Alomar retiring? Clemens hurt

Associated Press

Roberto Alomar might have walked off a baseball field for the last time. Roger Clemens and Jake Peavy left their starts early because of injuries, but should be ready by opening day.

The 12-time All-Star went home after playing only one inning of Tampa Bay's 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night and the Devil Rays said they would have an announcement concerning his future Saturday, leading to speculation that Alomar was planning to retire.

Playing in his first game since March 10 because of a back sprain, Alomar made two errors at second base and struck out looking in his only at-bat. Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said Alomar told him he was having trouble seeing.

''Robbie and I talked during the ballgame,'' Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. ''Health-wise has been a real concern this year and I am sure we will have a statement and Robbie will tomorrow about his future with us.''

Prior to the game, Alomar was smiling and very talkative in the clubhouse, but he left the ballpark before the end of the fifth inning. Team spokesman Rick Vaughn said Alomar came out because he wasn't feeling well and then went home.

LaMar was asked if Alomar had already left Tampa Bay's spring training camp.

''No, absolutely not,'' LaMar said.

Contacted by The Associated Press on Friday night, Alomar's agent, Jaime Torres, declined to comment.

Trying to reach 3,000 hits and end his stellar career on a high note after a swift decline the past three seasons, Alomar agreed to a $600,000, one-year contract with the Devil Rays in January. The team penciled him in as the everyday second baseman and No. 2 hitter.

A 10-time Gold Glove winner and career .300 hitter, the 37-year-old Alomar is 276 hits shy of 3,000. He was an All-Star for 11 consecutive seasons from 1991-01, but has struggled while batting .266, .258 and .263 the past three years.

At Kissimmee, Fla., Clemens strained his right hamstring and left Houston's 13-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers after only 1 1-3 innings. But the seven-time Cy Young Award winner didn't sound concerned.

''I've felt the tightness for about two days now, and I hoped that it would have gone away. You need to know the difference between being hurt and something just hurting, so we'll treat it and it will get better,'' Clemens said. ''I don't believe it is hurt. If it continues to be a problem, I'm sure we'll continue to evaluate it.''

It was his first start since March 4 against Cleveland. The Rocket threw 60 pitches in a simulated game March 9.

Clemens was hit hard by the Tigers, allowing seven hits and seven earned runs, including two homers. He said he felt a twinge while backing up home plate after an RBI single by Carlos Guillen, and Astros manager Phil Garner took him out.

''Once I backed up home, it really grabbed me,'' Clemens said. ''Phil said there was no way I should chance it out there. I'd be crazy to sit out there and force it right now.''

The 42-year-old Clemens said he'll miss his next start if the hamstring isn't any better by that time.

Astros left-hander Andy Pettitte, who made just 15 starts last season due to a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, made his first start of the spring in a B game Friday against Cleveland, allowing four hits in two scoreless innings.

At Peoria, Ariz., Peavy strained his groin during the San Diego Padres' 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers and could be out for two weeks.