07-14-2003, 05:06 PM
Looks like Rocket Roger is getting to go to the All-Star game after all. This whole thing sounds fishy.
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Quote:Roger Clemens replaced Barry Zito on the American League All-Star roster Monday, with the commissioner's office saying the Oakland left-hander was unable to pitch.
That was news to Zito, who said he found out he was off the roster while sitting with his All-Star teammates in a hotel ballroom, giving interviews.
"If I had some black-and-white explanation, it would make more sense,'' Zito said.
During the A's 1-0 win at Baltimore on Sunday, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner threw 106 pitches, getting a no-decision, allowing four hits in eight innings.
Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office, said Oakland manager Ken Macha and pitching coach Rick Peterson made the decision, and that A's general manager Billy Beane also was involved.
"Barry was informed of that opinion, and acquiesced,''
Alderson said. "That was information relayed to us, and we acted on that information.''
Zito had been in an AL meeting before the session with reporters and said nothing was mentioned to him.
"It has nothing to do with me or my physical situation,'' he said. "I don't know if they didn't feel comfortable with me pitching on one days' rest.''
Zito thought he could have pitched an inning during Tuesday night's game. In last year's All-Star game, Zito replaced Mark Buehrle to start the sixth, retired Shawn Green on a groundout, then was replaced by Eddie Guardado.
"I could have given them more than the one batter I had last year,'' Zito said.
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