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KISSIMMEE - Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte had just arrived at spring training Sunday when Astros manager Jimy Williams announced that neither would start on opening day.
But the decision to go with Roy Oswalt came as no surprise to the former Yankees.
"Jimy and I talked about it a couple of weeks ago, and that's how we talked about it," Clemens said. "To me, all the guys are deserving. We've all had our opportunities to start opening day."
Oswalt, one of the holdovers from last season's rotation with Wade Miller and Tim Redding, is one of the best young pitchers in baseball. But he was hampered by chronic groin injuries in 2003 and had offseason surgery.
Clemens and Pettitte were the Astros' big offseason acquisitions, but Williams decided to go with Oswalt against Barry Bonds and the Giants on April 5 in Houston.
"He has come through the (farm) system and he was injured ... three times with his groin, and basically could have packed it in," Williams said. "He could have said, "I'm injured, I need an operation, I might hurt myself if I try to continue pitching."'
GEORGE CONSIDERS GRIEVANCE: Further annoyed at Red Sox owner John Henry for comparing him to Don Rickles, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner plans to file a grievance with the commissioner's office, the New York Daily News reported.
Steinbrenner, the newspaper reported, believes that Henry violated Thursday's edict from Bud Selig by talking to reporters about the verbal beanballs the sides have been throwing at each other. Selig told both men to shut up when their sniping got white-hot.
Meanwhile, pitcher Jose Contreras hired the same immigration attorney the Yankees use in his attempt to get his wife and two daughters out of Cuba, his agent, Jaime Torres, told Newsday. Robert Hill, a Washington attorney who does work for the Yankees, has been hired separately, Torres said.
SORIANO SUITS UP: Alfonso Soriano put on a Rangers uniform and worked out with his new teammates for the first time. The two-time All-Star, traded from the Yankees for AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, took batting practice in the cage and played long toss with third baseman Herbert Perry and outfielder Kevin Mench.
There were reports that Soriano, who wore No.12, might be shifted from second base to shortstop. The Rangers nipped that in the bud, announcing that Soriano would remain at second and incumbent second baseman Michael Young would move to shortstop.
PONSON PEGGED FOR OPENER: New Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli named right-hander Sidney Ponson the starting pitcher on opening day, April 4 against the Red Sox.
Meanwhile, with the baseball world watching the war of words between the Yankees and Red Sox, Miguel Tejada had a warning for both. "If Boston and the Yankees don't take care of themselves, the Baltimore Orioles will be ready to give them a fight," said the shortstop, who signed a six-year deal this offseason.
NIXON CHARGED: Former outfielder Otis Nixon was arrested and charged with fondling a woman at his Atlanta home. Nixon was arrested Friday evening and charged with misdemeanor sexual battery, DeKalb County Police Lt. Myron Logan said. Nixon was released on $1,000 bond.
BRAVES: New rightfielder J.D. Drew is working to strengthen his troublesome right knee and quadriceps and likely will be held out of some drills and Grapefruit League games. Drew had surgery on his patella tendon in October 2002.
D'BACKS: Leftfielder and Tampa native Luis Gonzalez went through his first spring workout, hoping an offseason program to strengthen the muscles around his half-torn right elbow ligament will hold up. The former Jefferson High standout, who bats left-handed and throws right, felt no pain hitting, some while throwing.
PIRATES: Infielder Freddy Sanchez might not be ready to start the season because of a right ankle injury. Sanchez, a top prospect expected to compete for the starting second-base job, could be out until May.
ROYALS: Left-hander Greg Swindell, who did not pitch in the majors last season, signed a minor-league contract and was invited to spring training.
TIGERS: All-Star outfielder Dmitri Young is scheduled to be featured in a "Dreams Come True" segment today on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the result of a letter Gayle Rutter of Defiance, Ohio, sent to the show's producers in January. Rutter's husband, Craig, who spent 19 years as baseball coach at Defiance College, is a lifelong fan who dreamed of pitching batting practice for Detroit. The show airs locally at 4 p.m. on Ch.8.
WHITE SOX: Manager Ozzie Guillen isn't worried about his relationship with Frank Thomas. Guillen chastised the first baseman when he was hired in November, saying Thomas needed to be more team-oriented. Guillen, a former teammate of the two-time MVP, has backed off his hard-line approach and said the two will get along fine as long as Thomas arrives on time.
OBITUARY: Andy Seminick, a catcher on the 1950 Phillies team that won the NL pennant, died in Melbourne after a short illness. He was 83. Mr. Seminick spent 12 seasons with the Phillies and three with the Reds.