BUTLER TWP — Matt Clement would love to forget about his final mound appearance of 2005.

In fact, he already has.

The Butler resident and Boston Red Sox pitcher was charged with eight earned runs in 3

innings in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, a 14-2 loss to the eventual world champion Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox went on to sweep Boston in the division series and only lost one game throughout the postseason.

"I didn't have it that day," Clement said. "It's as simple as that. You feel helpless in that situation because you want to help your team win.

"That day wasn't fun. But you move on and try to use it to gain a competitive edge for next year. You can't let it eat at you or you'll never get ready for next year."

Clement, 31, underwent knee surgery two weeks ago in Pittsburgh for a torn meniscus and is rehabilitating the knee. He expects to return to his full off-season training regimen in a few weeks.

"I've been doing everything I can without using that leg," Clement said.

"The knee had nothing to do with how I pitched late in the year. The injury was there all year, but I could work through it," he added. "It actually bothered me more early in the season. Once the year was over, (team doctors) looked at it and we decided to get the surgery done."

Coming off a 13-6 season with a 4.57 earned run average in his first year with the Red Sox, Clement was criticized for suffering three late-season losses before his playoff defeat.

His overall winning percentage of .684 ranked fifth in the American League, however, and he was 10-1 at one point. He also pitched in his first All-Star Game.

"I don't read many newspaper articles or listen to talk shows," Clement said. "Criticism doesn't bother me. I focus my energy on trying to win games.

"Red Sox fans are passionate about baseball. They care about their team and they care about winning. You're going to hear it if you don't do well. That passion is one of the things I like most about playing in Boston."

After such a successful first half, Clement was hit in the head by a line drive July 26 at Tampa Bay and was removed from the field on a stretcher.

He pitched nine days later, but struggled.

"At the time, I played (the injury) down as no big deal and it really didn't affect me as a pitcher," Clement said. "But it did affect my stamina.

"Those few days off where I wasn't allowed to do anything — it had a lasting effect. Before that accident, I could run from pole to pole (in the outfield) 20 times with no problem. Afterward, I'd run two pole to poles and I was tired. I just felt like I couldn't do anything."

Still, Clement doesn't believe he was robbed of a "career year."

"That term is always relative to how many games you win," he said. "The team won 23 of my starts and lost nine. If all of those decisions belonged to me, it'd be a career year.

"I pitched some good games late and didn't get the decision, and it doesn't matter as long as we win."

The Red Sox didn't win any games in postseason, but they did win 95 during the regular season.

"We didn't get to the World Series, but we still did a lot of pretty good things," Clement said. "We led our division most of the year, we played quality baseball most of the year.

"The White Sox got hot in the playoffs, just like the Red Sox did last year. A hot team can knock off a great team. It's happened to the Cardinals two years in a row now."

Now, it's the off-season, and The Red Sox are without a general manager after Theo Epstein's recent resignation and slugger Manny Ramirez has asked to be traded.

Third baseman Bill Mueller, center fielder Johnny Damon and first baseman Kevin Millar are notable free agents from the team. Boston plans to have a general manager in place before December's winter meetings.

"We were all surprised by Theo's resignation, but he did what he felt he had to do, and we respect him for that," Clement said. "I have no idea what was all going on there.

"I know we won't make any moves until we have a GM, but I'm hoping we keep Mueller, Ramirez, Damon and Millar and build from there. I'm hoping they keep this team intact."

A few Hot Stove rumors have Clement as possible trade bait, given the lack of available starting pitchers on the free agent market.

Clement already has switched teams three times in his career — in trades to the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs, and as a free agent signee with Boston.

He has two years remaining on his three-year, $25 million contract with the Red Sox.

"(Wife) Heather and I loved our first year in Boston," Clement said. "We're hoping to stay there for the next two years and beyond.

"I haven't heard any trade rumors, and, by my knowledge, my name's not out there. Teams never tell you if it is, anyway. I used to worry about trades. I don't anymore. Whatever happens, happens."