in the late 80s early 90s that was a nitro zone for a left handed hitter to stay away from that slider.” Clemens said. “Guys look out over (the plate) so much now that that slider down and in is a great pitch.”

On Boston Starter Drew Pomeranz, who earlier in the season was thought to be tipping pitches, Clemens pointed out one thing people in the dugout look at when trying to pick up something from an opposing pitcher, ” I have been trying to watch his pre-set routine to see if he actually loads his pitches before he gets his signal (from the catcher) to see if he is really calling his own game.”

“He’s got a routine that he is able to do, without anyone on base, that he almost re-sets twice,” Clemens observed after watching Pomeranz for just a few innings.

My regular partner, Red Sox Hall of Famer, Joe Castiglione is taking the series off in Houston. He has earned a few series off after 35 years plus in the Sox booth and is attending his 50th college reunion at Colgate University this weekend. He also will be speaking as part of a program tomorrow afternoon at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. In the meantime, WEEI Radio’s Dale Arnold is filling in for Castiglione this weekend and will also sit in later in the summer at Detroit.

Because Castiglione called every single one of Clemens’ starts with the Red Sox from 1984 through 1996, the 1986 American League MVP and two time World Series champion has a soft spot for the longtime Sox play-by-play man. A simple text from Castiglione to Clemens asking him to join the broadcast team for a night was all it took last year and again this season. If “Joe C.”, as Clemens calls him, asks for a favor, “Rocket” shows up with no questions asked.

What have I learned about working with Clemens on his only two broadcasts ever? I know he will be there and shows up loaded with interesting information. Last year he showed up about 20 minutes before the first pitch with a gaggle of reporters waiting for him outside the visitor’s radio booth at Minute Maid Park. Three nights ago, after making his way through the gauntlet on the way upstairs to join Arnold and me, he finally sat down on my right and put his headset on by the time the third pitch of the game was tossed. During the game, magazines and other memorabilia would literally be tossed into the booth from fans in the seats in front of the booth for him to sign. There were baseballs already waiting for him at his seat well before the game. He signed everything. I helped him toss some of it back to the original owner at one point.

Since Clemens left the Red Sox, his number 21 has never been worn by another player. It is not officially retired. As he continues to inch closer in the Hall of Fame vote each year, while answering every controversial question about alleged PED use in the past, it looks like enshrinement might be in his future and his number 21 put up on the right field facade at Fenway. That time is coming.

The Red Sox and Astros finish up their four-game series tonight as part of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball at 7:35 pm and then open a series with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Tim Neverett is in his third season as Red Sox Radio Play-By-Play Announcer for the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network throughout New England. Tim can be followed on Twitter @timneverett

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