Clemens makes '06 debut this week and I'm pumped

	Roger Clemens is finished with minor league tune-ups. He makes his first start this season for the Astros on Thursday. Thomas E. Witte/Getty Images

On Thursday, the Twins and the Astros will play perhaps the most important game in their long and storied interleague rivalry. OK, perhaps it's the only important game they've ever played against each other, but it's tough to exaggerate the importance of Roger Clemens' second return from retirement.

Not only does this one tie him with Michael Jordan in the comeback race, but one more un-retirement and Clemens gets a free sandwich at Subway. It's the culmination of the months-long story line surrounding his uncertain return, and for the first time we can stop listening to rumors and just watch everyone's favorite angry Texan pitch.

I'll admit that being an Astros fan keeps me from being the most impartial observer, but even I'm a bit perplexed at Clemens' return. There's probably nothing fishy involved, although that hasn't stopped the irresponsible rumor that he was on a secret suspension for steroid use, which he probably served on the same desert island where Jordan spent his alleged secret gambling suspension. The strange thing about Clemens' timing is much more straightforward: If he's coming back with the stated goal of leading the Astros to the World Series, why didn't he make up his mind and get back earlier?

Maybe he's been watching fewer games than the rest of us, but this year's 'Stros have looked like they could use any help they could get. The bulk of the rotation has been inexperienced, injured or shaky. Even if he wasn't at full strength, it's a good bet Clemens would have been considerably more effective than Fernando Nieve has been for 11 starts.

Clemens certainly looked like he was in condition to play during the World Baseball Classic, although his start against the South African national team probably shouldn't be taken too seriously; their batting-practice pitcher struck out 14 of their own players before the game. Of course, Clemens has given all of his children baseball-scoring puns for names, so he might not always be thinking about the big picture.