stlcardinals.com
July 7, 2002

Morris Not Pitching in All-Star Game

By Matthew Leach

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals right-hander Matt Morris has elected not to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game. He will still attend the game as the team's lone All-Star representative, but along with Braves lefty Tom Glavine, he has been removed from the NL roster. Philadelphia's Vicente Padilla and San Francisco's Robb Nen will replace Morris and Glavine.

According to an announcement by the Cardinals, Morris decided that it would be "beneficial for him to take advantage of the team's extended All-Star break in preparation for the resumption of play on Friday." St. Louis has an additional day off after the All-Star break. The Cardinals begin the second half on Friday in San Diego.

Morris spoke only briefly with reporters after the Cardinals' 12-6 win over the Dodgers.

"It's just better for me for the second half not to (play)," Morris said.

Morris pitched an excellent game on June 25, his first start since the death of his friend and teammate Darryl Kile, but Kile's absence has clearly weighed on Morris.

"I think it's fair to say that it's hit Matt as hard as anybody," said St. Louis manager Tony La Russa. "They lockered next to each other. I know that it's taken a lot of the joy out of his life."

La Russa also indicated that Morris is suffering from some back discomfort, but that he fully expects his staff ace to take the mound in one of the first two games after the All-Star break.

When asked if he was bothered by physical problems, he said, "mental, emotional, physical, all drained into one."

The St. Louis ace has struggled in his last two starts. On June 30 against the Reds and July 5 against the Dodgers, he was handed hefty early leads, but the Cardinals lost both games. He allowed a total of 11 runs on 18 hits in 10 2/3 innings in that span as his ERA rose from 3.03 to 3.55.

Morris has racked up 126 2/3 innings already this season, a personal high before the All-Star break. His 19 starts are five more than any other pitcher on the St. Louis staff.

This was Morris' second consecutive All-Star selection. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning in last year's game in Seattle.