stlcardinals.com
September 30, 2002

Morris Gets Another Tough Start

By Matthew Leach

PHOENIX -- Rock. Hard place. Take your pick, Matt Morris.

Last season, the St. Louis ace faced dominating Diamondbacks right-hander Curt Schilling in Games 1 and 5 of the National League Division Series. He held his own in the two games -- both at hitter-friendly Bank One Ballpark -- but each his team was on the losing end.

Fast forward to 2002, and Morris once again gets the ball in Game 1 of the NLDS at the BOB. The good news: he won't be matched up against Schilling. The bad news: he will oppose Randy Johnson, who had an even better year than his teammate.

"It's playoff time now, so every game, every pitch is gonna count," Morris said. "I'd rather be facing someone else, to be honest. But that's who they've got. That's their man."

Morris enjoyed a fine year in 2002. He led the Cardinals in wins and strikeouts, topped 200 innings again and posted a commendable 3.42 ERA. But it wasn't the type of charmed season that earned him a third-place finish in the 2001 Cy Young balloting.

He was somewhat inconsistent, he endured a late-season trip to the disabled list and, of course, he lost friend, teammate and mentor Darryl Kile.

But at the start of the playoffs, he's in the same place. He's the No. 1 starter for a team with World Series aspirations. And he's probably a little bit wiser, though no less nervous.

"I just want it to come real quick," Morris said. "The anticipation is always what's tough. Right now, we'll see what happens. Hopefully we'll be home. I'm looking forward to it. All the anticipation and nervous energy and all that stuff."

"Matty Mo" will be going on usual four days' rest on Tuesday, staying right on rotation. He pitched Thursday against Milwaukee, getting a needed confidence boost coming into the postseason. In that game, Morris gave up one run on six hits in seven innings and struck out four.

It followed a couple of tough starts against Houston, so the effective tune-up was welcome. Morris went 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts after his DL stint. He missed two weeks with a strained hamstring, but says he feels no ill effects now.

"I feel great," he said Monday. "You know, I had a little (time) on the DL, about 15 days there. It kind of threw me out of whack, just being on time, rhythm and stuff, but I was able to throw a good three games and get it back. I believe it was a blessing in disguise. I feel fresh so I'm excited."

And his manager is excited as well. It's a nice feeling to be able to send a guy like Morris to the hill, even if he is going up against a certain Hall of Famer.

"The only thing you wish, you wish he had eight or 10 starts this way rather than four," Tony La Russa said. "But he is physically fit. He is a stallion. We'll be proud of him (Tuesday night)."