Astros minor league catcher Koby Clemens went through the full workout Monday and although he's working hard adapting to his new position of catcher ..... he fielded questions about his dad like a pro. "We've grown up around hearing nagative things said. In New York and in Boston when things were tough ...but we've pulled through it. We have to realize that you can't do anything about what they say on TV except to try and brush it off." Koby says this has drawn his family closer together ... but he says,"It kills me that this is happening to my dad.
What he's done for the game ...and now what's being turned back to him. He kills me to see him like that. But as the older brother trying to keep my other brothers strong and everything ... I mean ... it's hard on me but I can't imagine how hard it is on my dad."

Camp namesakes Nolan Ryan and Jeff Bagwell said they are clearly in Clemens' corner but Ryan did say this about the steriods issue,"I think baseball ignored it for a long time and I think anytime you have a problem that you ignore ... I think the longer you wait to address it ... the bigger the problem is. And I think that's what we're seeing."

Ryan recently interviewed with the Texas Rangers for the team President position. But Ryan ...who's in the 5th year of a 5 year personal services contract with the Astros says he's not using that interview to get a new and better deal with owner Drayton McLane. When I asked him about it he said," I told Drayton ...when they(the Astros) gave permission to talk with them(Rangers).... I said I was interested in visiting with them and see what they're looking for and see if there's a fit there ...but I told Drayton that I'd get back with him prior to doing anything."

Personally ... I think it would be a huge mistake to allow Ryan to be "stolen away" by the Rangers organization for a 2nd time.....and I believe McLane will do everything in his power to get him to stay.

As for whether or not Roger Clemens will show up at this weeks' camp which runs through Thursday. GM Ed Wade says,"He's welcome anytime he wants to show up."