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Neagle gets nod for Game 4
Updated: Monday October 23, 2000 11:31 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Yankees manager Joe Torre decided to give Denny Neagle another shot at a postseason start instead of giving David Cone his first start in more than three weeks. After days of speculation that Cone would move back into the Yankees' rotation for Game 4 of the World Series against the New York Mets, Torre said Monday that he was sticking with Neagle. "Not having pitched in a month, other than just that one inning, I was concerned with the length I could get from him," Torre said of Cone. Cone, one of baseball's best big-game pitchers with an 8-3 postseason record, had his worst season as a pro this year. He went 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA and dislocated his left shoulder diving for a ball in September. He has pitched only one inning in the playoffs -- a perfect eighth in Game 5 against Seattle -- and hasn't made a start since Sept. 30. "I was happy to have been there in the mix," Cone said. "It made me feel good. Joe assured me I am part of his plans. I have to be ready. I'm very confident the bullpen phone is going to ring and my name is going to be on the line."
Torre indicated last week that Cone could get the nod for his first start at Shea Stadium since the Mets traded him to Toronto in 1992. Neagle lost two starts in the AL championship series against Seattle, allowing five runs and seven walks in 10 innings, and Torre was critical of his lack of control. Neagle was angered by his manager's comments -- calling them "garbage" -- but the two have ironed out their differences. "The only thing frustrating to me was that there was talk that it was based on me not doing my job in the other two starts," Neagle said. "But I feel I did my job. I feel I did well enough to earn another chance. I wasn't stewing." Torre made his decision about Wednesday's Game 4 after meeting with both pitchers Monday morning. "David helped me make the decision," he said. "He said if it helps that he had no trouble getting ready in the bullpen quickly. Not that that tipped the scale, but it certainly weighed in the decision." Neagle's success against the Mets probably did as well. He is 7-3 in his career against the Mets, including pitching seven scoreless innings against them in a 12-1 win for Cincinnati on April 26. "I've pitched well against these guys in the past," he said. "I like pitching in this stadium. I always felt Shea is one of the best pitcher's stadiums in baseball."
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