So Where Do We Go From Here?

Changes are needed, but who and what is anyone’s guess


By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 27, 2003


Like you I am a baseball fan. Like you I enjoy playing general manager and speculate what’s going to happen with the New York Yankees in the near future. As this is the third year in a row the Yankees’ haven’t climbed all the way to the top of major league baseball’s mountain, a change is coming. As sure as the autumn leaves change color the Yankees will be undergoing a change. How severe a transformation can only be conjured up in the mind of the Yankees’ principal owner George Steinbrenner. So without further ado I will make the following suggestions. You may or may not agree with my opinions, but I’m going to offer them anyway.

First and foremost, the Yankees’ need to re-sign Andy Pettitte to a long-term deal. He concluded the 2003 season with a 21-8 record, which is the most wins by a Yankees pitcher since, well Andy Pettitte did it in 1996. He had an ERA of 4.02 which isn’t bad considering the way balls are juiced so that home runs leave the parks like rocket ships leave Cape Canaveral. He is a home grown product with a lifetime record of 149-78. He has a lifetime ERA of 3.96. His strikeout to walks ratio is 1275-579 or better than 2-1. He is my unsung, playoffs MVP as he continually stepped up when the Yankees need a gutty pitching performance and Andy delivered. In 5 games started Pettitte had a record of 3-1 with an ERA of 2.10. His 3 wins came in Game 2 situations, where had he lost the Yankees would have departed Yankee Stadium down 0-2 against the teams they were facing in the playoffs (Minnesota, Boston, Florida). Plus, he’s a freaking left-handed starting pitcher. So why in the hell would the “Boss” let this guy walk only to be signed by a rival team?

With Roger Clemens now retired the Yankees need to hang onto their quality pitching. Andy Pettitte is a quality pitcher. Sign him George!!!

Next, we need a bona fide, front-line outfielder with some pop in the bat. Now several things have to happen here. We all know that the right fielder by committee experiment didn’t have the desired results Joe Torre wanted. Also, Bernie Williams can no longer patrol center field. With his mounting injuries Bernie has slowed down and he can no longer run down balls like the old Bernie could. He no longer glides to balls over his head he labors to them. Several things have been suggested. One, is moving Matsui to center and Williams to left field. Godzilla played an extended time in centerfield this year, while Williams was rehabbing from knee surgery. Hideki acquitted himself quite well in “the valley.” Another suggestion was moving Bernie to left, Soriano to center field and Matsui to right. That would necessitate finding a quality second baseman to replace Soriano at that position. Personally, I like this idea. Soriano is only 25 and can fly like a gazelle. He can be taught how to play the field and with his age he’d be a fixture in centerfield for years to come. But, another twist will be how the Boss views Soriano. Don’t think that going up to the plate like he did and hacking away with 26 strikeouts (a playoff record) is going to endear him to Steinbrenner. The Yankees will have to evaluate what the best fit is. Get a front-line outfielder, such as a Vladimir Guerrero or Carlos Beltran or a second baseman like Jose Vidro from Montreal. These are all players whom I like. Other outfielders’ names floating around are Jim Edmonds (Cardinals), Gary Sheffield (Atlanta) and Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati). All these guys are talented ballplayers, but they all have an attitude. This is especially true for Griffey, who isn’t nicknamed “Grumpy” for nothing.

Moving down the board the Yankees must now come up with two quality pitchers to replace Roger Clemens (retired) and I’m guessing David Wells. Wells pulled a Houdini and disappeared after the first inning in Game 5 due to his queasy back. Wells, who came into spring training looking rather svelte didn’t stay with his workout and diet regimen and his weight ballooned up. He’ll tell you he did, but photo evidence and an expanded beltline don’t lie. Wells' option will not be picked up. The pitching prospects this off-season are slim. Greg Maddux (16-11, 3.96) is out there, but he has always pitched in the National League. He will be 38 years old just after the season opens in 2004. Another possibility is Kevin Millwood. He also pitched his entire career in the NL (Atlanta, Philadelphia), but he is only 29. Bartolo Colon was heavily looked at by the Yankees last year. He was part of a three-team trade that sent him to Chicago White Sox and Orlando Hernandez to Montreal. Colon is the most attractive of the three. He knows the AL hitters. He is only 30 and Colon was 20-8 in 2002. He is not an overpowering pitcher and he is a fly ball pitcher. That would only be a problem in the corners at Yankee Stadium, which has one of the deepest centerfields in baseball. Another name out there is Eric Milton (sound familiar?) from Minnesota.

