Saturday, October 21, 2000
World Series Notebook
Neagle irked by Torre's comments
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEW YORK — Left-hander Denny Neagle, who absorbed the decision in both of the Yankees' losses in the American League Championship Series against Seattle, remains a candidate to start Game 4 of the World Series — though it's looking less and less as if he'll get that chance.
Neagle said he won't mind yielding that assignment to teammate David Cone — for the right reasons. Manager Joe Torre might want to seize upon Cone's veteran savvy and the emotion the former Met would feel pitching such a big game in Shea Stadium.
But Neagle didn't appreciate hearing that Torre thought he “nibbled” around home plate with his pitches in the ALCS.
“Hearing about not getting the start because of how I performed in the ALCS, that frustrates me,” said Neagle, who allowed five runs in 10 innings. “The last time I looked, I did a good job in both games. It's hard to win with two runs of support (total).”
Neagle, who excels by throwing soft change-ups, said he wasn't avoiding the hitters' strengths, but trying to maximize his own.
“If I hear any more about that being the reason I'm not starting, that's garbage,” he said. “That's a really bad perception of the way I pitched. I walked three guys in the first inning. But was I walking guys on four pitches and throwing really wild like (St.Louis') Rick Ankiel? No.”
PIAZZA'S OUT, YET IN: New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine capitalized on the designated hitter rule, which prevails when Series games are played in the American League park, to use catcher Mike Piazza in that role tonight.
Todd Pratt will replace Piazza, who suffers almost perpetually from sore knees, behind the plate.
Some observers considered this an unusual move, since Piazza started 124 games at catcher. Actually, Valentine used Piazza as the DH in five regular-sea son games to keep his bat in the lineup while giving him a semblance of a rest.
Valentine pointed out that the presence of Yankees starter Andy Pettitte, a left-handed pitcher, favors the use of Pratt, a right-handed hitter.
“Todd Pratt's been a big part of our team for two years and more,” Valentine said. “I think he's as deserving as any person who's ever put on a uniform to play in a World Series game, and this might be his only opportunity.”
BENNY BACKS OFF: Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani repeatedly insisted that he was joking when he predicted Wednesday on national radio and television shows that his club would win the Series in five games.
“How could anyone possibly think that I was serious?” Agbayani said.
Friday, Valentine attempted to defuse the situ ation: “You weren't there when I tried to take a little heat off Benny. I was asking which game he thought we were going to lose.”
Pettitte, speaking for his Yankees teammates, stayed calm.
“I guess they (the Mets) have made a few comments and stuff like that. But they haven't had the experience that we have as far as dealing with all this,” he said. “We've been quiet. We're going to try to do our talking on the field.”
ETC.: The Yankees are making their 37th trip to the World Series, far exceeding second-place St. Louis' 15. They've won 26 titles. By comparison, the Mets are participating in their fourth Fall Classic, having won twice in their previous appearances.
This marks the 16th time hat teams from the same city have met in the World Series.
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Neagle irked by Torre's comments