Clemens decision made after Kent homer

By David Lennon of Newsday

ST. LOUIS — The question of whether to use Roger Clemens in Wednesday’s Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was really decided on Monday when Jeff Kent connected on that ninth-inning pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen.

As soon as Kent’s game-winning home run caromed off the left field train bridge at Minute Maid Park, giving the Houston Astros a 3-2 edge in the NLCS, Houston manager Phil Garner knew that Queens native Peter Munro, and not Clemens, would take the mound tonight with a trip to the World Series at stake.

Garner told Munro Tuesday on the team’s flight to St. Louis and then made it official hours later in revealing his choice during a workout-day news conference at Busch Stadium.

“That they went with me is amazing to me,” Munro said. “It’s a feeling that I never had before.” So how does Munro, a 29-year-old righthander cut from every major-league team he’s ever pitched for, get the call over a six-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer? Call it Rocket science.

The evidence against using Clemens on three days’ rest is substantial. While his regular-season numbers under those conditions are not terrible — Clemens is 6-4 with a 4.74 ERA in 11 career starts — his effectiveness dips on short rest once he hits the playoffs (1-2, 5.17 ERA in six starts).

Garner rushed Clemens back against the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS and the result was not Rocket-quality. Clemens, supposedly still weakened by a stomach virus, lasted only five innings and allowed two runs.

Upon further examination that is more the norm for Clemens on short rest than an aberration.

Clemens has made it past the fifth inning only twice in six playoff starts on three days’ rest, and not since the 1986 ALCS. Another important factor: Clemens is a 42-year-old power pitcher, and every extra day to recharge helps.

“I think you can overthink it, you can see all kinds of scenarios,” Garner said. “There’s going to be a lot of people saying to you to do the opposite, to start Roger. But what I feel in my gut is what I have to do.”

Clemens, who brought his family to St. Louis, did not attend Tuesday’s workout, so he was not around to voice a dissenting opinion. But he toed the company line on Monday by saying he would do whatever Garner asked of him. Clemens already bailed the Astros out of a 2-0 deficit with seven strong innings in Saturday’s 5-2 win, and if Houston had faced elimination again Wednesday, it would be Clemens on the mound and not Munro.

“I’m sure that they would rather face me than Roger,” Munro said. “I mean, I’d rather face me than Roger.

But there’s a lot of underestimating going on about me. I showed up in Game 2 and closed a lot of mouths then.” While it is true Munro was not blown away by the Cardinals on that cold, rainy night at Busch Stadium, he was no Game 5 Brandon Backe, either. Munro allowed six hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings, including a two-run homer by Larry Walker, but the score was tied at 3 when he left.

In passing up Clemens, Garner is leaving himself open to some second-guessing. But the only right move in the playoffs is the one that works. Ask Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who took heat by moving up Josh Beckett in an effort to close out the Yankees in Game 6 of last year’s World Series. Beckett responded with a five-hit shutout and was named the MVP.