Texas Twosome Twistin' in the Wind

Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were once on top of the world. The demand for their services was high. They could command just about any price they wanted to pitch in the major leagues. That was never more evident than when the Yankees paid Clemens $28 million to pitch part of the 2007 season. But all that changed last winter with allegations and/or admittance of performance enhancing drug use.

Clemens is a pariah at the moment, keeping as low a profile as possible. Last year he showed up at the Astros' Spring Training camp in Kissimmee, but this year owner Drayton McLane basically said, "thanks, but no thanks".

"He kind of came on his own last year and I thought that presented too much confusion, with all the media around these 19- to 25-year-olds," McLane told the Daily News Tuesday. "That's putting a lot of pressure on these young men. As far as pitching to minor leaguers this year, I'd have to sit and talk with him, but I think most likely not."

Pettitte meanwhile sits, waiting to sign a contract somewhere, preferably with the Yankees. Combine a bad economy with an average season, throw in the taint of HGH usage, and there isn't quite the demand for Pettitte that there has been in the past. In fact, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that negotiations between Pettitte and the Yankees is losing steam.

Without Pettitte, the Yankees will leave up to Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Al Aceves, Jason Johnson, and the rest of their minor league arms to battle it out for the fifth spot in the rotation. Of course, the Yankees could still make a trade or sign another free agent to fill the open slot.

Clemens' problems go way deeper than Pettitte's of course. He continues to get tried in the media and by fans for his purported steroid use. Then there is the heated battle with trainer/sleaze ball Brian McNamee. In addition to the anti-defamation suit that the Rocket slammed McNamee with, a grand jury is investigating whether Clemens lied to Congress. McNamee's testimony will be key as will that of investigator Jeff Novitzky.

One wonders if they could turn back the clock, would Clemens and/or Pettitte change the way they handled things in the past as well as the present. We'll never know.

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