Baseball can celebrate an event that should be uplifting, one last gift from one of the greatest to play the game.

Roger Clemens is back.

The Rocket's relaunch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT at Minute Maid Park Thursday night, when the seven-time Cy Young Award winner comes out of semi-retirement for one final stint with the Houston Astros.

"I think I'm ready; I've done the work to prepare myself," Clemens said. "I've been as honest as I can, I think my arm is where I want it be, I think my legs -- I can get a little more endurance and stamina there, and that will come from start to start. I don't feel too far removed. I expect to get in sync here."

The 43-year-old right-hander has 341 career victories, the ninth-most all time. No. 22 begins his 23rd season on June 22 with a resume that includes 11 All-Star appearances, 46 career shutouts and a 3.12 ERA. He is back after leading the Major Leagues in ERA (1.87) last season and helping the Astros reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

But Clemens' return is about more than the numbers this future Hall of Famer has piled up over his sensational career. This is about Clemens trying to do everything he can to bring that elusive World Series title to his hometown. For Clemens, who turns 44 on Aug. 4, this almost certainly is his final mission for the Astros.

Clemens' first start, against the Minnesota Twins and a phenom half his age -- Francisco Liriano -- is understandably drawing national attention.

MLB Radio's "Stayin' Hot" will air live from Minute Maid Park on Thursday from 3-6 p.m. ET. Numerous other national media will be in attendance. ESPN will carry the game live.

Clemens threw off the Minute Maid Park mound on Tuesday in his final prep work before his debut. He made three Minor League starts and has set a goal of 100-110 pitches for Thursday.

"That's the idea," Clemens said. "I think I should be able to handle that, it just depends on how stressful it is."

This will be the first time, other than the World Baseball Classic, Clemens has faced a lineup of Major Leaguers since Game 1 of the World Series at Chicago.

"I expect to be in a few jams Thursday and hopefully will work my way through it," Clemens said. "Phil [Garner, manager] and Jim [Hickey, pitching coach] are going to look at my pitch count extremely hard, and I'm going to try to be as honest with them as I can on how I feel [and] everything involved with what I'm trying to do.

"I'll have to do things that I remind myself to do all the time, which is staying tall, not rushing, not trying to overdo things until I know I'm good and hot. If I'm feeling good, I'm going to let some balls go. If not, I'm going to have to pitch a little bit more and expand that plate, get ahead and expand that plate. I just need to get out there and get going with these guys on this level."

One of the hardest things for Clemens was getting mentally ready to face the grind of another season, even an abbreviated season.

"I think being here at home in our stadium is going to help me do that," he said. "I've had a chance to throw twice. I've been trying to create the things that I'm going to have [in the game]. My biggest thing is I want my body to feel ready, ready to go."

Clemens was asked about his emotions getting back on the field. He hasn't pitched at Minute Maid Park since Game 3 of the National League Championship Series last fall.

"I think I've gotten everybody taken care of ticket-wise," he joked.

For the Astros, in third place in the National League Central Division, the benefits of getting Clemens back in the rotation are many and obvious.

"There isn't a manager in baseball who wouldn't welcome Rocket to their team," Garner said.

"We still have to get it done on the field, but Roger does give us a better chance," first baseman Lance Berkman said.

Clemens, who is 31-12 with a 2.43 ERA over the last two seasons with Houston, has been great for so long the expectations in this city are that he will have another great run.

"I expect to do well," Clemens said. "I wouldn't have started this if I didn't feel I couldn't come back and help. I have the same expectations. I want to go out and perform well."