Pete or Pedro?

Many question Boston's choice of Schourek for Game 4

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Posted: Friday October 02, 1998 10:37 PM

Despite being on the verge of elimination, Boston will hold Martinez in favor of Schourek for Game 4 AP

BOSTON (AP) -- Pessimism has always been a part of being a Boston fan in October.

So it should come as no surprise that, even before the first pitch of Game 3 against Cleveland, people around here were already wondering what the Red Sox would do if they were facing elimination in Game 4.

No one seems to understand why, with the Red Sox down 2-1 in the AL playoff series, manager Jimy Williams would start pitcher Pete Schourek instead of Pedro Martinez, a.k.a. the $75 million man.

Not even Bartolo Colon, who's scheduled to start for the Indians.

"I wouldn't be surprised. I look forward to it," said Colon (14-9), a fellow Dominican who dueled with Martinez in a 1-0 loss at Fenway Park on July 15. "And, as a matter of fact, let's get it on."

Williams says he has confidence in Schourek (1-3) and will stick with him. Martinez would have to start on three days' rest, but he still asked pitching coach Joe Kerrigan to talk to Williams about it.

Williams said no.

"He [Schourek] is here for a reason. He's a good pitcher and he knows how to pitch," Williams said. "If you look at the record, Pedro doesn't have 92 wins, does he? I don't think so. We have a pitching staff."

But Indians manager Mike Hargrove wasn't taking any chances.

"Jimy knows his team much better than I do. So he knows better what to do," Hargrove said. "But we're prepared to make adjustments."

Schourek had a 1.90 ERA in his last four starts, compared with 7.64 in the first four. He admitted to having a difficult time upon his arrival to Boston after he was acquired Aug. 6 from the Houston Astros.

But he was confident he'd perform well on Saturday.

"To break me in slowly out of the bullpen, then have the confidence in me after the first couple of starts when I didn't do so well helped the whole team as a ballclub," Schourek said. "I feel confident in myself to help win and force Game 5."

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen, who was the Royals ace when they won the 1985 World Series, said he would probably volunteer if he were in Martinez's situation. But he's still glad that Williams is going with Schourek.

"I really hope Jimy decides to throw Schourek. I really want Pedro to go Sunday," Saberhagen said. "The bottom line is, we've got to win two games and Pedro can't win both."

Hargrove said that Colon, who was 1-3 in his last six starts, was not the obvious choice for Game 4.

"I zeroed in on Jaret Wright and Dwight Gooden early on and the question was between Charles Nagy, Bartolo Colon and Dave Burba," Hargrove said. "We knew Burba had some experience out of the bullpen and Nagy and Colon struggled in that role which came into the decision making process."

Colon attributed his struggles in the second half to having thrown more innings than in any past season.

"My ballclub gave me enough time to recharge myself and I am now ready to go out," he said.

Colon made his first All-Star appearance this year, and now he's eager to make his playoff debut.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I feel like I did when I was really going at it strong in the beginning of the season."

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