HEAT, humidity and Sammy Sosa were in the air at Yankee Stadium yesterday. The temperatures are scheduled to cool, and the rumors involving the slugger should, as well.
Because while Sosa would bring a big name and long homers to either New York team, he does not address their No. 1 need – obtaining at least one more person who could limit the Sosas of the world.
The Yankees have won three of the last four World Series because of their pitching, and without a guy who topped 30 homers in any of the championship years. The Mets are again looking up at the pitching-rich Braves. Sosa sells tickets. Quality pitching brings titles. Right now, neither New York team is getting enough of it.
Yesterday was yet another exhibit. Behind a shaky Andy Pettitte, the Yankees countered the Mets’ victory in the Subway Series opener by winning 13-5 yesterday because Bobby Jones was terrible and his bullpen help horrible. And this just in, Sammy Sosa cannot pitch.
Jones, perhaps pitching for his rotation spot, permitted seven runs on nine hits in 42/3 innings to have his ERA actually climb from 9.64 to 10.19. He continued to be unable to deceive any batters as he gave away leads of 3-2 and 5-3. All the Mets are asking out of this rotation spot is competence and, so far, Jones has been unable to offer that, and may have run out of opportunities to do so.
Pettitte does not get scored on the same curve. He was better than Roger Clemens had been the previous day because his fortitude allowed him to work seven innings and he got a win because of how bad Jones was. But this was not a strong effort.
In the third inning, with the Yanks ahead 2-1, he issued an unintentional intentional walk to Todd Zeile with two out to get to Robin Ventura, who homered on the next pitch. Paul O’Neill homered to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Pettitte allowed the Mets to go back ahead with two runs in the fifth. Jones, though, with the poor assistance of Pat Mahomes, gave it back and more.
OK, you get the idea. This was no day for pitchers and, to date, neither the Mets nor Yankees can be satisfied with the work of their staffs. The Yanks, who rely heavily on their rotation, have been Orlando Hernandez and everyone else. Clemens and tonight’s starter, David Cone, have been particularly worrisome and Ramiro Mendoza might be revealing himself as a jack-of-all trades rather than a starting mainstay. Overall, the rotation is 21-21 with a 4.72 ERA.
Winning in the postseason, as the Yanks know better than anyone, is not about beating guys like Bobby Jones, but surviving pitching duels. So let us see how Cone handles his assignment tonight against Mike Hampton.
Jones and the health of Rick Reed have been the worrisome rotation elements for the Mets, who unlike the Yankees have also had serious bullpen concerns as demonstrated once more yesterday by Mahomes and Dennis Cook.
Now both clubs would be enriched by Sosa or Juan Gonzalez or any other top slugger who would come on the market. And both indicate they will investigate and pursue those avenues. But both teams have to think in terms of chips and how they are best employed.
Mets GM Steve Phillips disputes the wide belief that his system is not deep.
“Chips are not going to be a problem,” he said. “If we want to make trades, we have plenty to trade.” However, they are not anxious to move Pat Strange, Grant Roberts and Alex Escobar, which will limit them.
The Yankee farm system, which looked so good in February, has been unsettled by poor performance or injury to Alfonso Soriano, Nick Johnson and Ed Yarnall.
Thus, both teams may be in position to make just one huge move and will have to prioritize. Mets assistant GM Omar Minaya notes his team’s playoff push in 1999 was accelerated by the addition of Kenny Rogers, and said, “I always think pitching, pitching and more pitching.”
This, from the man who originally signed Sosa for the Rangers. Joe Torre is on record for always protecting pitching over adding more offense.
Both New York teams say they do not perceive Sosa is available right now, but think he very well may be offered around before July 31. Cubs manager Don Baylor criticized Sosa for allowing his all-around game, specifically on defense and the bases, to deteriorate as he became a celebrated homer hitter. The sensitive Sosa did not like it and his agent, Adam Katz, said his client would be open to a trade.
What both New York teams must be wary of is that Baylor is right. Sosa is now essentially a DH, who strikes out plenty and has a questionable clutch reputation. Gonzalez shares many of the same attributes. And both are going to cost plenty in players and plenty to keep. Players and money that would be wiser spent if a pitcher becomes available.
And “if” is a key word. The best likely to be out there are Philadelphia’s Andy Ashby and the Cubs’ Ismael Valdes. Both would help lengthen a rotation. There is doubt if Minnesota will market Brad Radke, and if Philadelphia would move Curt Schilling or Baltimore Mike Mussina or Scott Erickson.
Tampa’s Steve Trachsel, Detroit’s Dave Mlicki or Hideo Nomo, Pittsburgh’s Jason Schmidt and Houston’s Jose Lima also are potential rotation possibilities.
Bobby Valentine always wants to deepen his bullpen, and such closers as Tampa’s Roberto Hernandez, Detroit’s Doug Jones and Milwaukee’s Bob Wickman are likely to be gettable.
Between now and July 31, the New York teams must go get arms to make an October Subway Series more plausible. Right now, Sosa does not cure pitching that is too so-so.