Clemens Is Expected to Pitch in a Game 5

Roger Clemens still is feeling soreness in his right hamstring but is expected to make another start if the division series goes to Game 5.

“If we have a Game 5, he will pitch Game 5,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “It’s just a matter of how good he’s going to be. He’s obviously not 100%, but sometimes 80% of Roger Clemens is better than 100% of somebody else.”

Clemens tweaked the hamstring while trying to field a topper by Johnny Damon in the fourth inning in Game 1. He said afterward that he first experienced a problem in his final start in Tampa, but Torre knew nothing about that.

“He didn’t think it was any big deal,” Torre said. “And the only reason he brought it up was the fact that this thing happened [on Wednesday] and he was trying to retrace it because he never got any unusual treatment because of what happened there.”

Clemens is expected to throw again on the side Saturday in Oakland.

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Several of the A’s have been practicing while wearing caps of the New York fire and police departments, and some visited a local fire station to talk to the fire fighters.

“We thought that was a big part to show our respect,” A’s first baseman Jason Giambi said. “I know we were on the other coast [on Sept. 11], but we wanted to do something for the way all of the New Yorkers had handled everything--the fire and police departments. We felt the least we could do is go out there and meet some of the kids and show them that we care.”

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Giambi freely admits that the A’s have what he calls a “frat-house” reputation as a bunch of wild and uncontrollable guys.

Manager Art Howe doesn’t dispute that image, but he said he has always been willing to let boys be boys until the game begins.

“I don’t think you ever get to the point where you have to pull the reins in,” Howe said. “They know what they can get away with and what they can’t. We have fun once we come in the clubhouse, but once the bell rings we are ready to play baseball and I think it pays dividends, letting them be relaxed in the clubhouse.”