$18.5 million To Play Once Every Five Games, And Hang Out With Your Kids

Jack Welch has to hate George Steinbrenner. Welch, to many the iconic business man, prides himself by working, hard. He demands that his co-workers work just as hard as he does, and those extra hours are what will get you ahead in this world. And Welch believes that those extra hours you put in are because you want to get ahead. The philosophy? Hard work, hard times, big bucks.

During the seventh-inning stretch of Sunday's Yankees game, Roger Clemens made a dramatic announcement, telling the fans that he will play for the Bronx Bombers this season. What he didn't mention was that he will be getting paid $18.5 million to do so. After taxes, the Yankees will have paid $26 million just to have Clemens around for another season.

Half season.

Last year, in one half season, Clemens went 7-6 with a 2.30 ERA. The 2.30 is impressive and many say the 7-6 was tarnished by a lack of run support by the injury plagued, Carlos Beltranless Astros.

Clemens is a great pitcher and has been for two decades. His stats speak for themselves. His pay is ridiculous, but that's not what gets to me. Clemens doesn't have to travel with the team if he isn't scheduled to pitch. In fact, he doesn't even have to come to the park. He has to show up on his day in the rotation, pitch, and go home until his next turn comes.

I suppose there could be worse deals

The 44 year old Clemens sites needing time so spend with his family. How many 44 year olds get to spend 8 of 10 days with their families for 2 1/2 months, and then as much time as they want for the rest of the year? The unemployed is all I can come up with. Then, throw that $18.5 million number along with it, and he is in a social, and economic class all to himself.

Baseball is a game of passion. Passionate leaders can drive a team of lowly status to what many would call overachieving. The 2005 White Sox, who beat Clemens in the World Series, were a team without a superstar. They won a World Series with Jermaine Dye as their three hitter. That's embarrassing. However, they were lead by a charismatic manager in Ozzie Guillen who made them believe in what they were capable of. Earlier this year, I was listening to an interview with a player, who shall remain anonymous, who was speaking of a team he came up with that at the Major League level, they went out and played for themselves everyday. They weren't really in the race and they knew it and they just went through the motions. That team, at the time, had the best hitter in the game and two hitters surrounding him putting up 30 homers and 100+ RBI.

My question is how do you play for someone who only shows up when it's his turn to pitch? As well as a game of passion, baseball is a psychological game. And in the back of the minds of the Alex Rodriguez's, Bobby Abreu's, and Johnny Damon's, big name stars who haven't played with Clemens yet, they will wonder why they should play hard for a guy who doesn't even support the team...and in the case of the three aforementioned players, MAKES MORE MONEY THAN THEY DO. Clemens record 7-6 record and lack of run support last year, call me crazy, is a direct representation to the lack of commitment he has to his job and his team.

Especially in a clubhouse where money matter most, Clemens is going to destroy the morale of a team that already has little. There is already talk about A-Rod opting out of his contract seeing as given his April numbers (0 homers in May) he can get $20-25 million a year in a new deal. Lest we forget, if Clemens played for an entire year, 18.5 x 2 is $37 million. Yankee management said they cleared the deal with the "veteran" players on the club. Let me tell you one thing...Paul O'Neil won championships with Clemens...but he wouldn't go for this deal one bit. O'Neil, that ultimate baseball leader, knows that a strong clubhouse wins championships, and Clemens, like Barry Bonds, can kill a clubhouse with his absence.

So the great leader of the Yankees, the Captain, Derek Jeter...where is he? Why doesn't he have the guts to stand up and say something? If he was the leader he is billed to be, he would ask Clemens' to be a real part of the team, face to face. Something tells me that's not going to happen. Jeter's to busy running head first into the stands after making a catch in foul ground, for no reason other than to make the highlight reels.

I'm glad Clemens is coming back. I love watching the Yankees struggle as does most of America, and as far as I'm concerned, for going along with the demands of Clemens, they deserve it. I suppose, the most important move the Yankees could make: sell the team to Jack Welch.

<--- The Real Rocket...Chet Steadman.