Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Associated Press Roger Clemens got tossed for a spitter. Ejected from a youth league game after his 10-year-old son was called out in a close play, Clemens was banished to the parking lot after an umpire said the Rocket spit a sunflower seed at him. It happened Saturday in rural Craig, Colo., during a 10-and-under Triple Crown Sports tournament. The future Hall of Famer was away from the Houston Astros, as his team allows him to be when he's not pitching. "It wasn't like he was shouting or came storming on the field, like a Mike Piazza moment," Ron Stapp, whose son made the phantom tag on Kacy Clemens on a steal attempt, said Monday. Even so, Clemens wound up watching the rest of game from his car, peering over a fence as Kacy and the Katy (Texas) Cowboys lost to the Bakersfield (Calif.) Curve 11-5. "I supported the umpire's decision and he respectfully left," field supervisor Jim Carpenter said. A call to the Triple Crown coordinator for comment was not returned. Organizers did not identify the umpire. "Roger told me he was signing autographs when the disputed call happened and didn't even see the play," said one of his agents, Randy Hendricks. "To his knowledge, no one ever asked him to leave. "In his mind, it's a nonevent," Hendricks said. Clemens was sitting in his own chair, behind a fence near the first base dugout, when Kacy was called out at second base in the middle innings. Stapp's son Ryan made the tag -- "my son admitted he missed him," the dad said -- the Cowboys and their fans complained. "But Roger never said a word," Katy manager Doug Hanson said. "He was holding his camcorder and never stood up. He didn't do anything wrong." Hanson said the umpire, whom he described as being about 20 years old, walked over toward the bench. "All of a sudden, I hear him say, 'He's outta here!' Hanson said. "I asked him who because I thought it was one of my coaches. And then he says, 'Roger.' "I couldn't believe it. I said to him, 'You just ejected Roger Clemens?' and he said, 'Yeah.'" Hanson said the umpire told him that although Clemens didn't say anything, the pitcher spit a sunflower that hit the ump's pants cuff. "There was a pile of 250 to 300 sunflower seeds there, I don't know how the umpire knew that was the one," Hanson said. Carpenter was then summoned from an adjacent field and said it was time for Clemens to leave the premises. At that point, Clemens simply got up and left the Loudy-Simpson complex without an argument. "He told me it wasn't worth it, that he didn't want to be distraction and to let the boys play ball," Hanson said. Bakersfield manager Travis Sterling said he wasn't aware that Clemens had been ejected. "I thought Roger had just gone over to the bleachers to sign more autographs. He signed a lot of them," Sterling said. In fact, young Ryan Stapp approached Clemens shortly after his missed tag set off the episode. "He signed my son's ball. He was real respectful and nice," Ron Stapp said. Bakersfield won two more games and left town with the championship and several Clemens autographs. Clemens was in northwest Colorado because his deal with the Astros gives him personal time to watch his four boys play sports. He pitched Houston past Arizona last Wednesday, and is scheduled to start Tuesday night when the Astros host Atlanta. Clemens is 12-3 with a 2.77 ERA while pitching for his hometown team. When he's not playing, he's often at the fields with his sons. "He knows more about baseball in his little finger than I'll ever know, but he's been great to have around this year," Hanson said. "He doesn't ask for any special treatment because of who he is." There's the Rocket we all know and...yeah. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Who HASN'T gotten thrown out for bitching about a bad call made to their kids? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Well, they weren't technically my kids, so technically I haven't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I can see al at a little league game... "JOHNSON BATTING SECOND?! THE KID HAS A CAREER 594 OPS FOR GOD'S SAKE! PUT IN THOMAS!! KID'S GOT WIN SHARES COMING OUT OF HIS ASS!!!!!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I can see al at a little league game... "JOHNSON BATTING SECOND?! THE KID HAS A CAREER 594 OPS FOR GOD'S SAKE! PUT IN THOMAS!! KID'S GOT WIN SHARES COMING OUT OF HIS ASS!!!!!" I'd pay to watch them have to sedate al. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I'd pay to watch Al coach a little league team with a kid who doesn't work the count. Or a kid who sacrifice bunts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Hey, the ump should be thankful it was only a sunflower seed and not half a bat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I actually have asperations of coaching Little League and introducing advanced statistics and Moneyball strategies. Twelve year olds working the count, eschewing the bunt, and throwing the knuckleball. Its a beautiful thought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I know one thing... You should sell tickets to practices. I'd buy one just to see your veins explode in your head. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I actually have asperations of coaching Little League and introducing advanced statistics and Moneyball strategies. Twelve year olds working the count, eschewing the bunt, and throwing the knuckleball. Its a beautiful thought. It's a train wreck waiting to happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 "Coach Al, I'm gonna miss practice next week, I'm going to Six Flags with my family" "MISS PRACTICE?! NEXT WEEK WE'RE LEARNING WHY BUNTING THE GUY OVER TO THIRD AND HAVING ONE OUT IS A STUPID MOVE!!!!!!! YOU'RE MY ERIC CHAVEZ!!!!!!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 The funny thing is, I am really one of the calmest people you'll ever meet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Oh, I don't doubt that, but whenever someone calls upon your baseball knowledge, you're not calm at all. Usually a lot of ripping people apart and such. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I'm actually really scared to tell al what my role was when I played little league. I think he'd hurt me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I wish to know. Mine was Left Out. I played that a lot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I was the speedy, slap hitting type second basemen who filled the second hole in the line up. I think you can guess from there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Maybe it's because it's late, but....I got nothing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Maybe it's because it's late, but....I got nothing... I was the type of player that major league managers would call on to bunt and steal and whatnot. I was also probably a better defensive player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Ah, gotcha. I broke my finger trying to bunt, so I don't bunt...ever...ever... That and I wasn't very fast at all. And I couldn't hit. I played good defense though, boy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 As long as you get on base, I don't care how you hit the ball really. And stealing is ok as long as you don't get caught. Actually I'd steal more often in little league due to the suspect nature of the opposing defense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 As long as you get on base, I don't care how you hit the ball really. Didn't get alot of straight walks, but damned if I didn't have a knack for getting hit. I really followed the "Oh, fuck it, I have a better chance of doing something productive if it hits me" mentality. Not that i leaned into pitches or anything. I would never. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I never played Little League as a kid.....I was deprived. I had a Sandlot like thing going. We played at a little league field and I always hit it over the fence...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I can hit home runs and cuss. I'm either DH, first base, or catcher for a couple inning so I can talk shit and fuck with people trying to hit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 3, 2004 I can hit home runs and cuss. I'm either DH, first base, or catcher for a couple inning so I can talk shit and fuck with people trying to hit. Yeah, I was also like the third string catcher if need be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted August 3, 2004 My only use was hitting. I either would hit to the outfield or strike out. Never played real little league though, only with friends and such years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted August 4, 2004 So, Anglesault, were you like a Fernando Vina or a David Eckstein (if he plays 2B...I don't even remember)? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted August 4, 2004 Eckstein is a shortstop. I have AS pictured as an Italian Luis Castillo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 4, 2004 So, Anglesault, were you like a Fernando Vina or a David Eckstein (if he plays 2B...I don't even remember)? Probably more like Miguel Cairo... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted August 4, 2004 I thought AS was like Chuck Knoblauch. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted August 4, 2004 I thought AS was like Chuck Knoblauch. :D Moving me to LF would be a disaster waiting to happen. I know no one who can judge a fly ball worse than me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