Jeff Weaver in all honesty will be gone too. He never lived up to the expectations the Yankees had for him when they imported him from Detroit and sent Ted Lilly to Oakland. Lilly, in my opinion, has pitched much better than Weaver since both have changed uniforms and I am betting Cashman and Steinbrenner wishes they could reverse the clock.

Relief pitching is going to be of a concern too. Chris Hammond, Jeff Nelson, Felix Heredia and Gabe White are all potentially expendable. With Steve Karsay due to come back next season from back problems as well as Jon Lieber (Tommy John surgery) several of these guys may be gone. Jorge De Paula is another guy the Yankees may want to take a good look at and he is already in their farm system.

What about the clubhouse brain-trusts? Rick Down is a certainty to be given his walking papers. He will be the first scapegoat (although I think justified) to go. Bench Coach Don Zimmer has already fallen on his sword by publicly calling out the Boss and saying he won’t be coming back. Joe Torre will be back to close out his contract as Steinbrenner already said he would. Lee Mazzilli, looking for a managing job probably won’t return. Willie Randolph is a Yankees icon so unless he lands a managing job somewhere expect him to be back at third base. Mel Stottlemyre is Torre’s closest coach. He hasn’t decided what he’s going to do yet. A decision on his future is expected in about a week.

Who will replace these guys? I would love to see Donnie Baseball come in as the full time hitting coach. Just look at the guy’s career with a bat. Enough said about that. If Mel Stottlemyre decides not to return Rick Monteleone, the Yankees’ bullpen coach could step right in. Any way you slice it there will be new faces in the Bombers’ clubhouse.

Lastly, another name rumored to be a possibility to be replaced is Brian Cashman. My question to George Steinbrenner is why? This guy is a very good GM and I don’t think for a second he’s made any moves the Boss hadn’t signed off on. Cashman has always had the Yankees’ best interest at heart. Sure all of his moves haven’t been golden (i.e. Weaver for Lilly), but he’s made far better moves than bad ones. Look at this year. Steinbrenner wanted Contreras and Cashman got him Contreras. Like I said, Cashman doesn’t make any moves the Boss doesn’t give his seal of approval on.

It’s quiet now, but it won’t be for long. Mount Steinbrenner will erupt. His lava flow will swallow up those he deems unworthy of wearing Yankees’ pinstripes. Hopefully, it won’t be the George Steinbrenner of the 1980’s who changed coaches, managers and players like you and I change shirts. If changes are to be made George make them wisely and with the counsel of those around you. Don’t let your hatchet run red with Yankees’ blood. It’s a long off-season. Take your time and make moves out of necessity and not revengefully. Don’t forget in the end it’s us fans that pay the freight for the ball club to operate. So give us something worth watching. OK, now I’ve played general manager how about you? What do you think the Yankees need to do to win it all next year?

PLAY BALL!


(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

We Deserved To Lose
The inability to advance or score runners was Yankees downfall

First of all I want to congratulate the Florida Marlins on their improbable journey to win the 2003 World Series. The Fish deserve all the accolades a champion can receive. As much as the Marlins deserved to win the Fall Classic, the Yankees deserved to lose.

Almost everything for Game 6 was in place for the Yankees to win. The pro-Yankees crowd was loud and proud. The pitching was there as Andy Pettitte did all he could do to insure a Yankees victory. The one thing that forgot to show up was the offense. What do 12, 21, 10, 14, 13 and 21 have in common? In descending order that is the number of runners left on base by the New York Yankees offense in this series. That is 91 potential runs left twisting in the wind.

Time and again the Yankees failed to put hits together. Tonight was no different. Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett, working on just three days rest, pitched a complete game shutout. Beckett willed his body and his team to victory. He scattered 5 hits, while striking out 9 men and walking two. It was apropos that Beckett recorded the last out of the World Series as he tagged out Jorge Posada, who was running by him toward first base.

Joe Torre said, after the game, his team left everything on the field when interviewed by Kevin Kennedy of FOX Sports. I have to disagree with Torre on this one. I think his team left it all on the field back on October 16th when Aaron Boone hit Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball over the left field wall to beat the Boston Red Sox in the 11th inning of Game 7. That blow propelled the Yankees into the World Series. Yeah, the Yankees were in the 99th World Series, but mentally I think they felt they had already won their World Series by eliminating their oldest and fiercest rival. Emotionally, the Yankees never recovered from that grueling ALCS.

This was a painful series to watch as a Yankees’ fan. Too few memorable moments compared with the heartbreakers. I will never forget Roger Clemens walking off the mound after striking out Luis Castillo in the 7th inning of Game 4. It was a perfect ending to an illustrious career. Who could forget Ruben Sierra’s game tying triple in the top of the 9th inning of Game 4 to send the game into extra-innings? There was the exceptional pitching by Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina. However, these are pretty meager memories to hold onto.

