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Chat Reel: Mike Berardino
CNNSI.com analyst says Brown on the mend
Posted: Tuesday April 11, 2000 02:51 PM
CNNSI Host: Hello and welcome to today's MLB chat with CNNSI.com's Mike
Berardino. Hi Mike, thanks for joining us.
Mike Berardino: Thanks for having me.
From Guest: Where are the Tigers going to find enough pitching?
Mike Berardino: Their first concern is getting Juan Gonzalez healthy and in the lineup. But, yes, even once he returns the Tigers have serious questions in their rotation. Jeff Weaver being sent down is just temporary. He's really their best short-term hope to make an impact. Trade-wise there's not much out there right now
From Guest: With the Cardinals early bullpen troubles, do you think they should move Matt Morris to closer when he comes back.
Mike Berardino: I think Dave Veres should be solid enough in the closer role. He's been extremely effective away from Coors Field the last few years. In Morris's case, that's asking a lot of someone with arm troubles to come back and be available for daily work. I look for him to rejoin the rotation by the All-Star break. And reports so far from the Cardinals have been highly optimistic regarding his progress.
From Kevin Bonsor: Seeing Clemens and Cone get knocked around early this season, it's apparent that age is finally caught up with these guys. Do the Yankees have anyone coming up through the farm system who might start this year or next? It doesn't look like Yarnall was what people thought he was going to be. Or, are the Yankees eyeing soon-to-be free agents like Denny Neagle?
Mike Berardino: My answer to that would be it's far too early to write off Clemens or Cone. Clemens, in particular, had an excellent spring and the Yankees believe he'll pitch more like the guy who won Cy Youngs in Toronto than the one who struggled through injuries last year. Cone is a wild-card. Even he admits he doesn't know how close to the end his shoulder might be. And yes, Ed Yarnall wil be the first call-up into the rotation as soon he works out his mechanical troubles in Triple-A. And don't rule out a run at Brad Radke later this summer.
From Guest: Any news on Kevin Brown's busted pinkie? He claims that he's going to try to pitch regardless, but that seems hard to believe.
Mike Berardino: If anybody can pitch through pain, it's Kevin Brown. It helps that the finger he broke is the pinkie, a little farther from the fingers he uses for pressure points on his pitches. He thinks he'll be back in a week, the Dodgers say two. Obviously if Brown misses any significant stretch of time, the Dodgers could be buried by Memorial Day.
From Leo: The story of the young season seems to be Andres Galarraga... did you (or anyone) expect him to come back as strong as he has?
Mike Berardino: No one could have predicted a return like this. Even
Galarraga seems stunned he's been able to reclaim his power stroke so early this season. At the start of the spring the Braves were just hoping to get 120 games out of the Big Cat, but now, I wouldn't be surprised if they got greedy and he played his usual 150-plus.
From Dave Thorton: I still can't believe they had Opening Day in Japan. Now I hear they are going to do it in Italy or something. Why can't they play these international games some other time in the year? Why take our Opening Day?
Mike Berardino: I think you'd find some supporters in the clubhouses of the Cubs and the Mets right now, where they're still trying to shake off jet lag. But there's no sense in fighting this one. Bud Selig is committed to growing the game world-wide and he also believes exhibitions won't be enough to energize new potential fan bases around the globe. I'm afraid we're stuck with Opening Days abroad for at least the next few years.
From Guest: Back to the Braves... this Furcal kid seems like the real deal… where did he come from? Was this expected?
Mike Berardino: Rafael Furcal came from A ball last year, but the Braves knew they had something special when he dominated the Dominican Winter League at age 19. Word is spreading fast about this talented speedster. I loved Barry Bonds' quote after he got his first look at Furcal this weekend: "That little Pee Wee Herman kid kicked our butts."
From Guest: Hey, Mike, how long do you believe that the Cardinals pitching staff will continue to go strong?
Mike Berardino: Early indications have been positive throughout the Cards' staff. Respected picthing coach Dave Duncan is a master at fixing whatever ails veteran pitchers. And his work this spring with Darryl Kile, Pat Hentgen and Andy Benes seems to have paid off. Plus, with Alan Benes and Matt Morris waiting in the wings, the Cardinals have unusual depth in their starting rotation. It's Yankee-like depth, really.
From Guest: Have you been to the new parks opening today, and what do you like and dislike about them? And why do you think The Tigers built a stadium with such big dimensions?
Mike Berardino: I have not been to the new stadiums yet, but obviously, I'm looking forward to seeing them, particularly Pacific Bell Park, with that view of the Bay. The Tigers will tell you they asked for larger dimensions at Comerica Park in part to lure free-agent pitchers. They feel by running counter to the trend toward smaller, hitter-friendly parks, they'll have a built-in recruiting advantage. The irony is that strategy could cost them Juan Gonzalez.
From Larry: After hitting No. 400 yesterday, is Ken Griffey Jr. where he needs to be to break Aaron's record? He seems to not be hitting the same as he did in Seattle. Is Cincinnnati the right place for him?
Mike Berardino: Well, aside from Coors Field, Griffey couldn't have gone to a better park for a home run hitter than Cinergy Field. The ball really jumps there. Remember, he's just 30 - the fastest ever to 400 homers. And he's clearly energized by his new surroundings. Bill James projects that Griffey has a 44% chance of breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. Only Mark McGwire, at 48%, was given a better shot.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks for joining us, Mike.
Mike Berardino: I enjoyed it.
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