FORT MYERS, Fla. – Matt Clement compares it to being involved in a car accident. It’s something he’ll never be able to get out of his mind.

The incident occurred last July 26 at Tampa Bay, when he was hit in the right side of the head by a line drive off the bat of Carl Crawford.

Other than having a sore spot on his head, Clement didn’t seem to suffer any visible effects. Boston’s righthander returned Aug. 4, but never regained the form that helped him open the season with a 6-0 record and earn a spot on the American League all-star squad.

“I was never fearful going back out there, I’m not fearful to go out there,” he said. “I feel like I’m over it, but obviously it’s something that’s never going to leave your mind.”

Clement said the most debilitating side effect of getting hit was a significant drop in his stamina that rendered him unable to maintain his usual running regimen and sapped his strength while pitching.

He wasn’t quite the same after the beaning and finished the year 13-6 with a 4.57 earned run average in 32 starts. Clement refuses to use the incident as an excuse.

“I knew if I wanted to be a pitcher again, I couldn’t sit there and worry about it, so it’s the same thing,” Clement added.

This spring, Clement appears poised to retain a spot in manager Terry Francona’s five-man starting rotation. He had a solid outing Monday against the Dodgers, one accentuated by the return of another pitch in his repertoire.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander has rediscovered his sinker ball, which he hasn’t used much in the last two years.

“It got outs; it got strikeouts; it backed people off the plate and broke a couple bats,” Clement said. “It was a pitch that I kind of forgot about, a pitch that got me to the big leagues.”

Clement had instead used the pitches that were working more consistently, namely a cut fastball, a four-seam fastball and a slider. He realizes the sinker could help him become even more effective.

Trade talks continue

Clement also has been the subject of some trade talk, since the Red Sox are believed to have a glut of starting pitching on their staff.

David Wells, who had asked to be traded earlier this year to finish out his career on the West Coast, is another candidate.

However, the 31-year-old Clement has learned how to roll with the punches when it comes to trade rumors.

“You know what, I’ve gotten traded the last day of spring training twice,” he said with a smile. “If they trade me, they’re going to trade me. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Clement, who joined the Red Sox last season after stints with the Cubs, Marlins and Padres, would prefer to stay put. He feels comfortable with the situation in Boston.

“I want to be a Red Sox, I want to be a part of this team,” Clement said. “I love playing in front of the fans. I love the passion that’s in Boston.”

Manny maintains low profile

While all-star Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez had indicated during the offseason his desire to leave the high-pressure, no-privacy atmosphere in Boston, he has been mum during spring training.

Ramirez was businesslike last week, going about his daily routine without allowing himself to be distracted by the media, the fans or anybody else.

Internally, Manny has been on his best behavior in spite of his apparent desire to be playing elsewhere in 2006.

“I think Manny’s been tremendous, but I expected him to be,” Francona offered. “I was going to give him the day off [Thursday], but he didn’t want it.”

Through Thursday, Ramirez was batting .353 with five RBIs in seven Grapefruit League contests.

Red Sox clubhouse quiet

There has been a somewhat more subdued atmosphere in the Boston clubhouse during spring training this year.

Part of the reason is some of the more lively Red Sox players of recent seasons are gone, most notably Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon. And David “Big Papi” Ortiz, another colorful presence around City of Palms Park, has spent the last couple of weeks playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Francona said because each team develops its unique identity, the more reserved demeanor that might exist as the 2006 season rolls along won’t diminish Boston’s ability to win.

“I don’t really care if this year’s decibel level matches last year’s. I have no interest in that. It doesn’t matter,” Francona said.

The Red Sox skipper said the organization has more important objectives when trying to help develop the chemistry of a ballclub.

“What we want to do is win games and have a lot of loyalty and caring about each other,” he said. “We’ll accomplish that, it just might not be quite as loud. I’m comfortable with this team.”

Newcomers provide maturity

Professionalism is a word Francona used often this week when talking about the new group of players acquired by the Sox during the offseason.

Boston has bolstered its roster with some mature, veteran ballplayers, including third baseman Mike Lowell, second baseman Mark Loretta, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and first baseman J.T. Snow.

“As a manager or coach, you get guys like Lowell and that’s awesome,” Francona said. “It doesn’t guarantee you’re going to hit .300, but they care about winning and they want to do things right. We have brought some real quality people into the organization.”

Francona continues to emphasize Boston’s desire to build a ballclub with men whose character and personalities make their baseball skills almost secondary in importance.

“We really feel strongly that we think they’re good players, but on days when they’re not good players, they’re still going to be quality people,” he said.

Talking about Timlin

Mike Timlin is scheduled to return to Fort Myers today after participating in the World Baseball Classic as a member of the United States contingent.

He has been invaluable as Boston’s setup man for the past three seasons, and also did an admirable job handling the closer’s role last year with Keith Foulke battling injuries. Timlin’s makeup is the product of 15 years in the big leagues.

“He can close games if he has to, but I just think he solidifies that seventh-eighth inning [role],” Francona said. “He understands what we’re trying to do.

“He just says I want to pitch,” he added. “He takes the ball in those situations and, more times than not, you get a nice, clean inning.”