[Clemens] does not intend to play in May, so the May 1 date does not mean much. |
He wants to take stock of his health and his motivation. If someone said you have to decide today, the answer would be he would retire. He doesn't think at this point, based on the end of the season, that he's got seven months of baseball in him, to go through that grind at age 43-44. |
I believe the Yankees more highly valued Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez than Andy. Time will tell if the Yankees are correct in those evaluations. |
I continue to say that nothing will be decided until after the World Baseball Classic. It is a five-horse race between Retirement, Boston, Houston (post May 1), New York, and Texas (alphabetical order except for the lead horse, named Retirement). |
I know they want to sign him. I know they're going to make a competitive offer. |
I think the All-Star break is about the time you've got to decide. I don't think he can come out and [start] in August or September. He understands it. |
If anybody calls, we'll listen. |
If he can be around the game for several months and say 'I'm through,' then I know he's done. |
If someone said, 'You have to decide today,' what will you do? The answer would be he would retire. |
It is a five-horse race, with retirement in the lead. |
Most people retire because their performance diminishes. I know he's wanted to do it before. I think he should just do it at a point in time where there will be no regrets. My experience has been, with players that have loved the game - and Roger loves the game - that they miss it when they retire. ... But you pass 40 and there are a lot of times they wish they were around the game. I think if he retires, May, June or July, he's retired. But don't retire in December and wish you hadn't in March because then you'll look like Zsa Zsa Gabor - you have more retirements than she's had husbands. |
My thinking is, if he retires in May, June or July, he's retired. Don't retire in December and wish you hadn't in March because then you'll look like Zsa Zsa Gabor — you'll have more retirements than she has husbands. |
Nothing has changed about his plan to decide in late January, early February. I expect that will be a form of a litmus test to see how feels about playing mentally and physically. |
Nothing is really new except Roger confirmed these ... are still his thoughts. |
There is no need to talk to anyone unless and until Roger decides to play. He has indicated to me that he does not intend to play in April or May. We agreed to review everything in mid-May. |