Roger Clemens pitched 35 postseason video games in a legendary 24-year Major League baseball profession.
His son, Kody, is experiencing playoff baseball for the first time as a participant in a utility function with the Phillies. But Kody stated dad didn’t have any particular recommendation on how you can deal with the ratcheted-up depth of the playoffs.
“Kind of the same spiel he’s given me throughout my career, the lights are brighter, the moments are bigger, but it’s the same game you’ve been playing your whole life, just lock in,” stated Clemens, who famous Roger was attendance for the first two video games of the postseason. “He trusts me and knows I’m very capable and continues to support me and it’s great.”
Clemens pinch-hit in each of the first two video games of the National League Division Series towards the New York Mets which head to Citi Field for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday with the collection tied at 1. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and stayed in Game 2 to play left area after pinch-hitting for Johan Rojas to start out the backside of the sixth.
“It’s been great, obviously I’m here to do whatever I can to help the team win,” stated Clemens. “I’m staying as ready as possible every single inning. I don’t know when I’ll pinch-hit or when I’ll get in the game.”
Asked if the playoff video games felt the similar the manner Roger stated, Kody stated he has been treating it that manner although he is aware of the stakes are larger.
“That’s kind of how you have to dumb it down to, right?” stated Clemens. “If you make the moment bigger than it is, there’s more pressure. You just to have to take it like a normal at-bat. If you can calm yourself down to focus on what your job is in that at-bat, the less pressure there is.”
The Phillies acquired Clemens alongside with Gregory Soto in a commerce with the Detroit Tigers previous to the 2023 season for Matt Vierling, Nick Maton and Donny Sands.
Soto was the key piece of the deal from the Phillies’ standpoint as he was a two-time All-Star nearer with the Tigers, however he by no means took to his set-up function in Philadelphia and was flipped to the Orioles for prospects at the deadline after the Phillies acquired Tanner Banks from the White Sox.
Clemens, although, has been an excellent match with the Phillies. He’s been versatile as a primary baseman, second baseman, third baseman and left fielder and was the left-handed half of a first-base platoon when Bryce Harper went on the injured listing.
His versatility, pinch-hitting means and left-handed bat – which the Phillies lacked from the bench – earned him one of the closing postseason roster spots.
“It felt good to (be on the postseason roster),” stated Clemens. “I achieved a goal of mine. It was a great feeling for me, my wife and family and a good moment.”
In the closing recreation of the season, Clemens made a game-saving catch towards the left-field wall in Washington that might give the Phillies home-field benefit in the World Series towards the New York Yankees if each groups make it that far.
Clemens is hitting .225 with 9 dwelling runs, 32 runs scored and 31 RBI in simply 253 at-bats as a Phillies the final two years and has developed a penchant for delivering in the clutch. He has a .333 common in high-leverage conditions.
Despite his productiveness and match, Clemens has solely spent elements of the final two seasons in the main leagues. He was final recalled on Sept. 1 when rosters expanded.
Every time he was despatched down, supervisor Rob Thomson instructed him as nicely as reporters Clemens was a Major-League participant. Clemens appreciated the confidence however admitted it was powerful to listen to when he was driving again to a minor-league stadium.
The choice was usually associated to roster development and the truth Clemens had minor-league choices whereas different gamers didn't. Next yr, Clemens might be out of choices, and the Phillies might want to hold him on the major-league roster or threat shedding him.
For now, although, he’s having fun with his first journey to the postseason.
“There’s a lot of business that comes into the game,” stated Clemens. “Obviously there’s limited spots and the team we got is extremely good. There’s no moving parts on this team, so when my name was called I stayed as prepared as possible, and obviously I got the short end of the stick at times this year. It is what it is, there’s nothing I can control there. I just continued to be prepared. … for now.
“Luckily for me there were a few open spots (on the postseason roster) and not too many left-handed bats and I could fill that role.”
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Bill Evans might be reached at [email protected].
