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Lyle Speaks

© Harold Friend

March 19, 1978. Sparky Lyle pitched today and said that he still wants to be traded. Lyle said that he is rankled that George Steinbrenner refuses to sit down to speak about his status. The problem is that with the addition of Goose Gossage and Rawly Eastwick, Lyle's role will be diminished, which is why the lefty wants to speak to Steinbrenner about either being traded or getting more money.

Lyle entered today's game against the Red Sox in the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4. He faced three batters and retired them in order, two on ground outs and one on a pop out. The Red Sox eventually won the game, 5-4 in twelve innings.

George Steinbrenner, who was at the game, was instrumental in the Yankees obtaining Gossage and Eastwick. The fact that the Lyle won the American League Cy Young Award last season and was a major reason that the Yankees became World Champions did not deter the Yankees' owner from adding two top relief pitchers. It is interesting that the fact Lyle is left handed and the others are righties is rarely mentioned.

COMMENTS: The key is that Lyle had won the Cy Young Award in 1977. He appeared in 72 games, pitched 137 innings, and had a 13-5 record with a 2.17 ERA and 26 saves, yet Steinbrenner was not satisfied. These were the days before the "closer." Relief pitchers were referred to as "firemen" because they usually were brought in to squelch rallies or put out the fire, and few were better at it than Lyle.

In the 1977 playoffs, with Kansas City ahead two games to one and the Yankees leading in the game 5-4, Lyle relieved Dick Tidrow in the FOURTH inning to face George Brett, whom he retired. Lyle finished the game, pitching 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in a 6-4 Yankees win. The following day, in Game 5, which was the deciding game, Lyle came into the game in the eighth inning, pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and was the winning pitcher.

Steinbrenner cannot be criticized for getting Gossage, but Lyle did not get the respect he had earned. In 1978, Lyle appeared in 59 games and did pitch 111 2/3 innings, but it was Gossage who was used in most critical situations. Lyle was not nearly as effective as he had been the year before and when the pennant was on the line in the playoff game against the Red Sox, there was no thought of bringing in the left handed Lyle to face the left handed Yastrzemski with runners on first and second, two outs, and the Yankees ahead by a run.

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