Painful anniversary nears for Tavarez

HOUSTON -- On Monday, it'll be a year since Cardinals reliever Julian Tavarez broke his left hand in two places punching a dugout phone in Game 4 of the NLCS in Houston. He carries a daily reminder, the somewhat twisted fingers the result of his decision to get an injection and keep pitching rather than put the hand in a cast and sit out the rest of the postseason.

"It was my choice. I wanted to be able to pitch," Tavarez said. "They said they could give you shots to numb it and you'll be able to pitch and I said OK. The hand is fine, I still have five fingers, I just don't think about it."

To get the hand to heal properly, Tavarez said it would have to be broken again and he's not inclined to do that.

"It's pushing me to go out there and try harder," he said.

Tavarez broke the left ring finger and the fifth metacarpal after giving up a home run to Carlos Beltran, walking two and hitting a batter in a seventh-inning meltdown that helped the Astros win Game 4. Now he looks back fondly on that misadventure because he rebounded in Game 6 when he retired all six batters and got the victory in a 12-inning game, helping the Cardinals get to the World Series.

"It's a good memory," he said, "because I came back and did well."

FATHER AND SON: Roger Clemens was thrilled to see his son get an opportunity to play pro ball in the Houston Astros' organization this summer, but he's not sure they'll ever be teammates.

"I'm sure at one point I'll be on the field with him," Clemens said Friday. "He'll probably be competing and I won't, but it was a joy."

Koby Clemens was drafted in the eighth round in June and signed with the Astros, turning down a scholarship at the University of Texas, his father's alma mater.

He played 33 games of rookie ball with Greeneville (Tenn.) in the Appalachian League, hitting .297 with four homers and 17 RBIs. A third baseman, Clemens was promoted to short-season Class-A Tri-City, where he went 9-for-32 (.281) with six RBIs.

"I know how hard it is, but I know that it's been a dream of his to have the opportunity and thank goodness he got it. I think he'll take advantage of it," the 43-year-old Clemens said.

"His childhood basically came to a quick end, which I explained to him. If he goes to college, he'll still be able to have a little fun and do that, not that he's not going to have fun now, but you've got to grow up extremely quick," Clemens said. "He found that out when he went to the next level, being 18, he was playing with 22- and 25-year-olds. Great experience and the sky is the limit. I just hope the best for him."

---