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mussina rips arod's d.
Topic Started: Jul 21 2006, 01:38 PM (34 Views)
NYY-51
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Mussina rips A-Rod for sloppy defence
Mike Mussina

Canadian Press

7/21/2006 12:04:32 AM

TORONTO (CP) - Mike Mussina didn't mince words when asked whether Alex Rodriguez was hurting the New York Yankees with his sloppy defence.

"I don't know what's going on," said a pained Mussina. "I know he's played better. I know he's disappointed in the way he's playing. It's not him right now. We need him back the way he's supposed to be."

A throwing error by Rodriguez led to a four-run sixth inning for the Toronto Blue Jays, but it took an 11th-inning homer from Vernon Wells to beat the Yankees 5-4 on Thursday.

Baseball's highest-paid player helped the Jays get on the board when he threw high and wide of catcher Jorge Posada while trying to throw out Aaron Hill.

"It's a play I should have made," Rodriguez said. "It got away. I just tried to throw it around the runner and kind of pulled it.




 
"I was a little hesitant. It was hit a little soft but I felt I had a play at home and I think I was right."

But Mussina wasn't in a forgiving mood.

"All he had to do was throw it on target," Mussina said. "He would have been out by 20 feet."

After giving up just two singles through the first five innings, New York's staff ace coughed up three straight hits after Rodriguez's gaffe as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.

"It bothers me when it all mounts up like that, especially after pitching so well for five innings," Mussina said. "When you get momentum going like that it's tough to stop."

Rodriguez has made 17 errors this season, the most by any Yankee. He made a career-high three miscues in Monday's 4-2 win over Seattle before leaving the game with a sore toe.

"It's something that's not fun to go through," he said, denying he wants out of New York. "You just keep working on it. You definitely don't want to hurt your teammates doing it but at the same time you've just got to work through it."

Yankees manager Joe Torre came to the defence of his all-star third baseman, saying Rodriguez's high profile makes him an easy target for criticism.

"He made the right play, I thought," Torre said. "It looked like he never hesitated. I didn't get any indecision on his part. It looked like the ball kind of sailed on him."

Still, Torre said the poor fielding was something Rodriguez is "going to have to answer for."

Both Torre and Rodriguez agreed the problem was mechanical and could be fixed by throwing from a different arm angle.

"When he's on top the ball is going to be truer," Torre said. "It's the same thing as a pitcher throwing sidearm. You're going to see more movement on the ball."

Rodriguez sounded confident in his ability to recover quickly.

"It's definitely mechanics," he said. "It really becomes staying on top of the baseball. Pitchers, catchers, everybody does it at some point. You've just got to get your target, get your footwork and stay on top of the baseball

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Strider
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"All he had to do was throw it on target," Mussina said. "He would have been out by 20 feet."

After giving up just two singles through the first five innings, New York's staff ace coughed up three straight hits after Rodriguez's gaffe as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.

"It bothers me when it all mounts up like that, especially after pitching so well for five innings," Mussina said. "When you get momentum going like that it's tough to stop."


Media "blowing things out of proportion."
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Mantlemurcer
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Have to consider the source too.


Mussina was thinking, "what's a 5 letter word for bad throw?" :think:
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Mattingly23
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Jul 21 2006, 01:48 PM
Quote:
 
"All he had to do was throw it on target," Mussina said. "He would have been out by 20 feet."

After giving up just two singles through the first five innings, New York's staff ace coughed up three straight hits after Rodriguez's gaffe as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.

"It bothers me when it all mounts up like that, especially after pitching so well for five innings," Mussina said. "When you get momentum going like that it's tough to stop."


Media "blowing things out of proportion."

Yep. I saw Mussina say it live. He was very down in general. They were trying to bait him and those things he said, while not all out support for A-Rod, were after he held back and stayed quiet. He also took the blame for not making pitches when he needed to.

Mussina didn't rip anyone. He spoke the truth. A-Rod should have made the play. Saying the Yankees need A-Rod to play the way he's supposed to is not criticism, it's the truth, and it's acknowledging what a great player he actually is.

On another note, Canadians spell "defence" with a C? Cillinecc.
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