Looks like a Subway Series
Posted: Tuesday October 12, 1999 02:23 PM
Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci participated in a chat with CNNSI.com users before baseball's League Championship Series began. A transcript follows.
CNNSI Host: Hello and welcome to baseball chat with Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci. Thanks for joining us today, Tom. Ready for some questions?
Tom Verducci: Ready...
From Guest: Tom, who has the advantage in Game 1 of the ALCS? Are the Sox emotionally drained and are the Yankees too rested?
Tom Verducci: The Yankees have a big advantage because the Sox have a lot of questions about who's going to start the game. They can choose from Kent Mercker, Pat Rapp and Tim Wakefield. I'd much rather have a rested Orlando Hernandez and an edge in starting pitching than so-called momentum.
From PoPimp: Who do you think is going to have to step up for the Red Sox to have a chance?
Tom Verducci: I think John Valentin has to continue to stay hot, as well as Troy O'Leary. No matter what O'Leary did to Cleveland, I still think the Yankees do not want Nomar Garciaparra to beat them. That means Valentin has to get on base so they have to pitch to Nomar, and if they do walk him O'Leary has to make them pay.
From Guest: Do you feel that the Yankees' relief pitching is strong enough to carry them through the postseason?
Tom Verducci: Yes, I think that's the greatest difference Boston will find between Cleveland and New York. Right now Mariano Rivera is virtually unhittable, and he's been a great postseason pitcher. Jeff Nelson and Mike Stanton also have been clutch postseason pitchers. I think the Red Sox will find late-inning runs much harder to come by in this series than they did against the Indians.
From Guest: What do you think Pedro Martinez's status will be against the Yankees -- will he start? And could you send me an autograph? I love your writing!
Tom Verducci: I don't think we can send it electronically, can we? I'm pretty sure Pedro will get the start in Game 3 in Boston, most likely against Roger Clemens. What a matchup that would be! It would also mean Pedro would be on track to pitch Game 7 if it goes that far.
From Guest: Most predictors picked Yankees vs. Braves in the World Series. Now that we are down to the last four, do you believe this will be the case?
Tom Verducci: No. I do think the Yankees will get by Boston in a very tight series but I've started to believe in Mets Mojo. I think they'll get by Atlanta in seven games, mostly because Al Leiter is pitching like an ace. He reminds me of David Wells of last season, and I think the Mets can ride him into the World Series.
From Guest: Mr. Verducci, what do you think of the Mets starting Leiter in Game 3? Why so late after he pitched so brilliantly recently?
Tom Verducci: They have to think about the other pitchers in the rotation as well and I think Bobby Valentine is trying not to disrupt the entire rotation by just taking care of one pitcher. Leiter was only going to pitch two games anyway, so you might as well get him at his best with full rest.
From Guest: Is Tom Gordon healthy enough to make a contribution yet?
Tom Verducci: I don't think so. The other thing besides his health is he doesn't have enough innings of work under his belt to put him out there in a clutch situation. I don't think he'll be a factor.
From JB: Can the Mets stop Chipper Jones?
Tom Verducci: Sure they can. But it reminds me of Nomar with the Red Sox. You want to pitch to Chipper Jones with nobody on base, and make sure you pitch around him in clutch situations. Both Chipper and Nomar seem to get better the bigger the situation.
From Dolemite: Do you think that Jones' comments after the last Mets series will cause him problems?
Tom Verducci: I think that stuff makes for good headlines, but I don't think it's going to make a difference on the field.
From Guest: How healthy is the pitching in Atlanta? Millwood seems to be the only healthy one to me.
Tom Verducci: I think they're all healthy. Obviously Smoltz is pitching through pain but he's done that for the second half of the season. Both Maddux and Glavine are healthy. Don't be surprised to see Bobby Cox use his starters in relief for one or two batters the way he did against Houston; He wouldn't do that if they were not healthy.
From Guest: So much has been made about the Curse of the Bambino in Boston. As a huge Indians fan, there seems to be a curse in Cleveland as well. What do they need to add or change to be able to win the big game?
