With June on its way and the Yankees 14.5 games behind Boston, the Yankees await the arrival of the Rocket Roger Clemens. Clemens is scheduled to take the hill for the Yankees for the first time this season against the Chicago White Sox on June 4th. With the season now 50 games in what exactly will Roger Clemens do for the Yankees? With Clemens experience and competitive fight, he will definitely be a solid acquisition to a pitching staff 
which has been prone to injuries. With the Yankees having to rely on quite a few rookies this season, Clemens leadership will help these players mature. In fact for a rookie with the talent of Phillip Hughes, this is a perfect situation for the rookie. Clemens strong work ethic and willingness to take pitchers such as Andy Pettitte in his first stop in New York, Hughes should be taking in everything he can from Clemens.
The Yankees main struggles though have not been on the pitching side lately, but rather on the offense. Players like Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz have had the toughest start to the season. Abreu who is a career .300 hitter, is in a season long slump that has his average at .233. Last season after joining the Yankees, Abreu hit .330 for the team. Cano, Cabrera and Mientkiewicz are all hitting well under their averages from last season as well.
Clemens can look no further then his best friend and former Yankees and Astros teammate Andy Pettitte who has been hurt the worst by the lack of run support. In 11 games started this season, Pettitte has a record of 3-4 despite a very impressive 2.51 ERA. Over his last five starts Pettitte has pitched atleast 7 innings while allowing no more then three runs in any of those games.
The Yankees throwing $28 million dollars towards Clemens improves the Yankees pitching, but without improving the hitting, the Yankees are going to just fade further behind the Red Sox. This situation is very similar to the Texas Rangers signing Alex Rodriguez after the 2000 season, despite the pitching staffs struggles. By the 4th of July, the Yankees may look to try and trade Clemens back to the Astros unless the offense decides up between now and then.
Paul Blackborow
which has been prone to injuries. With the Yankees having to rely on quite a few rookies this season, Clemens leadership will help these players mature. In fact for a rookie with the talent of Phillip Hughes, this is a perfect situation for the rookie. Clemens strong work ethic and willingness to take pitchers such as Andy Pettitte in his first stop in New York, Hughes should be taking in everything he can from Clemens.The Yankees main struggles though have not been on the pitching side lately, but rather on the offense. Players like Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz have had the toughest start to the season. Abreu who is a career .300 hitter, is in a season long slump that has his average at .233. Last season after joining the Yankees, Abreu hit .330 for the team. Cano, Cabrera and Mientkiewicz are all hitting well under their averages from last season as well.
Clemens can look no further then his best friend and former Yankees and Astros teammate Andy Pettitte who has been hurt the worst by the lack of run support. In 11 games started this season, Pettitte has a record of 3-4 despite a very impressive 2.51 ERA. Over his last five starts Pettitte has pitched atleast 7 innings while allowing no more then three runs in any of those games.
The Yankees throwing $28 million dollars towards Clemens improves the Yankees pitching, but without improving the hitting, the Yankees are going to just fade further behind the Red Sox. This situation is very similar to the Texas Rangers signing Alex Rodriguez after the 2000 season, despite the pitching staffs struggles. By the 4th of July, the Yankees may look to try and trade Clemens back to the Astros unless the offense decides up between now and then.
Paul Blackborow
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