Watch Clemens live
Roger Clemens will be back in the limelight Saturday night in Houston.
A couple different outlets reported Thursday that Roger Clemens’ start Saturday for the Sugar Land Skeeters at Constellation Field will be broadcast live.
The Houston Chronicle later confirmed the news. Below is what the Chronicle reported:
ESPN Classic will show Roger Clemens‘ return to baseball Saturday night with the Sugar Land Skeeters, and former Astros manager Art Howe will join the team’s radio broadcast on KTHT (97.1 FM) and on two radio station Internet sites.
ESPN’s coverage beginning at 7:05 p.m. will include the entire game on ESPN Classic and on ESPN3.com and cut-ins on ESPNews for every inning Clemens pitches. Kevin Dunn of ESPN’s Longhorn Network and analyst Danny Graves, a former reliever with the Indians, Reds and Mets, will call the game with reporter Jayme Lamm.
The network said it also will have a pregame interview with Clemens, in-game interviews with Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti and team adviser and former Astros president Tal Smith and highlights and a postgame interview with Clemens on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight.”
On radio, Howe will join Skeeters broadcaster Lane Zieben for the broadcast on 97.1 FM and on HoustonsEagle.com and TheNew93Q.com, both of which are affiliated with Cox Media Group radio stations in Houston. Coverage begins with a 6:30 p.m. pregame show.
The Connecticut Post reported USA Today, Sports Illustrated, The Associated Press and Houston’s four television stations will be among many media on site.
Fire ball cancelled: Poor Ted Batchelor. You know, the guy who lights himself on fire and runs around the bases. He is the world-record holder of the stunt, after all. Earlier this season Batchelor visited York only to have the game he was scheduled to perform at rained out, and thus his stunt be pushed back. Well, it appears the same thing has happened in Sugar Land. Originally scheduled to perform following Saturday’s game, Batchelor’s act at Constellation Field has been pushed back to Sept. 8 for what the team is saying “reasons beyond our control.” Right. When 7,500-plus fans are already going to be there Saturday, why not schedule Batchelor for another night to bring fans to that game? It all makes sense, Sugar Land, no matter what “reasons” are being referred to here.
Get prepped: Need to get prepped for Clemens big start by reading more about him? Well, just in case you do:
–Check out a Houston Chronicle article on the reaction from some of Clemens’ family members this week.
–Clemens stated on a Piers Morgan interview on CNN Thursday night that if things go well with the Skeeters he could have “something bigger and better if things go well in his return to the mound.” There are rumblings it could be with the Astros, considering owner Jim Crane has been floating the possibility all week (sorry I can’t find a valid link to the video).
–Clemens has apparently been staying in shape by participating in an adult softball league in the Houston area, reports ESPN.
–Sports Illustrated provided further details into how the Clemens deal with the Skeeters has come together in the last few months.
–The Connecticut Post had insight from Bridgeport Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw and some of his players about what they’re expecting from Saturday.
–While many reports have stated the good side of what this will do for the Atlantic League as far as publicity, I thought I’d point out a column from AOL Fanhouse providing a different prospective.
John,
It’s Ted Batchelor the Guy on Fire. I will be in York on August 321st.
Hope to see you there!
Ted