The heartbreakers were the seemingly countless times there were leadoff hits and no one could advance or score a runner. The offense could not seem to put two hits back-to-back. There were the endless strikeouts by Yankees’ batters, Nick Johnson getting picked off at third base, Jeff Weaver giving up the game winning home run to light hitting Alex Gonzalez, the errors, the lack of emotion, the quiet Yankees crowd in Games 1 and 2. I felt like I was being led down the aisle by my team only to be jilted and left at the altar. So much expectation and so little delivery. Like I said, a painful series to watch.

Now comes the off-season. I have a feeling the team we saw leaving the field tonight is infinitely different than the one we’ll see Opening Day in 2004. George Steinbrenner hates to lose. He will look for scapegoats. He will look for villains. His brand of justice will be swift, but not too merciful. It has been three years since his team has climbed the mountain. There will be retribution.

Again, congratulations to the Florida Marlins on their hard earned victory on the field. But to paraphrase the infamous cyborg played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator, “We’ll be back.”

PLAY BALL! ……… But we’ll have to wait until 2004.


(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

The Eleventh Inning!

Failure to score in Game 4, bases loaded
situation turns series fortunes in favor of Marlins


As I watched a complete Yankees collapse during Game 5 of the World Series my mind kept wandering back to Wednesday’s Game 4. This was for several reasons. First, I kept thinking about it being Roger Clemens’ last start as a major league performer. Secondly, I thought about the wonderful and classy sendoff the Florida Marlins and their fans gave the Rocket as he walked off the mound at the end of the 7th inning. Flashbulbs were going off like crazy as fans hoped to capture a little of the essence of the future Hall-of-Famer.

Those were the memorable parts of Game 4 that I will treasure forever. Like a lot of you I video-taped the Rocket’s last game. However, my most vivid memories of this game had nothing to do with Roger Clemens. My clearest memory is about something that didn’t happen long after Roger exited the game. My most frustrating memory is the top of the 11th inning.

When the Rocket left the game after the 7th inning he was trailing 3-1. That was due to a rocky first inning when Clemens gave up 5 hits and 3 runs to put his team behind early. It almost looked like he wasn’t going to make it out of the inning. Nevertheless, Roger gutted it out and kept the score at 3-0. From the 2nd inning through the seventh Clemens completely dominated the Marlins. They managed only 3 more hits and no runs and as if to punctuate his performance and career Clemens struck out Luis Castillo with a blistering 96 mph heater to end the 7th inning.

The Yankees lineup, which has had very little to write home about in this series, did very little against Marlins’ starter Carl Pavano. In the eight innings Pavano pitched he limited the pinstripers to 7 singles and a single run. That run scored in the 2nd inning when Aaron Boone’s sacrifice fly got Bernie Williams home from third base. It is interesting to note that the Yankees had the bases loaded, with no outs, in the second inning and could only manage the one run.

With the score still 3-1 at the top of the 9th inning Yankees’ fans in Pro Player Stadium and watching the game on their televisions rubbed their rosary beads, crossed themselves, prayed, cajoled and even cursed the team to do something. And something did happen. Ugueth Urbina, Florida’s closer relieved Pavano at the start of the 9th inning. Urbina got Jason Giambi to fly out to left field before running into trouble. He surrendered a double to Bernie Williams and then walked Hideki Matsui. The next man, Jorge Posada, grounded out to second, but his grounder allowed Williams to move to third base, but forced Matsui at second. Manager Joe Torre made his moves of the game. He called upon Ruben Rivera to pinch hit for Karim Garcia and David Delucci to pinch run for Posada. As runners stood on first and third Urbina hung a pitch over the plate and Rivera pounced on it. He tripled to right field, scoring Williams and Delucci. Miraculously the Yankees had tied the score. The magic stopped there. Sierra was standing on third base, 90 feet away, representing the go-ahead run when Aaron Boone (batting a buck fifty) grounded out to Alex Gonzalez to end the threat.

Jose Contreras, who had entered the game in the 9th inning in relief of Jeff Nelson, who had pitched a scoreless eighth, kept the Marlins off the scoreboard in both the 9th and 10th innings. This set up the Yankees to go ahead in the 11th inning. And for a while it looked like it was meant to be.

