BASEBALL TONIGHT EXTRA
Clemens, Schill in opposite roles
By Mark Simon
ESPN Research
Two of the best money pitchers of this generation are on opposite sides of the spectrum as both AL Division Series resume on Sunday. Curt Schilling and the Red Sox are on the verge of clinching against the Angels, while Roger Clemens and the Yankees are just trying to keep their season going, and avoid getting swept by the Indians.
Schilling tends to thrive in games in which his team is in position either to move on or is in need of having its season saved. The last such instance was in the "bloody sock" ALCS matchup against the Yankees in 2004 when he braved injury to beat the Yankees and push that series to a seventh game. The Red Sox seem to be in command of this series, and it seems likely that Schilling will seize the moment again.
Meanwhile, on the opposite coast, Clemens will be pitching in the familiar position of Game 3 starter, a role he has thrived in recently. Since 1999, he has been unbeatable in Game 3s. Sunday's scenario is new for him, though; a defeat means the end of his season and possibly his career. Considering he's been dealing with injuries himself, Sunday will be a significant challenge, even for a baseball legend like Clemens.
| CURT SCHILLING |
| Games where team could clinch series + Games where team could lose series |
| Series |
Opponent |
IP |
ER |
Result |
| 2004 ALCS Game 6 |
at Yankees |
7 |
1 |
Win |
| 2001 WS Game 7 |
Yankees |
7 1/3 |
1 |
ND (team won) |
| 2001 NLDS Game 5 |
Cardinals |
9 |
1 |
Win |
| 1993 WS Game 5 |
Blue Jays |
9 |
0 |
Win |
| Overall: 3-0, 0.84 ERA |
| ROGER CLEMENS |
| Game 3 starts, since 2000 |
| Series |
Opponent |
IP |
ER |
Result |
| 2005 NLCS Game 3 |
Cardinals |
6 |
2 |
Win |
| 2004 NLCS Game 3 |
Cardinals |
7 |
2 |
Win |
| 2003 ALCS Game 3 |
at Red Sox |
6 |
2 |
Win |
| 2003 ALDS Game 3 |
at Twins |
7 |
1 |
Win |
| 2001 WS Game 3 |
Diamondbacks |
7 |
1 |
Win |
| Overall: 5-0, 2.18 ERA |
CONVERSATION STARTERS
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| BASEBALL TONIGHT MINUTE |
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Steve Berthiaume, Buster Olney and Eduardo Perez review how the Rockies and Diamondbacks were able to advance to an all NL-West NLCS.
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| IN THE ZONE |
Howie Kendrick, Angels
Kendrick is one of four Angels with two hits in the series. So what makes him so special? Against Curt Schilling, Boston's Game 3 starter, Kendrick is 3-for-4 lifetime. Plus, he hit .556 in three games against the Red Sox this season, and he batted a highly respectable .316 at home this season. What does all that mean? Nothing, except that he's had success at home against the Red Sox, and against Schilling. The Angels hope that translates into major production in a lineup that sorely needs it or else they face a quick departure from the playoffs.
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| A-ROD WATCH |
The good news for Yankees fans is that Alex Rodriguez is hitting .375 in his career against Indians Game 3 starter Jake Westbrook. But going into Sunday's Game 3 of the AL Division Series, here are A-Rod's current postseason numbers:
GAME 2:
0-for-4, 3 strikeouts
POSTSEASON CAREER:
37 G, .268 BA, 6 HR, 16 RBI, .464 SLG
CAREER WITH YANKEES:
21 G, .235, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .400 SLG
LAST 14 GAMES:
4-for-47 (.085), 0 RBIs
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| HALO OR GOODBYE? |
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Is Vlad Guerrero healthy enough to play? David Amber reports on the Angels, who try to stay alive against Boston's Curt Schilling in Game 3 of their ALDS.
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THIS DATE IN POSTSEASON HISTORY
OCT. 7 |
Roger Clemens pitches for the Yankees in Game 3 of their series today. His memories of Oct. 7 in his postseason career are not good ones, for either the Yankees or the Red Sox.
2000: Roger and out
With the Yankees leading the Athletics two games to one, Clemens gets embarrassed at Yankee Stadium, allowing six runs in five innings, as Oakland, behind Barry Zito, crushes the Yankees, 11-1. The Yankees avenged that defeat by winning Game 5 and went on to win the World Series, beating the Mariners in the ALCS, as Clemens threw a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts in his next start.
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1986: Roger and out (Boston edition)
In his postseason debut, Clemens gets chopped up in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Angels, allowing eight runs in 7 1/3 innings in an 8-1 loss. As he did in 2000, Clemens rebounded rather nicely. After getting a no-decision in the Angels' comeback win in Game 4, Clemens got the ultimate revenge. He allowed one run in seven innings in a Game 7 win in Boston, as the Red Sox won the series, coming back from a 3-1 deficit.
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"I hope the Angels can pull out the series although I have little faith in their anemic offense. So all I can hope for if the Halos cannot pull it out is an Indians sweep of the Red Sox."
