Clemens Manages Indy Ball Team

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Roger Clemens won 300 games, won seven Cy Young Awards, struck out 20 batters in a game—twice—and won two World Series titles. But he did something Friday he hadn’t before on a baseball field: managed a team.

Clemens, 54, managed the independent league Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League on Friday in a 6-2 loss to the Long Island Ducks. The former Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros ace threw out the first pitch and also coached third base.

It wasn’t Clemens’ first foray into indy league ball. He pitched for the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2012. But when asked whether he saw a long-term future as a manager, the big Texan had a quick answer.

“No … I love teaching, I do a lot of teaching now,” he said. “My title with Houston (Astros) is special assistant to the general manager and I enjoy doing that. I work closely with a lot of big leaguers. Most of the guys I talk to that are in major leagues, it’s the mental part of the game where they lost their confidence a little bit. No different than a couple years again when I was playing for Sugar Land and (Dodgers lefthander Scott) Kazmir was there. Made a good little visit and it was nice seeing him work his way back to the major leagues.”

Clemens could be back on the mound next week. He was scheduled to take part in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan., which began Saturday night. Former major leaguers such as Adam LaRoche, Josh Beckett, Tim Hudson, J.D. Drew and Dan Uggla will also play.

“When I get over to Wichita next week and kick my leg up in the air, hopefully that’ll work out and I don’t get too sore,” he said. “The team that was put together will play (Saturday) at 9:30; I won’t be at that one, but I’m pulling in there Sunday night to get ready to play Monday and Wednesday.”