Thursday, October 14, 1999
NLCS: Braves 4, Mets 3
Valentine admits leaving Rogers in too long
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATLANTA — Before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series exploded in his face, New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine was asked how many games a manager can influence each season.
“I have no clue,” Valentine said.
That seemingly innocent answer reverberated throughout a gray, overcast Wednesday afternoon that ultimately turned dark for the Mets.
By Valentine's own admission, his mismanagement cost New York a chance to even the NLCS at a game apiece. The much-maligned skipper stuck too long with an obviously tiring Kenny Rogers, who yielded two-run homers to Brian Jordan and Eddie Perez in the sixth inning that gave the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 edge in the series.
“It was absolutely the wrong move,” Valentine repeated, intent on figuratively hanging himself before the New York tabloids swooped in for the kill.
After today's off-day, the series resumes Friday night at New York's Shea Stadium, where the enthusiasm of an expected sellout crowd will be muted by the Mets' plight.
The Braves became the 13th team to win the first two games of the NLCS; only the 1984 San Diego Padres (against Chicago) and the 1985 St.Louis Cardinals (against Los Angeles) have over come that deficit.
“We wanted to jump ahead of these guys and put the pressure on them while we were at home,” said Braves starter Kevin Millwood, who earned the victory with 7ô strong innings. “Now we know that if we have to, we can come back to Atlanta. But I think going to New York up 2-0 is going to give us a lot of confidence. Maybe it will make (the Mets) press a little bit.”
Said Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, “If we went up there 1-1, it would be awfully hard to win a game or two in that atmosphere.”
It'll be hard for any team to defeat the Braves if they continue to employ their excellent starting pitchers as relievers. Having used Greg Maddux and Millwood out of the bullpen against Houston in the Division Series, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox turned to John Smoltz to throw a scoreless ninth inning to preserve this triumph at Turner Field.
That move worked, as did Cox's decision to order an intentional walk to Mike Piazza with two outs in the eighth inning, Edgardo Alfonzo on second base and the Mets trailing 4-3.
Though Piazza represented the go-ahead run, John Rocker defused the threat and capitalized on the lefty-vs.-lefty matchup by striking out Robin Ventura for the fifth time in as many confrontations.
“I never like to do that too much,” Cox said of the intentional walk. “Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and give it a go.”
Ask Valentine about risks.
Rogers took a 2-0 lead into the fateful sixth, having allowed at least one hit in each inning but escaping trouble by picking off two Braves and throwing a pair of double-play grounders.
Then the left-hander walked Jones on a full-count pitch, prompting right-hander Turk Wendell to begin warming up in New York's bullpen. Jordan deepened the Mets' concern by bashing Rogers' 1-0 pitch off the right-field foul screen.
“It's my competitive nature. I guess it's my football mentality,” said Jordan, the former Atlanta Falcons defensive back. “I love when people challenge me. If the Mets want to continue to walk Chipper to get to me, then I'm just going to continue to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Andruw Jones singled solidly to left field as Valentine agonized openly in the dugout and discussed removing Rogers with pitching coach Dave Wallace. Yet Rogers stayed on the mound to face Perez, who homered and doubled in Game 1 and singled in his first Game 2 at-bat.
“That surprised me, because I looked in their dugout and saw their pitching coach ready to take him out,” Perez said. “I saw (Wallace) go back. I think Valentine called him and they left (Rogers) in ... I wanted to face him instead of the fresh arm coming from the bullpen.”
The second-guessing started immediately after Perez belted Rogers' first pitch into the left-field seats. Valentine even led the criticism.
“I had no reason (to leave in Rogers),” he said.
Was it to keep Andruw Jones from stealing second base?
“There were a lot of things that went through my mind,” Valentine said.
What were those things? “It doesn't make any difference.” Why? “Because the guy hit a home run and we got down by two.”
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