By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Houston, TX

Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens wants to face a playoff-contending team if he decides to return and pitch for the Houston Astros.

"I can tell you right now -- and they would know, too -- that if I was going to go do it, I am going to pitch against a contender, that's who I want to knock out," Clemens said. "Why would I want to waste my time running around and getting in shape."

"I get over to Minute Maid Park, I'll crank it up and get it over 90 for a contender. We'll knock them right out of the playoffs," he added. "That would be the fun. Pitching against somebody that's not in contention wouldn't be any fun for me," he added.

Astros owner Jim Crane said that if ever Clemens returns to pitch for the team, he would do it in games against non-contenders.

If Crane's plan pushes through, Clemens will return to face the Chicago Cubs or the Philadelipa Phillies this homestand. The Astros' final homestand is against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, however, ruled out the possibility that Clemens will suit up for Houston anytime soon.

"Right now, we have a six-man rotation and we've planned our rotation for the rest of the year," Luhnow said. "I'm not expecting any changes. The words I've heard Roger say suggest that's not front and center in his mind. At this point, I'm not expecting anything."

The 50-year-old Clemens has made two starts for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings Friday night with his son, Koby, serving as his catcher.

Following that game, Clemens said he was unlikely to pitch in 2012, but didn't rule out a return in 2013.

In his 23-year Major League career, Clemens posted 354 wins with 3.12 earned run average and 4,672 strikeouts, the third-most all time, during stints with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and the Houston Astros.

An 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards during his career, the most of any pitcher in MLB history.

 

Roger Clemens Wants to Pitch Against Playoff-Contending Team