It does cause some awkward times at the end of [August], ... We had to send out a couple of kids we liked at the end of the month on our pitching staff and we had to bring up some other guys the next day.

When it comes to Roger Clemens, I have to be optimistic.

Two years ago, he was on course, and then had some injury issues the next year that held him back. He had a good year last year, and these days, the key to this coming season is to build on what he started last year.

He's got what I call an outstanding pedigree.

From a getting-it-done point of view, he got it done. Now we'll await the results.

I know he's a free swinger, but at least half his strikeouts this spring have been looking. That leads me to believe that he's trying to be more aware of the strike zone. He's still going to strike out a high percentage of the time. But he's more cognizant of it, and is trying to get better pitches to hit.