TUESDAY,MAY7.2002
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Yankee not 'pitcher perfect'
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — More bad throws on bunts. Cutters that sail out of the strike zone. An exasperated expression in the dugout.
Sure doesn't look like the same old Mariano Rivera. And suddenly, some people are starting to wonder: What's wrong with Mo, the most dominant closer of his era?
"It's just a phase he's going through right now," New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I hate to call it a slump because he's throwing the ball well.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B
"I have no worries that he's not
who he was."
Besides, Torre has concerns these dass other than his hobbit reliever.
After being swept at home by Seattle this weekend, the Yankees dropped to 18-14 and found themselves 41/2 games behind Boston. It was their largest deficit since 1997—the last year they didn't win the AL East or reach the World Series.
Also, this omen: Last season,
the Yankees lost only once when
they led by at least four runs (to
the Mets, when they chose not to use Rivera). This year, they've already blown three such games, two with Rivera.
"We need to pitch better, we need to hit better, we need to play better defense." Torre said. "Aside from that, we're fine."
Truth is, Riviera hasn't been terrible. The 32-year-old right-hander converted eight of 10 save opportunities, and is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Most importantly, he's eager to pitch.
"If you lose your confidence, you might as well pack and go home," he said. "I want to get back out there as soon as I can."
Rivera will soon become the Yankees' career saves leader. He has 223, one behind Dave Righetti's team record.
Yet Rivera's control has been off, his fielding has become shaky and he's given up key hits, albeit some of them softly stroked. It probably didn't help that he went five days last week without pitching.
"I'd like to get into a rhythm. It will come in time," the relief face said.
Opposing hitters sure aren't rushing to the bat rack.
"I don't think there's a chink at all," said Seattle's Jeff Cirillo, who looped a go-ahead single off Rivera on Saturday. "The guy's awesome, the best closer in the game."
The Yankees hope so. Because for so long, they've counted on Rivera and his devastating cut fastball.
For those who doubt it, answer this question: How many titles would the Atlanta Braves now own if they'd had Rivera all these years?
Rivera's dominance, which included postseason records of 33 1-3 scorelearnings and 24 saves, abruptly ended in Game 7 of the World Series last November.
The Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for two runs against Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning—helped by his wild throw to second base on a bunt—and won 3-2 when Luis Gonzalez blooped a single to center field.
"When things like this happen, everyone is looking for 'Ah hat! We finally found the secret,'" Torre said after Rivera recently faltered. "There is no secret. They know what he throws."
Pitcher's health still debated
The Associated Press
ST.LOUIS — Woody Williams is anxious to pitch. Too anxious, the St. Louis Cardinals sav.
After throwing 75 pitches off the bullpen mound Sunday, the righthander who's been sidelined since his first start with a pulled muscle in his side, felt he was almost ready to go. That would be good news for an injury-ravaged staff that has six pitchers — five of them starters — on the disabled list.
One rehab start. Williams said should be enough for him to make his target date of rejoining the rotation by the middle of May.
“There’s no pain,” he said. “I’m only going to do one if I feel good. To me, there’s no reason to go down and wait until I throw 100 pitches. I want to throw 100 pitches here.”
The response from manager Tony La Rusa: Not so fast. The Cardinals want Williams, a 15-game winner who was a big reason the team tied for the NL Central championship, healthy the rest of the way. They're willing to wait until there's absolutely no doubt there will be no relapse.
"Unless you want to print a retraction, I'd be really careful saying he's going to take one rehab start," La Russa said. "What I'm saying is it's great he's feeling that good. But when we get him back, we want to keep him back."
For Williams, despite the fact he's feeling fine, the question mark remains. It may be June before he's back in the rotation and it's wearing on him a bit.
from," Williams said. "The trainers never told me that and the doctors never said that. They said the middle of May, so I'm disappointed it's not going to be then."
La Russa's message to Williams: be patient
"I don't know where that came
Williams wants to be a contributor to a team that entered the week 14-17.
"He needs to stay on the program and keep doing more and more," La Russa said. "But he is throwing the ball well and he is feeling good."
"It's hard to sit around when we're losing," Williams said. "If we were going good it would be a little easier to watch. Not like I'm going to make a big difference, but at least I want to be more of a part of it."
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