fullcountpitch.com

By Bill Campione

Beginning in 2001, Sweeny Murti has been covering the Yankee beat for WFAN in New York. Sweeny is omnipresent on the radio during the baseball season, as he speaks to all of the hosts on a constant basis, offering insight, analysis, and news. He was kind enough to consent to wide ranging interview (We asked so many questions Sweeny said, “Now I have nothing left for my life story!”) that will appear over the next two days on FCP. We thank Sweeny profusely for his patience and generosity.

FullCountPitch: What is your position on building a new Yankee Stadium? Is it necessary? Do you regret leaving the history behind?

Sweeny Murti: SURE IT’S GOING TO BE NICE TO SEE A NEW STATE OF THE ART BUILDING.  I’M NOT QUITE AS WEEPY OVER LOSING THIS BUILDING AS OTHERS ARE.  MOSTLY BECAUSE IT’S NOT THE SAME BUILDING THAT RUTH AND GEHRIG AND DIMAGGIO AND MANTLE PLAYED IN.  THIS IS THE BUILDING THAT REGGIE AND GATOR AND GOOSE AND BERNIE AND TINO AND JETER PLAYED IN.  SO THERE IS HISTORY HERE OBVIOUSLY, BUT THE REMODELING IN THE 70′S TURNED THE LOOK OF THE BUILDING AROUND A GREAT DEAL.  SURE, THE HISTORY WILL BE MISSED.  BUT THE PRE-EMINENT SPORTS FRANCHISE IN AMERICAN SPORTS DESERVES TO PLAY IN A NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY.  AND THE GRANDEUR OF THE ORIGINAL YANKEE STADIUM IS BEING REPLICATED IN THE DESIGN OF THE NEW ONE.  THAT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE NEXT YEAR.

FC:  Can you share a story about a Yankee great that you encountered or observed?

SM: THE MOMENT THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME CAME FROM A POSTSEASON GAME.  IT WAS ONE OF THE WORLD SERIES GAMES IN 2001 AND PHIL RIZUTTO WAS THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH.  I WAS WALKING INTO AN ELEVATOR AS HE WAS COMING OUT AND I MENTIONED SOMETHING TO SCOOTER ABOUT FLIPPING THE THROW (HE HAD TAKEN TO IMITATING DEREK JETER’S FLIP PLAY FROM THE OAKLAND SERIES DURING SUBSEQUENT CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCHES).  HE LOOKED AT ME AS HE WALKED AWAY AND SAID, “AH YOU HUCKLEBERRY!”  I STILL FEEL QUITE HONORED TO HAVE BEEN CALLED A HUCKLEBERRY BY THE LATE GREAT SCOOTER.

FCP:  Joe Girardi has come under fire recently for some of his moves, specifically sitting Giambi and Damon vs. lefties, playing Wilson Betemit so often, and odd substitution patterns late in the game. Evaluate Girardi’s performance this year, with an emphasis on the recent stretch of poor play.

SM: I THINK SOME OF THE LINEUP SHUFFLES WERE A BIT MUCH.  I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT HE’S TRYING TO KEEP OLDER PLAYERS FRESH AS THEY COME DOWN THE STRETCH, THOUGH WHEN THE PLAYER IS SURPRISED THEN IT’S AN ISSUE.  DAMON HAD NO CLUE HE WASN’T PLAYING THAT DAY IN MINNESOTA.  OF COURSE, THE FLIP SIDE IS THAT IN 2005 AND 2007 THE YANKEES PLAYED SO HARD DOWN THE STRETCH JUST TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS THAT MAYBE THEY RAN OUT OF GAS.  AS FOR WHAT THEY’VE DONE RECENTLY, IT’S ON THE PLAYERS.  THIS TEAM HAS MASSIVELY UNDERPERFORMED OFFENSIVELY AND THAT HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE MANAGER.  THIS TEAM WAS BUILT TO SCORE ABOUT 6 RUNS PER GAME AND MAKE UP FOR DEFICIENCIES IN THEIR PITCHING STAFF.  THEY ARE FALLING WELL SHORT OF THAT.  TO DATE THEY HAVE SCORED 2 OR FEWER RUNS IN 40 GAMES.  THAT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN WITH THIS MANY GOOD PLAYERS.

FCP: The Yankee team seemed to take a cue from Torre and was very laid back and optimistic (which, ironically, was viewed as a strength when they won and a detriment when they lost). Girardi seems wound a little tighter. Has the team taken on his personality and style or has it at least had an effect on their outlook and play?

SM: I DON’T BELIEVE IT’S HAD A GREAT IMPACT YET ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.  YOU’RE RIGHT THOUGH.  IT’S FUNNY TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE FINDING FAULT WITH GIRARDI’S MORE INTENSE STYLE COMPARED TO TORRE’S APPROACH.  GIRARDI TAKES LOSSES VERY HARD, THAT’S WHY YOU SEE THE TIGHTNESS FROM HIM—BECAUSE THEY’VE LOST MORE THIS YEAR!  I STILL THINK THE RESULTS THIS YEAR HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL TALENT ON THE FIELD THAN THE MANAGER’S STYLE.

