KISSIMMEE – Wearing a green hunting cap after his first Astros workout of 2005, Roger Clemens yesterday went on a counterattack against Jose Canseco.
Clemens said he hasn’t spoken with Canseco, but has talked to mutual friends.
“I tease them that when you’re under house arrest and you have ankle bracelets on, you have a lot of time to write a book,” Clemens said, referring to Canseco’s controversial book, “Juiced” – and the fact Canseco spent time under house arrest after violating probation for a 2001 nightclub brawl.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner also insinuated Canseco was an ingrate. Clemens said he “went to bat” for Canseco in order to bring him aboard as a teammate with the Red Sox and Blue Jays.
Although Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, recently denied the steroid allegation Canseco made against the Rocket in the book, the pitcher yesterday didn’t take the initiative and argue his innocence. Instead, he brusquely ended talk on the subject after five steroid-related questions.
The 42-year-old, beginning his second season with Houston, wouldn’t address the steroids topic before arriving at camp. And during a 28-minute interview with print and TV reporters at Houston’s spring training complex, Clemens limited talk of steroids to about three minutes.
Canseco and Clemens were teammates with the Red Sox from 1995-96, with the Blue Jays in 1998 and with the Yankees in 2000. Clemens said Canseco’s motivation was perhaps financial because he might be “hurting for money.”
“I went to bat for Josey a long time ago – and many times for different teams,” Clemens said. “I knew him when he was arrogant and wouldn’t sign autographs for even us, but I also knew him in his softer side.”
Asked if he and Canseco were still friends, Clemens snapped: “I’m not going to comment on that anymore. I’m done with it. What I just said is it.
“Don’t ask me any more questions about steroids or Canseco. I think his book is doing well enough.”
The steroids topic was initially broached when someone pointed out that Canseco’s briskly selling book was overshadowing spring training.
“I could care less,” Clemens said. “I think if you focus on the negative, it could be a negative or a distraction for baseball.”
Clemens was asked if he found it offensive that people could dismiss his rigorous workout regimen with finger-pointing accusations of steroids.
“Could care less. I worry about my health,” said Clemens, adding he is concerned he can no longer use Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory that was taken off the market due to life-threatening side effects.
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KISSIMMEE – Roger Clemens will not rule out a return to New York, but he cautioned yesterday that a potential July trade back to the Yankees is a long way off – and something he’s not hoping will happen.
Because the Astros lost Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran off a team that was one victory from the World Series, many are predicting they’ll struggle in the NL Central this season. And because Clemens will earn $18 million in 2005, there already have been reports linking the Rocket to the Yankees or Red Sox in a possible July deal.
“We were in the same boat last year, where if we didn’t get it going, I thought Kent was out the door and a few other guys were out the door. Including myself, maybe,” Clemens said. “I hope it’ll be the same thing [this year].”
