Heath Bell on XM 175 doesn't take Seth Everett's bait

Wednesday, 11/11/09, Heath Bell on XM 175 interviewed by Seth Everett. Following are portions I heard approximately:

• Seth: Do you think the Yankees bought a championship?

• Heath: No, teams must gel. For example, after Arod came back from his (hip) injury the team backed him (which helped him and the team). Team chemistry is important, this Yankee team reminded me of those of the late 90's in that regard.

• Seth: Regarding Yankees' Mariano Rivera, "are you jealous or amazed?"

• Heath: I'm jealous. (Bell offers new context, ie how it is unlikely coaches today would allow a pitcher coming up to be a 'one-pitch' pitcher, which is how some describe Rivera's repertoire):
• Coaches today would see guys come up and if they had only one pitch would force them to learn other pitches.*** Today they want you to have 2-3 pitches. I was worried that Mariano was being used so much. I watched his "cutter or whatever it is," it goes all over the place.

• Seth: The talk in game 6 was even that Rivera would have to get a 3 inning 'save.' What do you think of this use of a closer who usually goes 1 or 2 innings?

• Heath: It's fine. You might be sore after, but you have to go for it.

• Seth: What's the difference between pitching the 8th and the 9th inning?

• Heath: There's a BIG difference. You need confidence, thick skin later in the game. Even if you blew a game the day before, you must come in eager to face the same guys who hit off you. You need an attitude like that was just a "fluke."

Heard on XM 175 around 12:20-12:30 pm 11/11/09

• ***I recall hearing years ago (1998 or after) that Mel Stottlemyre was working with Rivera on developing another pitch. People eagerly awaited the new pitch but it never panned out. (framus)

Reference: On 11/2/09 Seth Everett mentioned that Bob DuPuy is a longtime friend. Everett also described himself as 'a Bud guy.' Not that there's anything wrong with that. (framus)

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