In 1995 – Canseco’s first year with the Sox – a then-32-year-old Clemens pitched only 140 innings, the fewest innings that he has pitched as a full-time starter in his entire career. And Roger had been in a bad way starting in the 1993 season suffering from some injuries, missing some starts and was hardly a dominant pitcher. From 1993-96 Clemens was 40-39 with an ERA of just under 4.00.
In Clemens’ last year in Boston – which was Canseco’s last year as well – Roger was only 10-13 with a 3.63 ERA, but started 34 games, threw 242 innings and faced 1032 total batters, the innings and batters faced numbers were the sixth best in his entire career.
Clemens has been on a tear ever since 1997 when he went to the Blue Jays, and where he was joined by Canseco in 1998. Clemens moved on to New York in 1999 where Jose had a cup of coffee at the end of the 2000 season.
But I’m sure by now you know where this is going, so let’s just cut to the chase.
Clemens has been in the majors for 23 years. For the first 12 years he was not teammates with Jose Canseco, but over the last 11 years Clemens was teammates with Canseco on three separate occasions.
Here’s how Clemens’ stats breakdown during these two eras.
Record 172-93 Before Jose (Before Jose); Record 176-85 After Jose (After Jose)
Innings pitched 2398 (BJ); Innings pitched 2421 (AJ)
Strikeouts 2201 (BJ); Strikeouts 2401 (AJ)
I find it amazing that Clemens has had a 23-year career and has been able to keep up this incredible pace – which flies in the face of what history says older power pitchers can do – and has actually gotten slightly better over the last 11 years, from the point where he first became teammates with Canseco.
Is it possible that Jose Canseco could have had some knowledge that could have helped a pitcher of Roger Clemens stature?
Article comments
1 - Donnie Marler
Jason Grimsley commented through his lawyer that he was the victim of a tremendous misunderstanding. Grimsley said there is 'no way' Roger Clemens would have, or did, take steroids.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well, there is one way.
Needle in ass.
3 - sal m
actually the term that has been used in this latestly statement from grimsley's mouthpiece is "illegal performance enhancing drugs"...human growth hormone and certain other hormones like testosterone are NOT illegal to use or possess if a person has a valid prescription.
this is just lawyerly posturing.