At long last, Clemens

When you think about it, it's pretty amazing: Nearly halfway through their season, the Houston Astros are getting a Hall of Famer delivered to their doorstep. With the rumors, the endless courtship and the minor league stint behind him, Roger Clemens is set to make his first start of the 2006 campaign tonight against the Minnesota Twins.

It couldn't come at a better time for the 'Stros, who are hovering just above .500 and looking for a spark. With the team having made second-half runs something of a tradition, Clemens' arrival seems downright prophetic. After all, what could energize a squad more than the arrival of a seven-time Cy Young winner who just might be the greatest right-hander to ever walk the Earth? No one's exactly sure what the Rocket will bring to the table, but his presence alone should mean a lot to the immediate baseball outlook in town.

In case you were wondering, Clemens has the best numbers against the Twins of any active hurler, with a 23-12 record and a 3.01 ERA. For its part, Minnesota's trotting out one of its brightest young pitching prospects: 22-year-old Francisco Liriano, a dominant rookie who's nearly half the age of the Rocket. If he's back to the form that nearly earned him yet another Cy Young last year, Clemens should be able to show the young buck a thing or two.

Don't even think about how much he's earning per start. It will either shake your faith in professional sports or make you hate your life — maybe both, if you happen be an athlete. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. at Minute Maid; catch the game on FSN, ESPN or 740 KTRH.