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| 17th January, 2006 - 1:34 am | Ticker - 42-year-old Clemens was one of 42 players named Monday to the provisional American roster for the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
All 16 countries must submit a provisional roster with as many as 60 players by Wednesday, with a final 30-man roster in place by March 2 - one day before the tournament starts.
Other notable names on the American roster are seven-time MVP Barry Bonds of San Francisco, shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, first baseman Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs, Boston catcher Jason Varitek, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, starting pitchers Dontrelle Willis of Florida and Roy Halladay of Toronto and closers Billy Wagner of the New York Mets and American League Rookie of the Year Huston Street of Oakland.
Among those not on the provisional roster is Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who has not decided whether he will play for the United States, the Domincan Republic or not participate at all.
Clemens went 13-8 for the National League champion Houston Astros last season and led the majors with a 1.87 ERA in 211 1/3 innings. However, Clemens is a free agent and has said that he is unsure whether he will retire or play again next season.
"I'm excited about it because I never had the opportunity to do the Olympics," said Clemens, who ranks ninth on the all-time list with 341 career wins.
The depth of the American staff, which also includes NL strikeout king Jake Peavy and Washington closer Chad Cordero, will be important since pitchers will be held to an undetermined but strict pitch count in the tournament.
Bonds missed virtually all of last season with a knee injury but expects to be healthy for the event and the start of the regular season.
"He was very excited," Team USA manager Buck Martinez said. "Anybody that can have his bat in the lineup (will benefit). He's a game-changer and a good guy to have on your lineup, no doubt about it."
Bonds figures to serve as Team USA's designated hitter. Other outfielders on the roster are Toronto's Vernon Wells and Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. [READ] |
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