Rocket Stalls

Some observers raised their collective eyebrows last week when Clemens threw just 89 pitches in his final tune-up start at AAA-Scranton after throwing 102 in his prior start for AA-Trenton. In particular ESPN's John Kruk didn't feel that Clemens appeared to be pushing off the mound with much strength in his legs. The media in New York were far less concerned, proclaiming the Rocket ready for launch and clamoring for his debut to be pushed up to Saturday in Boston. It mustn't come as much of a surprise to Kruk that Clemens has been diagnosed with groin fatigue, and the Yankees don't have any clear picture of when he'll be able to take the mound. Clemens reportedly is eyeing Saturday against the Pirates at Yankee Stadium, but I'd advise fans to mark it down in pencil.