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Chat Reel: SI's Stephen Cannella
Controversy dominates Fall Classic
Posted: Monday October 23, 2000 4:04 PM
Updated: Monday October 23, 2000 4:47 PM
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The Mike Piazza-Roger Clemens fiasco would have probably ended differently if it happened during a regular-season game. AP |
Sports Illustrated baseball writer Stephen Cannella joined CNNSI.com users Oct. 23 for a World Series chat. Cannella discussed the bizarre bat-throwing incident between Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza as well as the things the Mets have to do to get back in the Series. A transcript of the chat follows.
CNNSI Host: Welcome to our World Series chat with Sports Illustrated's Stephen Cannella. Thanks for joining us, Stephen.
Stephen Cannella: Hello everyone.
From Guest: Do you feel Roger Clemens threw the bat with intent to hit Mike Piazza?
Stephen Cannella: No, I don't. I really don't think Clemens, at any time in that first inning, but especially at that moment he picked up Piazza's bat, was in his right mind. I honestly believe that Clemens had no idea what he was doing when he was throwing that bat. That doesn't excuse what he did, but I think it was more a matter of him losing his cool in a game for which he was more pumped up than any other in his career than of him trying to maim Piazza.
From Guest: Should Clemens been thown out of the game? In a regular-season game, would he have been tossed?
Stephen Cannella: In a regular-season game, I think it's more likely that he would've been tossed. Umpires in the World Series usually cut players a little more slack, especially after an incident as bizarre as that one. The umpires were probably just as puzzled as anyone else. I think it's a little strong to say he should've been thrown out of that game because I think he made it clear that he wasn't trying to hurt Piazza with the bat. Was it a stupid action? Yes. Was it one that should've gotten him kicked out of a very important game? Probably not.
From Cliff: If it was not intentional, why didn't he apologize after the game?
Stephen Cannella: Good question. I think in Clemens' mind, explaining what he did was tantamount to an apology. Then again, Clemens said over and over that there was no intent behind what he did, so in his mind he feels there's nothing for him to apologize for.
From Guest: Do you believe the Mets reacted correctly to Clemens? Should they have a taken a shot at him?
Stephen Cannella: Well, there wasn't a whole lot the Mets could do since he wasn't going to bat in that game. The best way for them to get revenge would have been to get a couple of hits and knock him out by the fifth inning. They obviously could not do that. I think the Mets reacted exactly the right way. That was a game they needed to win and having Piazza trade punches with Clemens and then get ejected would have severely hurt their chances. As it was, Clemens shut them down and they lost anyway but I think their reaction was appropriate. That said, if by some miracle Clemens comes to bat at Shea, he better be wearing a batting helmet with extra padding.
From Guest: Will the Mets' five-run ninth inning have any carry-over effect for Game 3?
Stephen Cannella: Well it certainly leaves a better taste in their mouths than being shut out would have. I think it was important to score some runs off Mariano Rivera, somewhat diminshing his aura of invincibilty. The Mets will be confident if they have to face Rivera in a closer game later in the series. But other than that, a loss is a loss at this time of year, whether it's by one run or six. It doesn't matter that much.
From Guest: The Mets owned the best home record in the league. How much of an advantage will that be for the remainder of the series?
Stephen Cannella: I think it'll be more of an advantage than playing at Yankee Stadium was for the Yankees. To be honest, the Stadium was not its rocking self in either of the first two games. Maybe it's because the high-priced tickets keep the boisterous fans at home. Maybe it's because all the celebrities in the house didn't want to scream themselves hoarse. The place just wasn't as hostile as it could've been. Expect Shea to be much louder. And that could pump some life back into the Mets.
From Cliff: Do you think the Mets appear intimidated by the World Series and the Yankees as their opposition? They are making physical and mental errors unlike any they have made in the postseason so far.
Stephen Cannella: No, I don't think they're intimidated. If anything, their errors have been a result of being a little too relaxed. For example, Timo Perez's baserunning mistake in Game 1. That's just a loss of concentration. I think what intimidated the Mets more, especially in Game 2, was having to face Clemens' 98-mph fastball and 90-mph splitter.