Tom Verducci: It's about time they go out and get themselves a legitimate No. 1 starting pitcher. I don't mean one past his prime, the way they did with Jack McDowell or Dennis Martinez. I would use Manny Ramirez as my chip to go out and get that front-of-the-rotation starter.
From Guest: Do you think the Yankees will now use Strawberry in the outfield if O'Neill can't play?
Tom Verducci: No, I don't think you'll see Darryl out there. You'll probably see Ricky Ledee go to rightfield and Chad Curtis or Shane Spencer in leftfield. Darryl hasn't played the outfield in years and this is no time to find out if he can.
From Jeff: I was sitting there watching Game 3 of the Mets-Diamondbacks series, and I heard Bob Costas refer to John Olerud's numbers with "the sacks juiced." I didn't figure out what he meant until he mentioned grand slams. When did "sacks juiced" become a synonym for "bases loaded"?
Tom Verducci: Probably about the same time that "ducks on the pond" did. It's been around so long that no one knows when it actually began.
From Victor: Will John Hart stay on with the Indians and the new owner? How will this affect Mike Hargrove?
Tom Verducci: I expect John Hart to stay on, which is bad news for Hargrove. Don't be surprised to see the Indians make a managerial change very soon.
From Guest: Any thoughts on the fact that the Red Sox took the season series 8-4 from the Yanks? Do you think that will help them at all in the ALCS?
Tom Verducci: I don't think it makes that much of a difference. One of Boston's best pitchers against the Yankees was Brian Rose, and he is not a factor here. I think it all depends on who's hot now and not who was hot back in May.
From Guest: Is it just me or is Jimy Williams about as good a leader as there is out there?
Tom Verducci: He's the perfect manager for this team. What I like best about him is that he's not afraid to take chances in the postseason. He never lets a game get away from him early; if it's clear one of his pitchers doesn't have it, he'll move on to someone else.
From Guest: Do you think the Red Sox will use Saberhagen again this season?
Tom Verducci: Yes, I would expect him to probably start Game 4, and at this point in the season he could benefit from that full week of rest. He still has the capability of throwing five or six really strong innings.
From Guest: Kent Mercker intrigues me. Can he make a contribution or is he just another lame pitcher?
Tom Verducci: I think he can help. Other than Andy Pettitte, he is the only lefthanded starter in the postseason in the AL. And the Yankees are much tougher against righthanders than lefthanders. He might be a good fit to pitch one of the games at Yankee Stadium or he could very well be the first man in early in the game.
From Guest: How much do you think emotions will influence the outcome in the ALCS? These are two teams that have a long history É from an emotional standpoint, do you think either team has an advantage?
Tom Verducci: I think that plays more a part with the fans of the two teams. I think the Yankees are a very professional-type team that doesn't rely on emotions. I do think the Red Sox are a little more emotional and are trying to continue to ride the wave.
From Merc: Do you think Shane Spencer will see any playing time this series?
Tom Verducci: It sounds like he'll get a lot of playing time because of Paul O'Neill's broken rib. Spencer is a very streaky hitter -- he hits home runs in bunches -- but he's had so little playing time of late that I question how much the Yankees will get out of him.
From Guest: Tom, with each series the pressure gets greater. Do you think John Rocker will be able to contain himself?
Tom Verducci: No. But that's the way he always is. He's one of those guys who pitches on adrenaline. I've seen him get excited over games in July. But he seems to be able to throw strikes when he has to, and that's the sign of someone who doesn't let his emotions get the best of him.
From Guest: Why did we see so little of Rod Beck in the Division Series?
Tom Verducci: Because the Red Sox don't have a lot of faith in him. He's throwing only at 87-89 mph, and if hitters don't chase his splitter, he's very hittable.
From Guest: Will Atlanta's decision to only carry nine pitchers hurt it?
Tom Verducci: I don't think so. I do think that's a clear indication that Bobby Cox will use his starters out of the bullpen if he has to. Meanwhile, it gives him a lot of flexibility with his bench.
From africaonly: How much of an effect do you think Andruw Jones will have on the Braves-Mets series?
