
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992                   TAG: 9203150090
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BOSTON'S CLEMENS PLAYS ROLE OF FIBER-OPTIC GUINEA PIG

Roger Clemens' resume includes three Cy Young Awards and appearances in the All-Star Game, the playoffs and the World Series. Now he can add a new listing: fiber-optic model.

On Saturday, the Boston Red Sox pitcher donned a specially designed glove with sensors wired to a computer to get motion readings on his wrist, hand bones and finger joints.

"I got wind of this and Doc wanted me to get out here and do it," said Clemens, referring to the team's physician, Dr. Arthur Pappas.

"It's all experimental right now. It's the first time it's been tried," said Pappas, who helped develop the high-technology measuring system. "We've been able to get an idea of the motion and stresses on the shoulder and elbow on videotape, but we could never get a reading on the hand and wrist."

Clemens went through his entire repertoire of pitches: four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, slider, curveball and forkball. Each throw was recorded by a computer sitting on top of a towel and boxes in the bullpen at Chain O' Lakes Park.

As Clemens was being hooked up, teammates stopped and watched.

"We can rebuild him," Matt Young said in a mad-scientist tone.

"Electroman. Hook him up," minor-league pitching coach Lee Stange shouted.

Keywords:
BASEBALL

by CNB