The Yankees faced Chad Fox and Bernie Williams greeted him with a leadoff double. Fox walked Hideki Matsui and then David Delucci sacrificed the runners to second and third with a bunt. With one out, Fox walked Juan Rivera intentionally to load the bases. Marlins’ manager Jack McKeon, known as “Trader” Jack pulled Fox at this point and inserted Braden Looper. The first batter Looper had to face was Aaron Boone. The anxiety level in the park and around the country for Yankees’ fans was excruciating. Boone, who had delivered the game winning walk off home run against the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 ALCS, had several options. Work a walk, get a hit or hit a grounder to the right side of the diamond or sacrifice fly a ball to the outfield. Any of those scenarios would have scored Bernie Williams from third base.

While this drama was setting up the Yankees had Jeff Weaver and Mariano Rivera warming up in the bullpen. Although I’m not Joe Torre I could see his thinking. Get the lead, go with Rivera. Close out the Marlins. Take command of the series 3 games to one. Keep in mind that Rivera had pitched two scoreless innings the night before in Game 3. Rivera was only coming in if the Yankees had the lead.

Unless you were deep in some third world country, you all know what happened. Looper kept coming inside to Boone with sinker balls and eventually got him to strike out with a pitch up and in. From my vantage point it looked to me like Boone swung at a ball out of the strike zone. That’s neither here nor there. Boone swung, struck out and failed to do his job in a critical situation. Looper then ended the Yankees’ threat by getting replacement catcher John Flaherty to pop out to the third baseman. With the score still tied, Torre went to Jeff Weaver to pitch the bottom of the 11th inning.

Weaver, who hadn’t pitched since September 24th, entered the game with a ton of baggage. He has had as terrible a year as a pitcher can have in the Bronx. His 6-9 record with an ERA of .599 didn’t make any of us feel very confident with his entry into the game. However, Weaver pitched an economical, scoreless, 1-2-3 inning, which allowed the Yankees one more shot at putting this game to bed.

The Yankees, like I said, ran out of magic in the 9th inning when they tied the game. Weaver went back to work in the bottom of the 12th inning after the Yankees went down in order in their half of the frame. The first batter he faced was shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez was batting .143 as he stood in against Weaver. He battled Weaver to a 3-2 count. Then, in a scene that has become all too familiar to the Yankees’ and their fans Weaver grooved a fastball that Gonzalez connected with and he lined it over the left field wall near the 330 foot sign for a game winning, walk-off home run.

Weaver took the loss, but in my opinion, the real loser was the Yankees’ offense. The fact they failed to score only one run in two bases loaded situations borders on the criminal. You cannot fail to score when those opportunities present themselves. In the playoffs and specifically the World Series if you don’t score you don’t win.

The Yankees as of this writing also lost Game 5 and now trail the Marlins in the series three games to two. They are now forced to go home to Yankee Stadium and sweep the Marlins in order to win their 27th world title. Fortunately, they have Andy Pettitte (Game 2 winner) and Mike Mussina (Game 3 winner) scheduled to pitch the final two games, if necessary. Unfortunately for the Yankees, the Marlins have already proven they can win in Yankee Stadium as they took Game 1 to start the series.

If the Yankees lose this series they have no one to blame but themselves. In 5 games they have left 73 runners on base. I don’t know what the record is for 5 games, but the Yankees have to be close. If the Yankees lose this series they can point back to the 11th inning of Game 4, when they failed to get the go-ahead run home, which allowed the Marlins to tie the series 2-2 instead of trailing 3-1. The Yankees, who were overwhelming favorites to win this series, now come home on life support. Let’s hope the Marlins don’t pull the plug.

PLAY BALL! …….. I hope


(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

The Rocket Deserved Better!

Rocky first inning and lack of
offense leaves Clemens without win


Oh, what Roger Clemens wouldn't give to have that first inning back. In what was billed as his last major league start Clemens labored in the inning, giving up 5 hits and three runs. He threw 42 pitches with only 25 of them for strikes.

Roger Clemens settled down after that and completely dominated the Marlins for 6 innings. In those innings he only gave up 3 hits and no runs. The best the Yankees' offense could do was score one run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Boone. The bases were loaded at the time and two men were left after the Yanks ran out of outs.

The Rocket did himself proud as he turned in the type of gutty performance that has been a hallmark of his career. He did what he was supposed to do. Keep his team in the game. His offense did not. They didn't score the necessary runs for the Rocket to win. Clemens punctuated his performance by striking out the last batter he faced.

As Roger walked off the mound he received a standing ovation by the Marlins crowd. They were watching a legend walking off the mound for the last time. Even the opponents stood and saluted the Rocket. Clemens came out for a curtain call and then left for the evening.

Marlins pitcher Carl Pavano was tough, very tough on the Yankees. He completely hog tied the Bombers allowing only the one run on 7 hits. He left the game after the 8th inning with a 3-1 lead.

