Neagle fires back

Smoltz questions leave Braves' No. 4 starter seeing red

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Posted: Monday October 12, 1998 06:18 PM

Neagle allowed seven hits while walking one and striking out seven in his first start since September 17 AP

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Denny Neagle realizes he's No. 4 on one of the finest rotations in baseball history, behind former NL Cy Young Award winners John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. He just wants a little respect.

The generally upbeat Neagle was in a foul mood following Atlanta's 4-1 loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the NL championship series, but not because the Braves lost, although he certainly wasn't pleased about that.

For the third straight year, Neagle was being asked about possibly being bumped from the rotation as the Braves, facing a 3-0 deficit after Saturday's game, fought for survival.

"I think I've done some pretty good things myself the last three years," he fumed. "I'm tired of hearing that I might be replaced. That's frustrating to hear, that they might go back to Smoltz or Maddux. I have confidence in my ability."

So do the Braves.

"Denny pitched great and our bullpen did well," pitching coach Leo Mazzone said after Neagle held San Diego to three runs in 5 2-3 innings Sunday night as the Braves stayed alive by beating the Padres 8-3. We scored some runs and Denny pitched great. For his inactivity, he was extremely sharp.

"He's won 36 games in the last two years and been a huge part of our rotation. There was no thought to bringing Smoltz back a day early. You've got to win four in a row anyway. What are you going to do, tire everybody out? You don't go away from one of the greatest rotations of all time."

Smoltz was scheduled to start Monday night against San Diego's Andy Ashby as the Braves try to come back from a 1-3 deficit and rewrite history. No major league team has ever won the series after trailing 3-0.

A win by the Braves Monday night would trim San Diego's lead to 3-2, with the final two games to be played at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Neagle, a 30-year-old left-hander, allowed seven hits while walking one and striking out seven in his first start since September 17 and his first appearance since September 26.

He missed two late-season starts because of bursitis in the back of his shoulder, and had a cortisone injection after the end of the regular season. He didn't pitch in the divisional playoffs, hardly being needed as the Braves swept the Chicago Cubs.

"Not pitching in the first round was a blessing," Neagle said. "The bursitis started toward the end of August. It was more than annoying. I couldn't follow through to my release point."

Neagle joined the Braves on August 28, 1996, coming in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He was 20-5 with a 2.97 ERA and four complete games in 1997, and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting behind Montreal's Pedro Martinez.

This year, Neagle was 16-11 with a 3.55 ERA and five complete games.

Neagle admitted after Sunday night's game that the questions about possibly not starting gave him extra motivation.

"It's a little bit frustrating, sometimes, when I hear people saying, 'Maybe they should skip Neagle.' I've pitched some pretty good games for this team and I feel like I did tonight.

"I'm tired of defending myself. I earned the right to start this game. Everybody in the clubhouse knows it. I gave us a chance to win, and we did."  

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