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04-18-2004, 05:20 AM
<b>Capuano grew up a Clemens' fan</b>
Houston - As a child growing up in Springfield, Mass., Chris Capuano rooted for the Boston Red Sox and hung pictures of right-hander Roger Clemens on his bedroom wall.
This afternoon, the boyhood posters will come to life.
Capuano, the Milwaukee Brewers' 25-year-old left-hander, will share a mound with his idol when he faces the Astros in the finale of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
"I'm sure it's going to be special," Capuano said. "It's one of those times when you remember that you are in the big leagues."
Capuano will be making his eighth big-league start. Clemens, 41, is a nine-time all-star and six-time Cy Young Award winner. He's the active major-league leader with 312 victories, 609 starts, 4,2921/3 innings, 4,111 strikeouts, 117 complete games and 46 shutouts.
Given that pedigree, it's natural for the Brewers to be a little excited about facing a future Hall of Famer. Hitting coach Butch Wynegar doesn't want them to be intimidated.
"The last time I checked, Roger had lost a few games, too; probably about 160 of them," said Wynegar, who is in the rare position of preparing his pupils to face a pitcher whom he once batted against. (Wynegar was 1 for 8 against Clemens with a double, three RBI and two strikeouts).
"Roger is a different pitcher now than he was then," Wynegar said.
Brewers bench coach Rich Dauer also faced Clemens, going 2 for 3 with a pair of singles. TV announcer Bill Schroeder was 1 for 2 with a walk against Clemens.
"We've got coaches who have more at-bats against the Rocket than our players," Brewers third base coach Rich Donnelly said.
Almost. The Milwaukee player with the most extensive experience against Clemens is outfielder Ben Grieve, who is 15 for 55. The only other players who have faced Clemens are Chad Moeller and Craig Counsell, each of whom is 1 for 3.
"He doesn't throw harder than anyone else, but he's tough," Grieve said. "You've got to take what he gives you. If you tell yourself you're going to get him early (in the count), you end up chasing his off-speed stuff. You can't do that.
"One thing I do remember is that if the umpire is giving him a wide strike zone, he'll take full advantage of it."
Although he has started against Milwaukee 26 times, Clemens has not faced the Brewers since he was with Toronto in 1997. The result of that game, which came in the opener of a July 28 doubleheader at County Stadium, might provide inspiration of sorts for Capuano.
Clemens worked eight innings that evening, gave up a run on four hits and struck out 10. Brewers rookie Steve Woodard, making his major-league debut, limited the Blue Jays to one hit over eight innings and took a 1-0 victory.
In the six full seasons since the Brewers left the American League, Clemens has won 97 games, posted two 20-victory seasons, made three all-star teams and pitched in four World Series with New York, two of which the Yankees won.
He was ready to retire after pitching against Florida in the World Series last year, but reconsidered when his close friend, Andy Pettitte, signed with Houston and the Astros offered a one-year, $5 million deal that would allow Clemens to stay at home when he's not pitching in a road series.
"Everything's a little different," Clemens said. "It's 15 minutes (from his house to the ballpark) instead of a four-hour flight to New York. "I'm still really trying to absorb everything."
Clemens has four sons - Koby, 17; Kory, 15; Kacy, 9; and Kody, 7. The oldest two boys play high school baseball, and Clemens tries to attend as many games as possible.
"It's really neat just to be able to be here," he said. "If the boys have problems, I can take care of them one-on-one instead of doing it by telephone."
Clemens' contract includes a $1.5 million attendance incentive clause, which he more than likely will earn.
"We couldn't make an outgoing call for two days after the Clemens signing," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "I'm not exaggerating. I had to bring my cell phone adapter into the office with me. In that first week, we sold 2,000 season tickets.
"It was a very emotional situation for Roger when he saw the outpouring of support from the fans. It was just such an incredible, spontaneous response. That clearly played a role in his decision."
Houston - As a child growing up in Springfield, Mass., Chris Capuano rooted for the Boston Red Sox and hung pictures of right-hander Roger Clemens on his bedroom wall.
This afternoon, the boyhood posters will come to life.
Capuano, the Milwaukee Brewers' 25-year-old left-hander, will share a mound with his idol when he faces the Astros in the finale of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
"I'm sure it's going to be special," Capuano said. "It's one of those times when you remember that you are in the big leagues."
Capuano will be making his eighth big-league start. Clemens, 41, is a nine-time all-star and six-time Cy Young Award winner. He's the active major-league leader with 312 victories, 609 starts, 4,2921/3 innings, 4,111 strikeouts, 117 complete games and 46 shutouts.
Given that pedigree, it's natural for the Brewers to be a little excited about facing a future Hall of Famer. Hitting coach Butch Wynegar doesn't want them to be intimidated.
"The last time I checked, Roger had lost a few games, too; probably about 160 of them," said Wynegar, who is in the rare position of preparing his pupils to face a pitcher whom he once batted against. (Wynegar was 1 for 8 against Clemens with a double, three RBI and two strikeouts).
"Roger is a different pitcher now than he was then," Wynegar said.
Brewers bench coach Rich Dauer also faced Clemens, going 2 for 3 with a pair of singles. TV announcer Bill Schroeder was 1 for 2 with a walk against Clemens.
"We've got coaches who have more at-bats against the Rocket than our players," Brewers third base coach Rich Donnelly said.
Almost. The Milwaukee player with the most extensive experience against Clemens is outfielder Ben Grieve, who is 15 for 55. The only other players who have faced Clemens are Chad Moeller and Craig Counsell, each of whom is 1 for 3.
"He doesn't throw harder than anyone else, but he's tough," Grieve said. "You've got to take what he gives you. If you tell yourself you're going to get him early (in the count), you end up chasing his off-speed stuff. You can't do that.
"One thing I do remember is that if the umpire is giving him a wide strike zone, he'll take full advantage of it."
Although he has started against Milwaukee 26 times, Clemens has not faced the Brewers since he was with Toronto in 1997. The result of that game, which came in the opener of a July 28 doubleheader at County Stadium, might provide inspiration of sorts for Capuano.
Clemens worked eight innings that evening, gave up a run on four hits and struck out 10. Brewers rookie Steve Woodard, making his major-league debut, limited the Blue Jays to one hit over eight innings and took a 1-0 victory.
In the six full seasons since the Brewers left the American League, Clemens has won 97 games, posted two 20-victory seasons, made three all-star teams and pitched in four World Series with New York, two of which the Yankees won.
He was ready to retire after pitching against Florida in the World Series last year, but reconsidered when his close friend, Andy Pettitte, signed with Houston and the Astros offered a one-year, $5 million deal that would allow Clemens to stay at home when he's not pitching in a road series.
"Everything's a little different," Clemens said. "It's 15 minutes (from his house to the ballpark) instead of a four-hour flight to New York. "I'm still really trying to absorb everything."
Clemens has four sons - Koby, 17; Kory, 15; Kacy, 9; and Kody, 7. The oldest two boys play high school baseball, and Clemens tries to attend as many games as possible.
"It's really neat just to be able to be here," he said. "If the boys have problems, I can take care of them one-on-one instead of doing it by telephone."
Clemens' contract includes a $1.5 million attendance incentive clause, which he more than likely will earn.
"We couldn't make an outgoing call for two days after the Clemens signing," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "I'm not exaggerating. I had to bring my cell phone adapter into the office with me. In that first week, we sold 2,000 season tickets.
"It was a very emotional situation for Roger when he saw the outpouring of support from the fans. It was just such an incredible, spontaneous response. That clearly played a role in his decision."