From Tom Garvey: What happened when Chuck Knoublach was thrown out at the plate last night? Was it his fault or Willie Randolph's?
Stephen Cannella: In a way it was neither of their faults and in a way, both of their faults. Randolph was waving Knoblauch home and threw up the stop sign at the last possible second. I think by the time he tried to hold Knoblauch at third, Knoblauch had his head down and was steaming for home. So technically, Knoblauch ran through a stop sign, but I think it was a stop sign he didn't see. It was a good, aggressive play by the Yankees, especially since they had the lead. Still, I think Knoblauch wishes he had looked up at Randolph one last time.
From Guest: Who do you think will start in Game 4, Denny Neagle or David Cone? Who do you think should start?
Stephen Cannella: I think Cone will and should start. He certainly can't pitch any worse than Neagle did in his two outings against the Mariners in the ALCS. Neagle nibbled against every batter and seemed to constantly pitch from behind in the count. The Mets right-handed hitters would kill him if he tried to do the same to them. Cone looked decent in his inning of work against Seattle and pitching at Shea might give him the emotional lift that he needs to pitch well, especially with the Yankees guaranteed to at least be up 2-1 going into that game. I think they have nothing to lose by starting Cone.
From Guest: What do the Mets need to do to come back in this series? With Orlando Hernandez against Rick Reed on Tuesday and Clemens waiting for a Game 6, it seems like a long road.
Stephen Cannella: Well, it is a long road. The Mets were expecting to at least get a split with their two best pitchers going in Games 1 and 2. I think the Mets need to improve their concentration a little bit. They have no one to blame but themselves for losing Game 1. There wasn't much they could do in Game 2. Clemens probably would've shut down the '27 Yankees with the way he was throwing last night. I think the Mets should just try to go back to square one in Game 3. Be patient at the plate, concentrate on making all their plays on defense, and remind Timo Perez to run hard until the ball lands in the seats.
From Cliff: Isn't it Bobby Valentine' s job to improve that concentration?
Stephen Cannella: Well, there's not much Bobby can do when his players are out in the field or running around the bases. I don't think we can blame any of this on Bobby Valentine. For the most part in this Series, he's gotten all the matchups he's wanted. For example, last night Paul O'Neill faced a left-hander in every at-bat and still got three hits. In Game 1, he had his closer protecting a one-run lead in the ninth, and Armando Benitez couldn't hold it. Yes, in many respects the manager is responsible for getting his players ready to play, but this is the World Series and once the game starts, you'd expect players to be ready and concentrating, regardless of what their manager said to them before the game.
From Guest: Do you believe Valentine will go back to Benitez in a big spot, or will he turn to John Franco instead?
Stephen Cannella: I think he'll go back to Benitez. This isn't the first time Armando has blown a postseason game, and Valentine didn't lose confidence in him after he gave up that home run to J.T. Snow in the Division Series. Franco has flourished in his set-up role and that's still the way the Mets bullpen functions best -- with Franco pitching the eighth and Benitez coming on in the ninth. I'd be very surprised, at this point in the season, if Valentine starts switching around his relievers' roles.
From Guest: Do you expect any surprises in the lineup from Valentine to try and spur his club?
Stephen Cannella: No. There really aren't a lot of changes he can make, especially with pitchers batting in the three games at Shea.
From Guest: So, do you still think the Mets will win in six?
Stephen Cannella: That's the bad thing about predictions -- people only remember them when they seem to go bad. Maybe Mets in six wasn't such a good call so I'll change my mind now -- Mets in seven.
From Guest: If the Yanks win, what will their place in history be?
Stephen Cannella: If the Yankees win, it'll be their third World Series title in a row. No team has done that since the Oakland A's did in '72, '73, and '74. I think the Yankees will go down as one of the best teams since the expansion era began in 1969 and I think they'll look even better in the future because with free agency and salaries shooting through the roof, it's nearly impossible to keep the core of a team together long enough to build a championship run like the Yankees have. I think in the expansion era, those A's, the Reds in the mid-70s and this Yankee team are far and away the three best teams. And I also think you should enjoy watching these Yankees now because this could be the last time a lot of these players wear the pinstripes.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks for joining us, Stephen.
Stephen Cannella: Thank you everybody.
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