Unfortunately, for the Fish and Pavano Marlins' closer Ugueth Urbina gave up a one out double to Bernie Williams, a walk to Hideki Matsui and allowed a sacrifice bunt by David Delucci. Williams and Matsui moved up on the bunt, setting the stage for pinch-hiter Ruben Sierra.

Sierra came to the plate and delivered a triple scoring both Williams and Matsui. The Yankees failed to score Sierra as Boone grounded out to end the inning.

Although Clemens didn't leave the game a winner, thanks to Ruben Sierra's timely hit he didn't leave the game a loser either. The Yankees and Marlins continued battling through the 10th, 11th and 12th innings.

The 11th inning, in my opinion, was the Yankees downfall. The Bombers loaded the bases with one out. Aaron Boone struck out and catcher John Flaherty popped out to left field to end the Yankees' threat.

Jeff Weaver, who hadn't pitched since September 24th, entered the game for the Yankees in the bottom of the 11th. Weaver who has had a terrible 2003 season had an easy 1-2-3 inning allowing the Yankees to come to bat in the top of the 12th inning. However, New York, again, failed to score and Jeff Weaver took the mound to face Marlins' shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

Gonzalez batting just .143 in the series worked Weaver to a 3-2 count. And in a situation that has become all too familiar to the Bombers and their fans Weaver unleashed a sinkerball that Gonzalez connected with. He hit a low liner over the left field wall near the 330 foot sign. The Marlins walked off 4-3 winners and evened the World Series at two games apiece.

Was this the last time we'll see Roger Clemens on the mound? With the series guaranteed to go back to the Bronx for at least Game 6 who knows. Tomorrow's Game 5 is pivotal for both teams. It is now down to a best-of-three games. Although two of the games are scheduled to be played at Yankee Stadium the Yankees don't want to go back home down 3-2.

If there is a Game 7 expect both managers to throw everything they've got at each other. That means, starters, relievers, closers and the chief bottle washer if need be. There is a chance that we'll see the Rocket's glare one more time. If not, thanks for the memories Roger. You will be missed.

PLAY BALL!

(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

MY PLAYOFF MVP? ANDY PETTITTE

Yankees' ace is playoff stopper

Baseball has a lot of trophies. They have one for the best pitcher in the regular season, the best reliever, the best batter, the best fielders, the best manager and so on and so on.

In the post season they have an MVP trophy for the League Championship Series and an MVP trophy for the World Series. However, I think Major League Baseball is missing one. I'd like to call it the OPMVP or the Overall Playoffs Most Valuable Player.

This award would be for the guy who has continually stuck himself in the breach throughout the playoffs. The guy who time and again tells his teammates, "rally around me boys. I'll get you through this." This is for the guy who always steps it up in crunch time and more often than not delivers.

In my mind, after watching the New York Yankees throughout the 2003 playoffs there is only one player who pops into my mind. That player is Andy Pettitte. Pettitte is the guy who has, through his deeds on the field, silently said, "rally around me boys....."

Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series was the starting point for this warrior's remarkable post season. After the Yankees had dropped the first game of the ALDS to the Minnesota Twins manager Joe Torre handed the ball to Pettitte. Andy finished the regular season with a 21-8 record and a 4.02 ERA. He had 180 strikouts against 50 walks. The Yankees knew that if they dropped both games at Yankee Stadium and headed back to Minnesota down 0-2 their playoff run might be short-lived.

Pettitte faced off against the Twins' Brad Radke. In a classic pitchers duel it was Radke who blinked first. The Yankees scored 3 runs to knock Radke out in the 7th inning. Pettitte, in the meantime, had given up only 1 run in 7 innings of work. He had struck out 10, while walking three batters. He only gave up 4 hits. He left the game in the capable hands of Mariano Rivera who shut down the Twins with 2 innings of scoreless relieve to earn the save. The Yankees went back to Minnesota with the series tied 1-1. As we all know by now, unless you've been living in a cave, the Yanks took the next two games in Minnesota to close out the series 3-1.

Knocking out the Twins set the Bombers squarely in the path of their longest and fiercest rival, the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox had been eating the Yankees dust all season long not to mention since 1920 and they wanted to beat the pinstripers in the worst way. They set to accomplishing that task in Game 1 of the ALCS when knuckleballer Tim Wakefield completely baffled the Yankees lineup with a dancing knuckleball. Wakefield and the Red Sox beat the Bombers 5-2.

Once again, Joe Torre gave the rock to Andy Pettitte for Game 2. No way did the Yankees want to go to Fenway Park trailing the Sox 0-2. Although not his sharpest performance, Andy kept the Yankees in the game as he went 6-2/3 innings while giving up only 2 runs on 5 hits. The Yankees finally got to Red Sox starter Derek Lowe for 6 runs and at game's end Pettitte had earned his second playoff victory without a defeat.

