$21 versus $22

Or maybe it was the extra million:

Best pitch just not good enough to catch Roger

According to Hendricks, the Red Sox appealed to the pitcher’s sentimental side to the very end. The Sox offered a one-year deal worth precisely $21,000,021 to the man who wore No. 21 for the Red Sox from 1984-96. The Astros played the same numbers game with their offer, which was precisely $22,000,022. Clemens wears No. 22 in Houston.

Said Hendricks: “I told Theo, in jest, that it was too bad Roger didn’t wear 27 as a Red Sox.”

Yeah, in jest.