St. Louis Post-Dispatch
June 12, 2003

Morris Will Get His Next Start in NY on Saturday

By Joe Strauss

Matt Morris will pitch on an extra day's rest Saturday afternoon against the New York Yankees. The Cardinals' opening-day starter is also receiving treatment for a knot below his right shoulder blade that has caused him recent discomfort.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Thursday afternoon that Morris's condition is not considered serious and has no bearing on a decision to give him additional rest following Sunday's abbreviated outing against the Baltimore Orioles. But for a third consecutive time, Morris performed a side session between starts by throwing in the outfield Thursday rather than from a mound.

"It's always a big deal when you're talking about your shoulder," Morris said. "It's something your want to be sure about. But right now, it 's not something I'm worried will keep me from pitching."

Morris received a deep massage last Saturday but said he felt out of sorts during Sunday's five-inning outing against the Orioles. Morris failed to protect a 4-0 lead and was lifted partly because pitching coach Dave Duncan saw that Morris' fastball didn't reach 90 mph. Morris was hurt repeatedly on his curveball, especially on two-strike counts.

Morris described the knot as causing upward pressure on his shoulder blade, which promotes a hunching of his shoulder.

"You never want to deal with something involving your shoulder when you've already missed a year and a half" with elbow problems, Morris said. "It's not the best time, especially when we're getting ready to go to New York."

La Russa confirmed Morris' name appeared on Tuesday's medical report but that is standard practice the day after a pitcher's start. "It said he was fine," La Russa said. "I don't expect he'll be on it tonight."

In his past three starts Morris has allowed 11 earned runs and 26 hits in 19 1/3 innings. His ERA has risen from 2.26 to 3.06. The issue has not affected his control, as Morris has struck out 15 against two walks in that span.

"If he tells us he's having a problem, we'll get someone else to pitch. It's pretty simple," La Russa said.

Morris, a native of Middletown, N.Y., has never pitched in Yankee Stadium and considers Saturday's chance the realization of a longtime dream.

As a student at Seton Hall University, Morris and friends would attend Yankee games. Before this season, Morris rented a suite at Yankee Stadium for Saturday's game. He hopes to get 30 tickets for friends and family. The atmosphere for this weekend's series will be especially charged given Roger Clemens' attempt on Friday to win his 300th career game.

"As a kid you think about it all the time," said Morris, a Yankees and New York Rangers fan raised around Mets and Islanders fans. "For some reason, when you go to Shea (Stadium), it's not the same. I know I've never been more nervous than my first game at Shea but I'm sure Saturday will be even more. ... You can tell Babe Ruth played there, for sure."