FCP:  Do you still see upside in Ian Kennedy? Was he rushed to the majors last year and this August?

SM: I’VE GOTTEN MIXED REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE GAME.  SOME BELIEVE HE STILL HAS POTENTIAL AND THAT HE WAS RUSHED, OTHERS THAT HE WAS OVERRATED TO BEGIN WITH.  HE’S CLEARLY HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THE MINORS AND MADE A CONTRIBUTION LAST YEAR.  A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TURNED OFF SIMPLY BECAUSE HE’S NOT A HARD-THROWER.  IF HE LEARNS TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND STOP NIBBLING SO MUCH, IT DOESN’T MATTER IF HE ONLY THROWS 90.  MAYBE HE JUST NEEDS MORE TIME, I DON’T KNOW.

FCP:  What do you think has been the root of Robinson Cano’s struggles this year?

SM: HE MAY HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE COMFORTABLE AFTER SIGNING A BIG CONTRACT.  THAT’S NOTHING NEW IN BASEBALL.  MANY HAVE SPECULATED THAT NONE OF THE COACHES GET ON HIM THE SAY WAY LARRY BOWA USED TO.  WHILE THE COACHES HERE WORK VERY HARD, THEY DON’T TAKE THE SAME APPROACH AS BOWA, IN THAT BOWA WASN’T AFRAID TO CALL OUT CANO IN FRONT OF REPORTERS.  MAYBE SEEING HIS BEST BUDDY MELKY CABRERA SENT DOWN WAS A GOOD MESSAGE FOR HIM TO STEP UP HIS PLAY. 

FCP: Do you think Derek Jeter has lost a step? Have you seen a change in his leadership as the team has changed personnel?

SM: IT WOULD BE SILLY TO THINK THAT JETER IS STILL AS QUICK AS HE WAS 10 YEARS AGO.  HE HAS LOST SOME RANGE DEFENSIVELY.  BUT ONE SCOUT TOLD ME THAT HE WILL STILL TAKE JETER AT SHORT BECAUSE HE’S SMART, POSITIONS HIMSELF WELL, AND ISN’T AFRAID TO TRY AND MAKE A PLAY AT THE RISK OF MAKING AN ERROR.  HE WILL NEED TO CHANGE POSITIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT THAT IS ALSO DEPENDANT ON FINDING SOMEONE BETTER TO PLAY SHORT.  I KNOW PEOPLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SAY A-ROD.  BUT MY ARGUMENT TO THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, EVEN IF A-ROD WAS THE BETTER SHORTSTOP…WHAT IF HE’S THE BETTER 3^RD BASEMAN OF THE TWO?  THERE WILL COME A TIME SOON TO MOVE JETER…TO WHERE, I HAVE NO IDEA.

AS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, HE DOESN’T SEEM TO ENJOY DRAWING ATTENTION TO IT.  I’VE BEEN TOLD HE’S NOT REALLY VOCAL IN TEAM MEETINGS, PREFERRING TO DO THINGS IN MORE PRIVATE OR INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS.  HE ALWAYS TELLS ME, “JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE IT DOESN’T MEAN IT DOESN’T HAPPEN.”  I THINK HE DOESN’T REVEL IN HAVING SOMEONE POINT OUT HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS.  SOME GUYS WANT EXTRA POINTS FOR SHOWING THEIR LEADERSHIP, I DON’T THINK HE’S THAT WAY.  I HONESTLY THINK HE’S JUST HAPPY IF THEY WIN, AND NOT SO HAPPY IF THEY LOSE.

FCP: How has A-Rod has handled himself differently with the media and his teammates this year?

SM: I DON’T THINK HE’S BEEN ANY DIFFERENT THAN IN YEARS PAST.  HE’S HAD A FEW MORE OFF-THE -FIELD ISSUES THAN NORMAL, BUT HE STILL PUTS UP PRETTY BIG NUMBERS EVERY YEAR.  HIS CLUTCH NUMBERS ARE NOT GOOD THIS YEAR, AND I DON’T KNOW WHY.  LAST YEAR THEY WERE TERRIFIC.  A-ROD IS A TOUGH GUY TO FIGURE OUT SOME TIMES.  I CAN’T REALLY OFFER YOU MUCH MORE OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE.

FCP: What has to happen for the Yanks to make the playoffs? What are the ramifications if they don’t?

SM: A MIRACLE.  RAMIFCATIONS?  WELL I PRESUME YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT THE JOB STATUS OF JOE GIRARDI AND BRIAN CASHMAN SPECIFICALLY.  GIRARDI IS GOING NOWHERE—HE WAS HIRED FOR THE LONG TERM AND HANK STEINBRENNER HAS ALREADY CITED THE INJURIES THIS YEAR.  CASHMAN I BELIEVE WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN.  I TRULY BELIEVE OWNERSHIP WAS PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH THEY WERE RELYING ON YOUNG PITCHING, WHICH OF COURSE DIDN’T PAN OUT THIS YEAR.  THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT CASHMAN WANTS TO RETURN.  LET’S WAIT AND SEE.

