Clemens Needs to Stop Talking

I never thought anyone would have to say these words, but here they are: Roger Clemens, grow up.

Thursday night, Clemens failed to get win number 350 and both he and skipper Joe Torre were chock full of excuses. The Rocket lasted only 4 1/3 innings and gave up 4 runs on the way to his second loss of the year, and it was also the team's third straight loss to the Rockies.

Clemens said in a post-game interview that in one inning - he can't remember which one it was, because there were so many to choose from - the wind was blowing so hard and directly into his chest that he had trouble finding the plate.

Are you kidding? The wind hit his chest so he couldn't pitch? That's an absolute joke.

Torre said that when he spoke to the aging wonder during the game, Clemens said he was gassed, but that he'd go out and give it his all anyway. Gassed? After 90 pitches? After less than five innings? Are you kidding?

So wait, let me get this right - Roger Clemens is being paid about a million dollars per start, to be gassed by the fifth inning? To make excuses about how the wind threw off his pitches? No. He's being paid a million per start to pitch, not to, well, complain.

Hey Roger, grow up. And quickly too.

When the Yankees inked Clemens, the media frenzy in New York was absolutely wild. It began with Suzyn Waldman screaming at the top of her lungs in one of the great comedic moments in broadcasting history. It continued with television and newspaper reporters alike extolling Clemens' virtues (which include intentionally throwing a pitch and a broken bat at Mike Piazza) and hailing him as the Yankees' Messiah. It was as if Roger Clemens was going to save the Yankees.

Clemens to this point hasn't really done much saving. He's 1-2 in three starts, with the lone victory coming over the Pirates and his losses coming at the hands of the reeling Mets and the National League West's fourth-place team, the Rockies.

It's not like Clemens can't pitch any more - he already has 21 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings pitched - but he's certainly not the same Clemens. His ratio is 1.38, and he's allowed three home runs already. If he makes 20 starts this year, Clemens would be on pace for 20 home runs allowed, his highest total since 2003, when allowed 24 in over 200 innings pitched.

Still, his age - or whatever is causing him to be less dominant - does not give him the liberty to make excuses; not when he's making a million dollars for each start. He knows what his job is - it's to go out there and win ballgames. It's ridiculous for anyone to think that Clemens will single-handedly save the Yankees' season, but if they are to right the sinking ship, their 20-million dollar man has to make his pitches speak louder than his excuses.

Because right now the Yankees are sinking, and fast. They've won 11 of their last 15 games are still 10.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox and 6.5 games out of the wild card. Yes, it's still June. And yes, more than half of the season is left. But time is running out. Clemens knows why he's in the Bronx - to pitch effectively and rack up wins, not to pitch poorly and ramble on with excuses.

So Roger, stop talking, and start winning. Because if 11 of 15 means the deficit is still double digits, you and your teammates are going to have to work twice as hard to reach October.