Game 6 of the ALCS was played at Yankee Stadium. Due to an earlier rainout that postponed Game 4 Joe Torre had to re-shuffle his rotation and Andy didn't pitch for 5 days. The extra day may have been too much for the Texan as he lasted only 5 innnings , while being rocked by the Red Sox for 4 runs on 8 hits. Pettitte definitely didn't look sharp. The Yankees eventually lost the game 9-6. That tied the series at 3 games apiece. That was the bad news. The good news was the Yankees took Game 7 and the League Championship Series on Aaron Boone's dramatic 11th inning walkoff home run off Boston's Tim Wakefield.

The Yankees were back in their customary, October surroundings. They were getting ready to start their 39th campaign in the 100th anniversary of the Fall Classic. This time their opponent was the Florida Marlins. A team with a combination of young gunslingers and seasoned veterans, led by a crafy, old gambler named Jack McKeon.

The Yankees, obviously suffering from a case of "emotional hangover," came out flat and they fell flat on their faces in Game 1, losing to the Marlins 3-2. There were little highlights from the Bombers that will make it to the forthcoming 2003 season DVD.

For the third straight playoff series the Yankees found themselves down one game to none. For the third straight time manager Joe Torre went with his 21 game winner. Like the old adage, "if it ain't broke don't fix it," Andy Pettitte took the mound for Game 2 of the World Series to try and keep the series in check.

Working on just three days of rest Pettitte was nothing short of masterful. For 8-2/3 innings he kept the Florida Marlins off the bases and off the scoreboard. The only run scored on Pettitte came courtesy of third baseman Aaron Boone who bobbled a routine ball hit to him and he was unable to turn a game ending force play at second base. Pettitte gave up a single to Derrek Lee, which scored Luis Castillo from second ruining the shutout bid. Jose Contreras relieved Andy and got the final out to end the game.

Andy Pettitte, this post-season has been nails. He has gone out in each of the playoff series (ALDS, ALCS and World Series) and restored order. For all the hoopla made about how the Yankees buy all their players and buy championships let's get something straight Andy Pettitte is a home grown product. He has spent his entire career with the Yankees. In the nine years Pettitte has been with the club he has compiled a 149-87 record with a 3.94 ERA. That's a winning percentage of .656, which means Andy wins nearly 2 out of every three games he pitches in. That's money in my humble opinion.

Fifteen days after the final out is recorded in the 2003 World Series Andy Pettitte becomes an unrestricted free agent. Memo to George Steinbrenner: You don't turn out 21 game winners and guys who pitch like Andy Pettitte's pitched in the 2003 playoffs.

You better believe that Andy is my Overall Playoffs Most Valuable Player. And if the Boss has any smarts at all he needs to re-sign this guy. I don't ever want to seem Andy Pettitte pitching in anything, but New York pinstripes. Do you?

PLAY BALL!





(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

Beware: These Marlins are sharks!

Young team continually beats the odds to make it
to the 100th anniversary of the Fall Classic


Well, here we ago again. We are getting ready to watch the 99th rendering of the World Series. You have the perennial New York Yankees facing the upstart Florida Marlins. This will be the Yankees 39th such trip and the Marlins second. Both teams sport the title of “former world champions.” Only the Yankees have won it 26 times and the Marlins once. That was in 1997 when then owner Wayne Huzienga paid huge bank to field a team of all-stars to beat the Cleveland Indians in 7 games for their first ring. The next year Huzienga gutted the team and eventually left town. There are still wanted posters with his face on them floating around southern Florida.

The odds-makers have made the New York Yankees heavy favorites to beat the Marlins in this latest edition of the Fall Classic. Most sports writers, except those in Florida, give the Fish little chance of knocking out the “evil empire.” The only difference in opinions appears to be in how long it will take the Yankees to win it all. Such locker room wall material only inspires the Marlins to play better. The bigger the underdog the better motivation for the Marlins.

Let’s go over a few forgotten, but very significant facts. In the second half of the 2003 season the Marlins posted the best record in major league baseball. They went 42-25. That’s a .627 winning percentage. The Marlins beat the Phillies head-to-head in the waning days of the season to grab the wild card slot for post-season. It almost appeared unfortunate as their first-round opponent was none other than the defending National League champion San Francisco Giants. That meant facing Barry Bonds, Jason Schmidt and company. Last year the Giants came within one game of winning the 2002 World Series and they wanted to go back this year very badly.

