"It's enjoyable," Clemens said of the hoopla that will surround his start in the opener of the three-game set with the Mets. "(But) there's nothing more disappointing to me than not holding up your end of the deal. I still love what I do and I wouldn't have chosen to come back here, and everything that goes along with it, if we didn't expect to win. There's a lot of expectations here to do that and either you like it or you don't. Some guys don't like it, but I really enjoyed working here and that's why I'm back."

Clemens is particularly looking forward to his first Subway Series since he split for Houston following the 2003 season. Just don't expect the controversy that followed the infamous Mike Piazza bat shard escapade. Clemens said he now has friends among the Yankees' crosstown rivals.

"I enjoy (the Subway Series) because all the fans here on both sides really enjoy it and get geared up for it," Clemens said. "I'm looking forward to it. I know I have a few ex-teammates over there that I played with in (Carlos) Delgado and (Shawn) Green and they were tremendous players and they were obviously fun to watch the two years I was in Toronto. And, of course, Willie (Randolph) is there managing."

Clemens, who has the option of heading home on days when he's not pitching — "the family plan," as it has come to be known — has opted instead to stick around the Stadium the last few days, and he likes what he's seeing from his new Yankees teammates.

"To get back here now, you look around and see the talent that's here, and the last seven or eight games, this is what this club is supposed to do," Clemens said. "The talent is definitely there."

Clemens, who went six innings in his start against Pittsburgh last Saturday to pick up his first win of the season, thinks he will improve each time he takes the mound.