Neagle's Not Passive Now
NEW YORK — Yankee pitcher Denny Neagle took offense to media reports that characterized him as "passive" in his Game 5 start against Seattle in the American League championship series and raised questions about Manager Joe Torre's motivation for possibly pulling him from the World Series rotation.
"If he wants a better matchup with [David] Cone, I have no problem with that," said Neagle, who went 0-2 in two ALCS starts. "But if it's because I didn't show what I needed to in the ALCS, that's bull."
Torre appears to be leaning toward Cone for Game 4 because the veteran right-hander might be more suited to the predominantly right-handed hitting Mets, and he has a solid track record in the World Series, where he is 2-0 with a 2.15 earned-run average in five starts.
Though Cone had an awful season, going 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA, and was slowed by a dislocated left shoulder in September, Torre was encouraged by Cone's scoreless relief inning against the Mariners in Game 5 last Sunday.
"We think of going to Shea Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5, Cone has done that before, and that would carry some weight," Torre said of Cone, a former Met. "He rises to the occasion, and sometimes his mind rules his body."
Torre acknowledged he thought Neagle might have "nibbled" too much in his last start, when he walked three batters in the first inning and four in 4 1/3 innings. Neagle was pulled in the fifth inning and suffered the loss.
"I'm getting sick and tired of reading how I was passive in my last start," said Neagle, who will be a free agent this winter. "It's really disappointing. I did my job as well as anyone could. I've had three runs of support in two games combined. I can't control not pitching past the fifth inning."
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Met Manager Bobby Valentine will take advantage of American League rules by starting catcher Mike Piazza at designated hitter tonight and using Todd Pratt, who is better defensively, behind the plate. The Giants and Cardinals were five for five in stolen-base attempts against Piazza in the playoffs, but Valentine said defense did not motivate his decision.
"I think Todd is our next-best right-handed hitter, and the Yankees have a left-handed pitcher going [tonight]," Valentine said. "Todd's been a big part of our team for more than two years. 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."
