Roger Clemens returns to the mound, this time with his son

Roger Clemens, the 50-year-old seven-time Cy Young Award winner, will make his second start for the Sugar Land Skeeters independent team Friday, this time with his son, Koby, starting at catcher.

Clemens hopes to pitch three to four innings against the Long Island Ducks. He made a successful return to the mound in August when he pitched 3 1/3 innings for the Skeeters in an Atlantic League game against the Bridgeport Bluefish, giving up one hit and no walks while striking out two.

There was speculation that Clemens, who in June was acquitted of charges that he lied to Congress about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, was planning a comeback. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since September 2007 with the New York Yankees.

He still denies this is the start of a comeback.

“I don’t think I could make an impact,” Clemens told reporters Thursday about pitching for the last-place Houston Astros, who have him on a personal-services contract. “I think it would be fun for a lot of people, but it would take a lot of work to do and to perform the way I would want to perform. My mind says yes. My body says no.”

When reminded the Astros had scouted his first outing in August and that the team’s owner would not rule out his return to the majors, Clemens was more entertained than enthralled with the idea.

“I really don’t look too much further” than Friday’s game, he said. “That probably will be it for me, and we’ve had a great time doing it. We want to get through tomorrow, and we’ll see where we’re at.

“That’s fantastic, but I don’t think I’m close to doing that,” he added in regard to a comeback. “If my body felt better and my shoulder felt better, and I rebounded quicker, it would be something I would think about doing, even go to spring training and do it for fun.”

As for his son working with him behind the plate, Clemens was very father-like in his responses.

“I’m glad he’s here,” said Clemens, who played a minor-league game in 2006 with Koby, then a third baseman, when making a comeback with the Astros. “This is going to be fun not only for my family, but everybody in the local area for this team. I’m glad the kid’s here. He’s a pro at what he does, and we’re going to have some fun with it. It will be business as usual.”

As usual, Clemens left open the door to future pitching appearances, although not with the Skeeters.

“If this situation arises again, or if there is a new ballpark somewhere else around town, and we have a chance to make it exciting and fun, and if I feel like I can get out of bed, I might do it,” he said.

News service and Internet reports contributed to this article.

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