The Houston Astros have confirmed watching Roger Clemens‘ throwing session on Monday, according to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.
Levine tweeted on Monday:
Astros owner Jim Crane verifies team saw Clemens throw. No plans to bring him back now. Would want to check with MLB first if they ever do.
— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) August 20, 2012
Levine noted on Monday that a source told him that Astros scouting director Mike Elias took a look at Clemens before the 11-time All-Star signed with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters.
There is a possibility that Clemens returns to the big leagues in an Astros jersey. Former Astros club president Tal Smith is now a consultant with the Skeeters.
There may also be a hidden motive for Clemens to return to Major League Baseball. Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report for using steroids and HGH. He was acquitted of all charges brought forth by the Justice Department on June 18, but there still is the question whether he will be named to the Hall of Fame.
As Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reports, Clemens’ first year of Hall of Fame eligibility is currently 2013. By pitching this season, he could push his first year of eligibility back another five years. That could give him a better chance of being inducted after all the dust settles around Barry Bonds and other alleged cheaters.
Clemens, 50, has a career ERA of 3.12 with 4,672 strikeouts to his name (third all time behind Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson). The two-time World Series champion also has 354 career wins, ninth all time.
From 2004 to 2006, Clemens pitched for the Astros. His ERA was less than 3.00 in each of his three seasons with the team.
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