Here's something you'll never see again
Clemens will make first All-Star pitch to nemesis Piazza
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Roger Clemens will open the All-Star game for the National League, throwing the first pitch to his nemesis, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza.
“I’m glad I’m throwing to him and I don’t have to face him,” Clemens said Monday.
Clemens, 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA for his hometown Houston Astros, was selected to start Monday by NL manager Jack McKeon of the Florida Marlins. Oakland’s Mark Mulder was picked to start by AL manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.
Clemens, then with the New York Yankees, beaned Piazza in July 2000. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine.
While the pair aren’t warm to each other, they repeatedly have said they didn’t foresee a problem working with each other. On Monday, Clemens called the controversy a media creation.
“It’s not that big a deal. It’s not an issue,” he said.
Clemens said he planned to meet with Piazza before Tuesday’s game, just as he would any other catcher.
“I’m sure we’ll go over the first handful of hitters,” Clemens said.
Clemens said he hasn’t thought about whether he wanted to play in 2005. Then he alluded to the poor first half of the Astros, who are 44-44, 10 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading St. Louis.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Roger Clemens will open the All-Star game for the National League, throwing the first pitch to his nemesis, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza.
“I’m glad I’m throwing to him and I don’t have to face him,” Clemens said Monday.
Clemens, 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA for his hometown Houston Astros, was selected to start Monday by NL manager Jack McKeon of the Florida Marlins. Oakland’s Mark Mulder was picked to start by AL manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.
Clemens, then with the New York Yankees, beaned Piazza in July 2000. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine.
While the pair aren’t warm to each other, they repeatedly have said they didn’t foresee a problem working with each other. On Monday, Clemens called the controversy a media creation.
“It’s not that big a deal. It’s not an issue,” he said.
Clemens said he planned to meet with Piazza before Tuesday’s game, just as he would any other catcher.
“I’m sure we’ll go over the first handful of hitters,” Clemens said.
Clemens said he hasn’t thought about whether he wanted to play in 2005. Then he alluded to the poor first half of the Astros, who are 44-44, 10 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading St. Louis.