FCP:  Do you sense panic, or at least worrying by some in the clubhouse? Do you see intensity from the entire roster now that the season has hit a critical point?

SM: THAT STUFF IS HARD TO MEASURE BY ANY DEFINITE STANDARD.  NOBODY IS RUNNING AROUND SCREAMING IF THAT’S WHAT YOU MEAN BY PANIC.  AND IS IT POSSBILE TO BE INTENSE AND STILL LOSE?  SURE.   I DON’T THINK ANYBODY IS TAKING THEIR JOB LIGHTLY IF THAT’S WHAT YOU MEAN.  EVERYBODY KNOWS THE MATH TOO.  BUT THEIR JOB ISN’T TO FIGURE OUT THE ELIMINATION NUMBERS.  THAT’S WHAT WE DO.  THEIR JOB IS TO TRY TO WIN EACH DAY.  I THINK THEY ARE DOING THAT.  THEY OBVIOUSLY JUST HAVEN’T BEEN THAT GOOD AT IT LATELY.

FCP:  Who do you think the Yankees will keep and/or should keep next year from the following list: Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettite.

SM: I THINK THEY BRING BACK THE PITCHERS, MUSSINA AND PETTITTE.  THE PITCHING DEPTH IS KEY AND BOTH ARE STILL CAPABLE OF WINNING 12-15 GAMES.  I WOULD PART WAYS WITH GIAMBI AND GET A FIRST BASEMAN (TEIXEIRA??) AND LET ABREU WALK AND MOVE NADY TO RIGHT.  ABREU HAS BEEN VERY GOOD THIS YEAR, BUT HIS ON-BASE AND SLUGGING HAVE SLIPPED SLIGHTLY FROM TWO YEARS AGO.  I WOULD HATE TO BE TIED INTO A 4-YEAR DEAL AND WATCH HIM SLIP FURTHER.  USE THE OLD BRANCH RICKEY PHILOSOPHY OF GETTING RID OF A PLAYER A YEAR TOO SOON RATHER THAN A YEAR TOO LATE.

FCP: Compare and contrast Hank and George Steinbrenner. Is Brian Cashman making the decisions for the team or does Hank have a say like George?

SM: WELL, HANK HAS THE SAME PENCHANT FOR HEADLINE MAKING.  I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THE TEAM MOVES FORWARD TO MAKE A FAIR ASSESSMENT.  GEORGE STEINBRENNER MADE IT CLEAR LONG AGO THAT HE WAS WILLING TO MAKE BIG SPLASHY MOVES TO MAKE HIS TEAM BETTER.  HANK HASN’T BEEN IN CHARGE LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT ASSESSMENT, AND FRANKLY HAL STEINBRENNER HAS JUST AS MUCH INPUT.  THEY ARE EQUALLY ACTIVE AND BRIAN CASHMAN ANSWERS TO BOTH OF THEM JUST AS HE ANSWERED TO GEORGE AND JUST AS ANY GM MUST ANSWER TO TEAM OWNERSHIP.  JUST BECAUSE THE PARTIES ARE A LITTLE MORE VOCAL SOMETIMES DOESN’T MEAN ITS ANY DIFFERENT. 

FCP: Did Brian Cashman overvalue his prospects this past winter considering he passed on Johan Santana and he has zero wins from the pitchers discussed and an absolutely horrendous year out of his centerfielder?

SM: YOU COULD SAY THAT…BUT IF THE YANKEES HAD PULLED OFF THAT DEAL DOES THAT MEAN THE TWINS PEOPLE ARE INCOMPETENT?  OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE ASKING FOR CERTAIN PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY LIKED THEM TOO.  SANTANA WOULD HAVE LOOKED GOOD HERE, NO DOUBT.  SO WOULD C.C. SABATHIA.  BUT THE WAY THIS TEAM IS HITTING, THOSE GUYS WOULD BE LOSING 2-1, SO HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE WOULD THEY HAVE MADE?  DESPITE THE FAILURES OF THE YOUNG PITCHERS THIS YEAR, THIS TEAM IS WHERE IT IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF OFFENSE.

FCP: Can the Yankees simultaneously rebuild and contend, as seemed to be the plan this year?

SM: THAT’S THE $64,000 QUESTION.  THAT’S WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.  THAT’S THE REASON FOR BUILDING A TEAM THAT’S SUPPOSED TO SCORE A LOT OF RUNS WHILE YOU GROOM YOUNG PITCHERS.  IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR DEFINITION.  IF THEY WIN 85 GAMES THIS YEAR AND MISS THE PLAYOFFS, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION LIES ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR-79 WINS OR 94 WINS?  IS IT POSSIBLE TO REBUILD AND CONTEND?  I’LL ANSWER THAT FOR YOU NEXT YEAR.

 Check back tomorrow for Part II of our interview where Sweeny discusses his career and the life of a New York beat reporter.

Sweeny Murti can be heard throughout the day on WFAN 660 - AM and his Yankees blog can be accessed here.