Roger Clemens says he won't pitch again this year, but ...

The comment came with the usual caveat, so take it with a grain of salt. But after another successful outing -- 4 2/3 innings of two-hit, scoreless ball -- on Friday for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, Roger Clemens was asked on ESPN if he plans to pitch again this season. (C. Trent Rosecrans of CBSSports.com has the transcript.)

"Not this year," Clemens told ESPN, before adding: "I'm not going to rule anything out."

Asked what he would say if Houston Astros owner Jim Crane called and asked him to join the Astros this month, Clemens said, "I'd listen, but I have to do some work again. I don't think I'm close to pitching in a major league game."

Clemens also said, "I hope to end up in February [in spring training] with the Astros and help those kids. That's probably next."