Q&A with Sweeny Murti

Yankee beat reporter Sweeny Murti brings fans information on the Bronx Bombers every day on the airwaves of WFAN. Known for a lively and up-beat style of reporting, Sweeny's reports are can't miss features for Yankee fans. He also writes a Yankee blog with features, interviews and late-breaking news. You can access it here: http://www.wfan.com/pages/139570.php

Sweeny took a few minutes out of playoff preparation to answer a few questions for us:

How surprising was the Yankee comeback to you this year? 
I was very surprised...just didn't think they were good enough to turn it around.  They lefty hitters were having seasons beyond poor, but they all managed to turn it around in the second half.  The starting rotation stabilized and the bullpen got some help from Joba.  A-Rod, Posada, and Jeter had consistent seasons all worthy of MVP votes.
 
Did you ever think they weren't going to make the playoffs?
They had a good run at the beginning of June to start turning things around, but had a horrible road trip through Colorado, San Francisco, and Baltimore.  They went completely backwards again and it was at that stage that I thought they weren't good enough to recover and make the playoffs again.  I thought they had too much ground to gain and I thought the Tigers were better.  Detroit's fade was a huge factor here.
 
As a reporter, how much more interesting is it for your to cover such an unstable season?
Every season with the Yankees is interesting.  I put in the same amount of time each day no matter what's going on with the team.  The only difference is the types of questions you ask the players and the manager and the types of questions I get asked when I get interviewed.
 
Can you give us a few examples of what kind of leader Jorge Posada is?
Posada's intensity shows on the field.  He speaks his mind after games and during team meetings.  His emotion sometimes gets away from him at the wrong times, but it generally works in making him a better player.
 
What's your impression of the young stable of pitchers the Yanks have assembled?
The youngsters all made important contributions this year.  It's hard to tell what the future will be like.  Injuries always play a factor.  But Hughes and Chamberlain and Kennedy all appear to have ability to help this team in the rotation for years to come.  I have been impressed with Ross Ohlendorf as well. 
 
After Joba, which of the kid pitchers has impressed you the most?
Ohlendorf.  I don't know if his future is as a starter or as a reliever, but the slider he's developed this year looks as good as Joba's. 
 
Tell us something we don't know about A-Rod.
How hard he works.  He may have the most ability of anybody in the game, but he also spends as much or more time as anyone else working at it.  I used to think of it as over-preparation because it used to seem as if he filled his head with too much info, but he seems to have channeled it this year and made it work for him better than ever.
 
Here's a harder one, tell us something we don't know about Wilson Betemit.
He was only 14 when the Braves signed him. 
 
Will A-Rod return to the Yanks in '08? Everyone had an opinion, what's yours?
Too hard to predict.  I think the Yankees will make a good enough offer to keep him, but it will be up to him.  If he really loves New York as much as he's been saying, then the decision should be an easy one.
 
How do you see the Yanks matching up against Cleveland?
I think Sabathia is tough because of all the lefties in the Yankee lineup.  I'd like to believe the Yankees can win this series in 4 games rather than have to go back to Cleveland for Game 5 against Sabathia. 
 
Should Yankee fans fear C.C.?
He's a good pitcher.  The Yanks had his number in previous years, 1-7 with an ERA over 7.  But he's a better pitcher now, walks less and strikes out more.  Definitely one to watch out for.
 
Finish these two thoughts:
 
· The reason the Yanks can win it all is……
they are as good as anyone else in the league and are playing with more confidence than anybody because of the way they finished the season.
 
· The reason the Yanks won't win the World Series….
will be if the starting pitching fails them. 
 
You grew up as a Philly fan. For you, would it be harder to cover a team that you were emotionally involved in?
Absolutely...that's the best thing about covering the Yankees, that I can look at them objectively and not get caught up in the gut-wrenching stuff minute by minute.