However, the Fish had different ideas. After losing the opening game of the NLDS 2-1 at PacBell (soon to be SBC Park) the Marlins reeled off three straight victories to eliminate the “favored” Giants 3-1. The first obstacle was overcome and vanquished and Florida moved on to the NLCS. Their next opponent, the Chicago Cubs, had a few heavyweights on their team as well. Sammy Sosa, the future hall-of-famer, was in the house and was backed by two of the best pitchers in major league baseball today. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. As the wild card team, the Marlins had to start out on the road again. They entered the hallowed grounds of Wrigley Field to play the “favored” Cubs. So what did the Fish do? They took Game 1 in a nail biter 9-8. The outraged Cubs, said we’ll see about that and beat the Marlins in the next three games to go up 3-1 in the series. Now, Florida was facing the possibility of playing three elimination games. If they stumbled once their season was over.

In the history of the LCS only three teams have ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. They were the 1985 Royals (beat Cardinals in World Series); the 1986 Red Sox (lost to Mets in World Series) and the 1996 Braves (lost to Yankees in World Series). Once again, the Florida Marlins overcame the odds and won those three elimination games. Two of those games were at Wrigley Field. These guys earned their ticket to New York to face the Yankees.

Listen, to what Florida Manager Jack McKeon says. “Nobody gave us a chance to win the wild card; we did that. They said we couldn’t beat the Giants; we did that. We didn’t have a chance against the Cubs with Kerry Wood and Prior. We accomplished that feat. Here’s the next level.” McKeon said that his club goes out and plays nice and loose and relaxed. They let the pressure fall to their opponent. Yankees’ manager Joe Torre discounts what the odds-makers say. “They beat two dynamite teams to get to the World Series, and especially the Cubs. To come back from a 3-1 deficit and beat their two best guys on their home turf the last two games, their confidence is sky high.”

The Yankees, coming off a 7-game dogfight over their own in beating the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, have reason to be confident too. They twice beat Boston’s best pitcher to earn their ticket to the Mecca of baseball. Now it comes down to a 7-game season. All of the previous wars are thrown out the window and the Yankees and Marlins start even. It’s Wells versus Penny. Mystique and Aura versus the ghost of Billy the Marlin and World Series veterans versus World Series neophytes. I’m picking the Yankees to win it in 6 games, but I’m not putting any money on it.

PLAY BALL!


(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

THE UNLIKELIEST OF HEROES
Aaron Boone's dramatic 11th inning home run sends
Yanks to the 100th Fall Classic

I don't know about you of all, but I am emotionally drained. This has been as dramatic an American League Championship series as I have ever witnessed. I had so many emotions. I went from confident to frustration to happy to mad to prayerful to sad. I ran the emotional range of feelings. But the one thing I couldn't do is stop watching the game. In the end I held onto my belief that the "curse" was as real as the house I live in. Along the way two titans went hammer and tong for the right to advance to the 100th annual World Series. This is what these two teams played for. The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees locked in mortal combat in the 7th game of the ALCS. It's what the baseball gods and Babe Ruth wanted.

The New York Yankees are the champions of the American League. With their dramatic 11th innning win the Yankees earned their ticket to the 39th World Series in their glorious history. It all came to fruition from the unlikeliest of heroes. More on that later. The Yankees, who were reeling from their Game 6 loss to the Boston Red Sox, were fighting history, the baseball gods and themselves in a classic battle of two fierce rivals.

The game started with all the emotion carried over from Game 3. Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Don Zimmer and Karim Garcia were all in attendance. Everyone knows what happened in Game 3. The throw at the head, the brawl, the throw down, the hatred and rivalry. It was all in the backs of the minds of the players and fans of both teams.

As sharp as Roger Clemens was in Game 3 he was not in Game 7. Pedro Martinez, who was shaky in Game 3 was brilliant for the first 7 innings. It was the Rocket, who had played for 13 years in Boston, who was standing between his former team and their first World Series since 1986. Roger had an easy first inning, but in the second he fell vulnerable to the Red Sox' vaunted offense. Boston scored three runs off the Rocket. The big blow came from Trot Nixon who sent a 2-0 fastball over the left field wall, which gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. The Sox added a run before the end of the inning. In the fourth inning Roger got in trouble again as he gave up a lead off home run to Kevn Millar. After a walk to Trot Nixon and a single to Bill Mueller the Rocket's day was done.

Mike Mussina came in and did an excellent job of damage control. He got out of the 4th inning without giving up another run and pitched a scoreless 5th and 6th innings. Jason Giambi, the silent slugger of the ALCS, connected for the second of his two solo home runs to get the Yankees to within a 4-2 deficit. Felix Heredia and Jeff Nelson combined for a scoreless 7th inning to keep the Bombers close. In the 8th inning David Wells took the mound and in one pitch to David Ortiz the Red Sox erased Giambi's home run and expanded their lead to 5-2. It was looking pretty bleak for the team playing in the "House That Ruth Built".