Tom Verducci: He's clearly the best defensive centerfielder in baseball. He's also another streaky hitter -- he's as capable of taking over a series at the plate as he is of disappearing.
From Guest: Is this a series of the best bullpens?
Tom Verducci: I think both series will be decided by starting pitching, that's where the games will be won and loss. Out of all the bullpens in the postseason, I like the Yankees' the best because they have the best closer. The Yankees won't lose games that they have in hand.
From Guest: Tom, in years past Atlanta fans have been critical of Bobby Cox. What's your assessment of how he's managed this team over the last month? Injuries and all?
Tom Verducci: I think this is the best managing job that he's done, especially with the way he used his bullpen. It seems he's used more pitchers more often for shorter periods of time, and that's kept them all sharp.
From Guest: Why is Cox going with Maddux for Game 1? Maddux has had very bad outings against the Mets.
Tom Verducci: Good question. I would go with Millwood, simply because he's been so dominating, whereas it seems to me that Maddux is more hittable. Guys seem to put the ball in play against him, even when he's pitching well. It's about time that he steps up and pitches a big postseason game.
From Guest: Come playoff time there seems to be a darkhorse player who comes out of nowhere and lifts his team. Who is your pick for this postseason?
Tom Verducci: Let's go with Jason Varitek. I think he's swinging a good bat right now and the short porch at Yankee Stadium could be inviting.
From Guest: In the Texas series the Yankees lefthanded batters seemed to take a lot of low, outside fastballs for strikes. Will that hurt them against Boston?
Tom Verducci: I don't think so. They actually do a lot of that on purpose. There's no better team in baseball at hitting deep in the count. The Yankees will wear you down by taking pitches and making you come into the center of the plate.
From Guest: Will there be a Pedro-Roger matchup in the series?
Tom Verducci: Yes, and we might get two of them -- Games 3 and 7. We'll find out officially today, but I think that's where both managers are leaning.
From Guest: With Pedro's dominating performance in Game 5 is there any doubt that he is the AL's MVP, even if he is a starting pitcher?
Tom Verducci: Just remember that the MVP ballots were cast before the postseason began. So that performance had no effect on the voting. I wonder why, if he was strong enough to pitch six hitless innings, he did not start the game. If Charles Nagy pitched any kind of game at all, the Red Sox could be home right now without giving Pedro the ball in a must-win game.
From Guest: Who would you rather have on your team and why, Nomar Garciaparra or Derek Jeter?
Tom Verducci: That's a great question. I think I'd rather have Nomar because he's developed into a much more dangerous hitter, especially with men on base. Derek is the better defensive player, but he's not the kind of hitter who's going to bat cleanup for you; Nomar can do that.
From Merc: Do you think that it is smart to start Roger in Game 3? He is known to get overemotional and too pumped up in the postseason, and starting in Fenway would be crazy.
Tom Verducci: I think it's the right thing to do. He controlled his emotions well in Texas. He has pitched well in Boston, especially that first game back as a Blue Jay.
From africaonly: Is John Smoltz the best postseason pitcher ever?
Tom Verducci: He's right up there with people like Bob Gibson. And don't forget Mariano Rivera. But I'd have to say the greatest postseason pitcher ever was Sandy Koufax.
From Guest: You mentioned Texas earlier, is this team due for an overhaul after another miserable playoff failure?
Tom Verducci: I don't think they need a complete overhaul, but they do need a tuneup. I think the best move for them would be to try to make a trade for Chuck Knoblauch. They need a leadoff hitter and someone who can take pitches and work the pitcher. That team is overly aggressive and pitchers can exploit that.
From Guest: What is your favorite scenario: Braves vs. Yankees to decide the best team of the '90s; Subway series; or the '86 Series repeat, Boston vs. Mets?
Tom Verducci: Best team of the '90s doesn't mean anything, it's a lot of hogwash, you don't get a trophy for it. I would love to see a Subway Series. People in New York have wondered for years how crazy this city would be if it ever happened. I say, let's find out.
CNNSI host: That's all we have time for today. Thanks for joining us again, Tom.
Tom Verducci: Thanks for all the great questions.
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