A’s Shouldn’t Expect Clemency

Standing in the middle of the clubhouse a few hours before Roger Clemens took the mound in search of his 20th victory, Derek Jeter openly discussed the intimidation tactics used by the Yankee ace.

Jeter suggested batters fear Clemens more than any pitcher because they never know whether they’re about to be hit by a wayward fastball. Jeter once accused Clemens of throwing at him when Clemens pitched for Toronto, and eventually brought up the incident when the two became teammates in spring training of 1999.

“I asked him, ‘Why did you throw at me that day?”’ Jeter said nonchalantly.

Clemens’ response?

“‘You were crowding the plate,”’ Jeter said with a grin.

Even at 39, Clemens remains one of the game’s more intimidating pitchers, a weapon he hopes to use to his advantage today when he faces Mark Mulder and the Oakland A’s in Game 1 of an American League divisional series at Yankee Stadium.

Yet Clemens, who this season became the first pitcher to win 20 of his first 21 decisions, enters the postseason on a two-game losing streak, and if the sizzling A’s can wrest away Game 1, they’ll snatch home-field advantage and take some pressure off Tim Hudson when he faces Andy Pettitte in Game 2 on Thursday.

Clemens added to his legend last postseason with separate incidents that became the focal points in the Yankees’ playoff run. Starting Game 4 of the American League championship series against the Seattle Mariners, with the Yankees holding a 2-1 series lead, Clemens buzzed Seattle star Alex Rodriguez in the first inning, setting a chilling tone. He wound up with 15 strikeouts, pitching a one-hit shutout that put the Yankees in firm control of the series.

His next start, in Game 2 of the World Series, turned out to be one of the most overanalyzed moments in Series history. Clemens flung a broken bat in the general direction of New York Met batter Mike Piazza, whom he had beaned earlier in the year. After the hubbub subsided, Clemens wound up throwing eight shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out nine to put the Yankees ahead, 2-0.

Clemens, Pettitte, Mike Mussina and possible fourth starter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez make up only the third foursome in baseball history who have each had a 20-win season. Their experience makes the Yankees slight favorites over the A’s, who’ve been practically unbeatable since the end of June.

The A’s feature one of the best young rotations in years in Mulder, Hudson and Barry Zito. Oakland lost a heartbreaking five-game series to the Yankees last year, but has since added outfielders Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye to an already potent offense led by reigning MVP Jason Giambi and third baseman Eric Chavez.

This season, the A’s won all six games in Oakland and were swept in a three-game series in the Bronx. A’s Manager Art Howe said the key is to keep closer Mariano Rivera off the field, which is what they did in the six games in Oakland.

One psychological edge the Yankees may have is the support and admiration they’ve received nationally since the tragic events of Sept. 11. This may be the first Yankee team in postseason history to play the role of the beloved underdog.

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Paul Sullivan is a staff writer of the Chicago Tribune.

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OAKLAND ATHLETICS vs. NEW YORK YANKEES

Today: Oakland (Mark Mulder 21-8) at New York (Roger Clemens, 20-3), 5:15 p.m., Channel 11

Thursday: Oakland (Tim Hudson, 18-9) at New York (Andy Pettitte, 15-10), 5:15 p.m., Channel 11

Saturday: New York (Mike Mussina, 17-11) at Oakland (Barry Zito, 17-8), 4:45 p.m., Channel 11

Sunday: New York at Oakland, 1:30 p.m., Channel 11*

Monday: Oakland at New York, 5:15 p.m., Channel 11*

*If necessary All times PDT