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player ready...All season, Boston manager Joe Morgan has confounded people with his use of the Red Sox bullpen. But now his handling of his starters-Roger Clemens, to be specific-has come under scrutiny.
Morgan said he`d start Clemens, whose shoulder is a riddle, in Game 4 only if the Red Sox dropped Game 3, which they did. If the Red Sox had won Tuesday and been in a position to even the series Wednesday, Morgan would have called on Greg Harris, who allowed 10 runs, 16 hits and seven walks in his last 10 2/3 innings against the A`s.
Dave Stewart, who opposes Clemens, was among those who couldn`t understand Morgan`s logic.
”I don`t believe they can win four games in a row, so I just don`t see any point in him pitching,” Stewart said. ”His shoulder is tired and I believe that he is tired.”
Clemens has refused to speak to reporters since the series began. Morgan said the decision to start Clemens was ”his and mine.” Stewart didn`t understand that, either.
”My manager has more control of his ballclub than that,” Stewart said.
”Joe`s having a lot of people second-guess him. Maybe if he`d didn`t pitch Clemens, he`d be second-guessed even more.”
Stewart must be happy to see his name across from Clemens` again. He`s 7-1 lifetime against the Rocket, 7-0 with Oakland. In their last meeting, in Game 1 Saturday night, Clemens led 1-0 after six innings but came out after a tender shoulder flared up. The A`s battered his relievers for nine runs in the next three innings to give Stewart the win.
Stewart is trying to become the first pitcher to win five playoff starts; only he and Bruce Kison have perfect 4-0 records. Stewart has a 1.93 playoff ERA, second-lowest in A.L. history. Stewart`s also 5-0 with a 1.55 ERA against Boston this year.