Another Challenge for This Rocket

The Rocket is back. And many New York Yankees fans don't quite know how the feel about it yet.

The Yanks have paid for a $28 million insurance policy, and still, that may not be enough to salvage the 2007 season.

(We're told that's actually only $18 million after proration.)

Yes, it's only May. But the Yankees made this move as if they were eight games out of first place on September 1. Maybe that's why they have him. The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, the two other teams in the Clemens sweepstakes reportedly told him they didn't want his services until July.

YES, the network created by the 26-time world champions, broke into a commercial break during the seventh inning stretch in yesterday's win over the Seattle Mariners to showcase Clemens' announcement from owner George Steinbrenner's private box, as if they were the Chicago Cubs unleashing their antidote for the Curse of the Billy Goat.

Yankee radio announcer Suzyn Waldman announced Clemens' return as if a ressurrected Babe Ruth had addressed the crowd and told them he'd be batting third tonight.

Clemens was never the best pitcher of his Yankee tenure. But there is no doubt that he is the greatest pitcher of this generation, and arguably the best the game has seen since Walter Johnson.

Frankly, what other moves could the Yankees make for a dependable starting pitcher?

Key word: dependable.

Not unhittable, like many among Red Sox nation tried to convince the public about Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Not perfect, like Chien-Ming Wang almost was on Saturday.

Dependable. As in, 'we'll get you the runs, Roger, as long as you give us at least five innings every five days'.

If nothing else, he'll save Joe Torre what's left of his hair, too.

The Yankees rotation has left its manager tearing clumps from under his cap. Who could blame him after seeing Carl Pavano is probably done for his third consecutive year, 20-year old phenom Phil Hughes on the shelf for at least two months, Kei Igawa giving-up touchdowns to the Seattle Mariners, while Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Jeff Karstens have all missed starts due to either conditioning-related injuries or just plain bad luck.

(There's eight starters right there, if you're counting at home.)

Then there's Darrell Rasner and Chase Wright to round out this growing group, meaning if the rotation somehow stays intact until June, Clemens will be, at the very least, the eleventh Yankee starter in 2007.

There are many arguments against what the Yankees did yesterday afternoon. From the prorated $28 million summer deal (which garners Clemens at least $1 million per start), to Clemens' grand entrance, which evoked thoughts of the David Lee Roth feigning a reunion with Van Halen at the 1996 MTV VMAs.

Then there's the Yankee rules which allow Clemens the ability to come-and-go as he pleases in-between starts, a luxury the Houston Astros afforded him each of the last three seasons. The Yankees refused Clemens that privilege due to Randy Johnson being on the roster--a hired mercenary and a future Hall of Famer in his forties who could have easily made the same demand.

Frankly, Joe Torre knows his team well enough to understand that if Clemens' special treatment were a potential clubhouse problem, the Yankees would not have granted Roger this magic wish.

And if one wants to make a case that Clemens has been granted favored treatment while lifelong Yankees Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada head into the November without contracts, the fact is, Mo and Georgie have known the Yankees have courted Clemens each of the last two seasons, and that his success can help both of them pave the way for bigger contracts coming-up this offseason.

Frankly, Brian Cashman and Joe Torre don't have to read the Steinbrenner missives posted on the clubhouse wall. Unlike 2005, the Yankees have blown three straight postseason series, winning a combined three of their last 12 games. They also realize the forgotten Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon aren't stepping through a time portal to make spot-starts. The pair of castoffs combined for a 17-3 record helping the Yankees win a tie-breaker over the Red Sox to win the '05 AL East crown.

Desperate times call for dependable measures.

Roger Clemens is not coming to New York expecting to win a Cy Young or even to be the ace of the Yankees staff. He's not postponing retirement because he thinks he can post an ERA under 2.00.

He's coming back because the Yankees are giving him $28 million and anything else he wanted put into that contract that he swears he hasn't seen.

Joe Torre needs Clemens back to win baseball games and give the Yankee pitching staff some semblance of stability. Brian Cashman needs Clemens back to bandage his offseason boo-boos.

Mr. Steinbrenner just needs a seventh World Series trophy to add to his mantle as Yankee owner.

And frankly, that's the only reason that matters.

No one should expect Clemens to put-up the numbers he posted in his three years in Houston or think No. 22 will finally get that illusive no-hitter he's chased throught his Hall-of-Fame career.

But given his painstaking conditioning, Yankee fans should expect Clemens to make his fair share of starts.

Given the Yankees 2007 injury blodder, that's a start.