Within a budding grove

Mike:
I love this line from Mazz in today's Globe …

 

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Mike:
"Theo Epstein is taking care of his to do list as if he were strolling through the produce section, locking up home-grown budding stars to long-term deals at a time of economic turmoil."

 

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Bill:
Yeah, and how about this headline at MLB.com — "Farm to Fenway pipeline still loaded"?

 

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Mike:
How nuts is it that a guy like Daniel Bard is going to have to wait for a spot with the big club?

 

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Bill:
The kid's on fiah. Hitting triples digits on the gun consistently.

 

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Bill:
Striking out the side against Puerto Rico on Thursday then doing it again Sunday against the Rays.

 

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Mike:
Joe Castiglione said this is the most impressive effort by a youngster in spring training he's seen since Clemens in 1984.

 

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Bill:
Wow, that takes me back.

 

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Bill:
You know with the last 15 years or so with Clemens it's easy to forget just how amazing it was when he came on the scene in '84.

 

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Bill:
Right from the staht he electrified this town.

 

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Bill:
You know even with the glory that is the 2004 and 2007 World Series wins, those first couple years of watching Clemens go from gangly prospect to the most dominant pitcher in baseball stand on their own as some of the most heady times to be a Red Sox fan.

 

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Bill:
Still amazes me how quickly the moment turned sour and was gone.

 

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Mike:
Well, it's like Proust says in Remembrance of Things Past, "The only paradise is paradise lost."

 

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Comments

[Harwich Rich]

Let's hope these kids take a lesson from the Texas con man on what not to do

[yazbread]

Is this revisionist history? I don't recall Clemens making much of an impression in 84 and 85.

[Bob]

I believe he had a strikeout an inning in '84. It was more "the promise of things to come."

And then '86 came along.

[h.b.]

yaz,

I'm guessing that pre-internet you weren't as tuned into following the draft and prospects etc as you are now.

There was a buzz about Clemens in 84 and 85, especially 85. I can remember my dad going out of his way to watch Clemens pitch that season and my dad saying, "He is something special. Just wait."

But absolutely, he didn't really grab everyone's attention until April 1986.

[h.b.]

Bob,

Right. Promise. Potential. Hence the comparison to D. Bard per Castiglione.

[Jake]

From the SI Vault:

Red Sox rookie Roger Clemens, who struggled in his first six weeks as a big-leaguer, is starting to live up to his advance billing. Last Friday night Clemens struck out nine and allowed six hits while beating Toronto 8-1. " Clemens is the hardest thrower of any starter in the league," says Houston scout Gordon Lakey, "and no other hard thrower has that good a curveball." - July 2, 1984

[David Pinto]

I remember watching Clemens pitch against the Angels in 1984. He struck out Reggie Jackson two times, then Reggie homered in his third at bat. Mr. October said afterward he had to do something, or this kid was going to call his mother and tell her he struck out Reggie Jackson three times.

[IsaacL]

I don't wanna disparage the Rocket, but I think Pedro in his best days - the late '90's and early 2000's - might have been even a little better. Pedro was so good, back then, that you planned your time around him. If asked to go out on a Friday night, you could say "No, Pedro's pitching." There was an electricity that enveloped the park whenever he pitched. Let's not forget that.

[h.b.]

Yes, Pedro had electricity. But that is somewhat moot as the theme of the strip is homegrown talent and prospects ala Daniel Bard and Clemens.

Pedro was already a dominant pitcher when Duquette acquired him from Montreal. And, yes, at his best he was as good or better than Clemens and arguably more fun to watch.

But it's apples v oranges. To my mind, there is nothing quite so satisfying as watching a guy bloom out of your own farm system.

[Go Sox. Go Heels. Yankees suck. Dook sucks.]

Here at UNC, we are proud of our guy! I was a bit worried at first, because of his struggles, but I think the Sox did a good job of taking it slow. He could be a beast out of the bullpen.

It makes you wonder if the reason Andrew Miller didn't quite pan out is because they just brought him up too soon. But he still has lots of time to improve.

[Molly's pal]

I saw Clemens pitch in Baltimore in 1984. It was amazing to see such power coming from a skinny kid. He didn't quite have it all together in terms of pitching a game, but he made quite an impression on a tough lineup (remember, the Orioles won the WS in '83).

[COD]

My day.
http://twitpic.com/1zdn8

Minivan ran a red and plowed into my wife and daughter at 45 mph. They are fine, the truck not so much.

Both airbags blew - totaled I'm sure.

[Steve in MD]

COD sorry to hear about the accident and glad our kin are okay. (Guess I'm the only one to logon on to this creepy site this evening).

[buckner was framed]

wow, COD-
that's some front end you got there. Glad to hear everyone's fine. SinMD, I also just got home from work to log on.

[Rob in CT]

Holy Hell, COD!

I'm so glad your wife and daughter are okay. The rest is just sheet metal. Glad their guardian angel was alert.

That car is a pretty fair representation of Clemens, though, eh? 2008 vintage -- not 1985.

[Bob]

Glad to hear everyone's okay, COD.

I hate people who run reds. Have to deal with them almost everyday crossing Atlantic Ave. walking to work.

More than one has felt the wrath of my umbrella hitting the backside of their vehicle.

[Harwich Rich]

Glad to hear your family's OK,COD.I guess there are dumbasses all over.

[COD]

Isn't there a big BBQ and beer fest in Lowell every year? Last time I was in Boston (2004) my friend's competitive BBQ team was competing there. Microbrews and BBQ - it don't get better than that!