Old Yanks Speak About Current Yanks
Mike Mussina, Paul O’Neill, Moose Skowron, Mel Stottlemyre, Ralph Terry, and Roy White talked to TSN about our currnet Yankees. Here are some highlights:
Alex Rodriguez’s Yankee playoff batting average is .245. Think he’ll top .300 this postseason?
Terry: “Probably not, because he’ll be facing premier pitchers in the playoffs. However, he seems to be hitting the hard throwers better. I’m sure he’ll be eager to do well. Never underestimate great players.”
Skowron: “No way.”
Robinson Cano is a dangerous — but underrated — hitter in the Yankees’ lineup. Who’s the Yankee you want up with two outs in the ninth in a big playoff game?
Stottlemyre: “Derek Jeter. He still has the ability to get the job done, and his desire and attitude are the best.”
O’Neill: “I’m still very confident with Derek Jeter in those situations. Some things never change.”
Mussina: “Mark Teixeira.”
White: “Robinson Cano.”
What’s the one area that worries you most about these Yankees?
Stottlemyre: “Can the pitching staff step up to allow the offense to score runs? Pitching must carry them in the playoffs.”
O’Neill: “The pressure of winning this many games and not finishing with a World Series win. The season becomes sort of a failure.”
Terry: “Catching. (Jorge) Posada is a big key. I hope he’s healthy. Him being in the lineup really makes them more dangerous.”
Skowron: “Nick Swisher.”
Who’s the most underrated Yankee?
Stottlemyre: “Mark Teixeira. He has lived up to the big contract and has played great defense along with his hitting.”
O’Neill: “Tie — Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano.”
Mussina: “Either Melky or Phil Hughes.”
Skowron: “Cano.”
Interest stuff, eh? How about you? What would be your answers to these questions?
Was Skowron charging by the word for this interview or something?
@ Corey: He’s being laconic! Love the Moose!
A-Rod’ll never hit in the postseason. Swisher is the Yankee to be most worried about. Cano is the most underrated.
A little dissonance there, Moose.
Honestly, how many times has Robinson Cannot gotten a big hit this year? Good year from him BUT I don’t think he’ll be Mr Clutch, that would be either Jeter OR Teix.
Funny how Georgie the Defacto Captain and Nick “Baseless Runner “Swisher were mentioned. Yeah, they worry me BUT so does Arod in the playoffs,too.
Mike the Moose calling Hughes the Boy wonder underrated? Good call,Mike. He’s been much improved in the BP this year. I must admit he’s been a pleasant surprise in this role(for me at least).
this is a great post, thanks! love it when you get perspective from the guys who actually have played the game and understand what it takes to win, than from people who just believe in all the stats.
jessicam wrote:
You mean like Theo Epstein?
[...] an interesting round table discussion from the Sporting News (hat-tip to WasWatching.com) with some former Yanks, including Mike Mussina, Paul O’Neill, Moose Skowron, Mel Stottlemyre, [...]