Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston once criticized Roger Clemens for not being a cooperative teammate

In 2009, former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston expressed his dissatisfaction with former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens. Gaston said Clemens was not a team player and did not support his teammates when he was not on the mound.

Gaston was Clemens' manager during their time together at the Blue Jays and saw first-hand what kind of character he was dealing with.

Clemens was unexpectedly honest when asked about Clemens before Opening Day in 2009:

"He's an a-----e himself. A complete a-----e," Gaston said. "And I'll say that loud, right in his face. It was all about him. Ain't about nobody else but him.

"When he's pitching, everyone's in the dugout pulling for him, but when he's not pitching he's not in the dugout," Gaston said. "I didn't feel like he supported his teammates as much as he wanted support."

Roger Clemens' MLB career

Former Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens throws out the first pitch before the game against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on October 19, 2022 in Houston, Texas

Roger Clemens played for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and the New York Yankees. He is an 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion. He bagged seven Cy Young awards, the most that any pitcher has accrued in MLB history.

Clemens made his MLB debut in 1984 with the Red Sox, where he played for 12 years. He holds an MLB record of striking out 20 hitters in a single game in 1986.

However, his career was marred by accusations of PED usage, which also ruined his chances of entering the Hall of Fame. Through 10 years of eligibility, he failed to receive the 75% of votes required to be enshrined at Cooperstown.