Boston Braces for Showdown

New England will burn this afternoon, the heat thick, the smoke heavy, celebrating a new flame on an old torch.

Only, the torch isn’t here to be passed. It is here to be contested, to be grappled for, to be fought for and bled over.

Clutching one side is Roger Clemens, a pitcher who once lit up this region like few before him, beloved until he left town seeking a bigger paycheck, now despised because he is collecting it from the hated rival.

Tugging the other side is that Pedro Martinez kid who has taken his place.

Clemens and the New York Yankees will play Martinez and the Red Sox in a game that would have hucksters scalping goose bumps if it were March 18 or Aug. 25 or in the middle of winter on a middle-school playground.

That it is in Fenway Park in the third game of the American League championship series makes major league baseball the luckiest sport on the face of the earth.

“Incredible,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said.

With apologies to those college football hoedowns whose hype has been squashed beneath this game’s spikes, the first inning could be Auburn-Alabama, the second could be Arizona-Arizona State, the third could be Michigan-Ohio State . . .

And it’s not only about a final score, although the Yankees could take an insurmountable three-games-to-none lead with a victory.

It’s about eras. Its about where the game is going, and who is going to take it there.

It’s NBC versus MTV. It’s VCR versus DVD. It’s those who wear the bills of their baseball caps facing the front versus those who wear them facing the back.

It’s about that torch.

Roger Clemens is old-game fastball: glaring, Texan.

Pedro Martinez is new-game fastball: smiling, international.

Clemens has a huge chest.

Martinez wears a huge gold medallion on his modest chest.

Clemens showed up for Friday’s pregame media session by greeting a longtime American League official with a polite nod and shoulder touch.

Martinez hugged her.

Clemens on comparing himself to Martinez: “Like when I was here, everybody backs up the truck on him, and he does a great job handling that.”

Martinez on comparing himself to Clemens: “I don’t.”

Clemens, needing postseason success and at least some respect in this town to complete his resume, has everything to lose.

Martinez, who became a legend by pitching six hitless relief innings, despite a sore back, against the Cleveland Indians on Monday in the division series, has nothing to lose.

Clemens on that heat: “All the records . . . none of it matters if you don’t get to this level.”

Martinez on that heat: “I hope Roger puts a lot of pressure on himself. I hope he gives it up soon.”

Clemens is expected to get jeered raucously.

“The other day at Yankee Stadium, when Martinez was getting booed a little bit, I turned to Roger and said, ‘You’ll do better than that,’ ” Torre recalled.

Martinez is expected to get more standing ovations than strikeouts.

Clemens on the crowd: “I’ve got plenty of people who appreciate what I was able to do here.”

Martinez on the crowd: “I don’t have to deal with it. Roger does.”

Clemens and his wife, Debbie, enjoyed the changing of the leaves during an early afternoon drive Friday.

Martinez slept until 2.

Clemens, suffering from blisters, left Game 6 of the 1986 World Series after seven innings . . . or just before Bill Buckner missed that grounder.

Martinez is being paid to make everyone forget about that.

Clemens is 37, going on 50--”He has on his game face even when it’s not his game,” Boston’s John Valentin said.

Martinez is 27, going on 17--”He still pulls my ear like when we were children,” brother Ramon said.

Clemens has won five Cy Young awards in 14 full seasons.

Martinez is expected to win his second in seven full seasons next month.

Clemens beats people with two pitches, both variations on a fastball.

Martinez beats people with three, from a fastball to a changeup to a curve.

Clemens can be defeated “if that hard pitch is not working,” Butch Huskey said.

Martinez can be defeated, “I’m not sure when,” Huskey said. “Because if one pitch isn’t working, the other ones usually are, and they’re all different.”

Clemens said hello to Martinez last year at an awards dinner. Martinez said hello back.

That is all they said.

Clemens on his relationship with Martinez: “He’s a good pitcher.”

Martinez on his relationship with Clemens: “I don’t know him. It’s like, ‘How are you doing? How are you doing?’ then you keep walking.”

Clemens has been jeered even in Yankee Stadium this year.

Martinez arrived at his Boston-area home early Friday morning to find a good-luck poster taped to his front door.

Clemens “isn’t really liked that much by Yankee fans,” said a New York cab driver.

Martinez “is going kill Clemens,” said a Boston cab driver.

Clemens has never pitched against the Dodgers.

Martinez would never again pitch for the Dodgers.

Clemens was thrown out of a 1990 ALCS game against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.

Martinez, one senses, wouldn’t mind if it happened again.

Clemens will step on the mound today trying to stifle his feelings.

Martinez will step on the mound trying to ignite his.

Clemens said, “There will be a lot of emotions I have to curtail.”

Martinez said, “My body might be beat, my arm might be beat, but my heart will be out there.”

Clemens has served baseball as a classy hero for many years, and is certainly deserving of a chance to win the championship ring that has so far eluded him.

Martinez can now serve baseball by turning the page.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.

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AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

TODAY’S GAME 3

NEW YORK (Roger Clemens) at BOSTON (Pedro Martinez)

1:15 p.m., Channel 11

Yankees lead the best-of-seven series, 2-0

TWILIGHT RATES

As if Martinez and Clemens needed help, Game 3 has a shadowy start. Page 9

BATTERY CHANGE

Posada caught more in regular season, but Girardi getting the call now. Page 9