The Yankees had just six outs left to stem the tide. The Yankees, who hadn't lost a Game 6 and 7 at home since 1926, had their work cut out for them. The bottom of the 8th inning didn't start out well as Nick Johnson (0-4) popped out to Normar Garciaparra. Derek Jeter then doubled to deep right field and Bernie Williams followed with a single to center, scoring Jeter. It was now 5-3. Here's where the Red Sox made their first fatal mistake. Manager Grady Little visited the mound and asked his starter if he wanted to come out. Martnez, who had thrown approximately 115 pitches at that point, said "no." Little left him in. The Red Sox pulled their infield in to hopefully keep a run from scoring. (sound like 2001 to you?) Hideki Matsui then hit a ground rule double, as his ball was touched by a fan along the right field foul line. Bernie had to stop at 3rd base and Matsui stopped at second. Alan Embree replaced Martinez. He faced Jason Giambi, who filed out to center. Embree was replaced by Mike Timlin. Timlin promptly walked Ruben Sierra on an intentional base on balls, which loaded the bases.

With Yankees fans around the Stadium praying and millions more crossing their fingers, like me while watching their TV's, Jorge Posada came to the plate. With the bases now loaded and the Red Sox infield pulled in Posada flared a ball into shallow centerfield that dropped for a double. Both Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui scored on the play. The first of Yankees' fans prayers were answered. Pedro Martinez would not leave the Bronx as a winner. Unfortunately, Alfonso Soriano, who had struck out ehe preivous four at bats, grounded out to end the 8th inning.

Like two classic heavyweights, Boston and New York battled through the 9th and 10th innings. Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' supreme closer, entered the game in the 9th inning and pitched three scoreless innings. The Red Sox countered with their series MVP Tim Wakefield ( Game 1 and Game 4 winner). Wakefield started the 10th inning and kept the Bombers off the scoreboard. After Rivera kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard in the top of the 11th inning the baseball gods and the Curse of the Bambino brought Game 7 to a dramatic finish.

Tim Wakefield took the mound and faced Aaron Boone. It was Boone upon whom the baseball gods and the Babe decided to smile upon. Aaron had only batted .125 in the previous six games. He had no home runs and one RBI in 16 at bats. Wakefield looked in at Doug Mirabelli as if getting a sign, but everyone in the civilized world knew what was coming. A knuckleball. As the ball moved toward the plate Boone homed in on the ball and swung. The ball left his bat and sailed toward the left field corner wall. As left fielder Manny Ramirez helplessly looked up Boone's ball landed about 10 rows into the seats. The improbable had happened. As Wakefield walked off the mound with his head down the Yankees and their fans realized that Aaron Boone had just propelled them into the 100th annual fall classic. The least likely player suddenly became the series biggest hero. In one swing Aaron Boone erased a series of frustration and forever became part of New York Yankees Lore.

I hope the Florida Marlins were watching and paying attention. I hope they saw, first-hand, what was in store for them.
They get the New York Yankees. Along with the team they get their history, their glory and their ghosts. See you Saturday Fish. Get ready to be hooked, gutted and flayed.

PLAY BALL!



(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

$120 MILLION BUST?
Jason Giambi fails when Yanks need him most

I am probably going to anger some people with this article. For that I apologize in advance. I have always been a Yankees' fan. First, last and always I'm in the Bombers' corner. For me it has always been team before player. Long after players in pinstripes come, go or retire I will be a fan of the New York Yankees.

With that being said, I am about to take an individual player to task. That player is Jason Giambi. Yeah, the same Jason Giambi who hit a first inning home run in Game 6 and gave the Yankees a temporary 1-0 lead. Yeah, the same Jason Giambi who failed miserably when the Yankees needed his bat the most. One of a couple of swings of that bat could have sunk the Red Sox' ship. One swing could have put the New York Yankees into the 2003 Fall Classic. That swing never came.

In the fourth inning with the Yankees trailing 4-1 Jorge Posada got a rally started with a single. Five batters later Alfonso Soriano put the Yankees ahead with a two-run double. With the score now 5-4 and Alfonso Soriano standing on second base, Derek Jeter walked giving Jason Giambi a chance to do something he's had trouble with during the playoffs. That is scoring and/or advancing runners in scoring position. Giambi was brought to the Yankees because he is a home run hitter and an RBI producer. Giambi, who had been in a prolonged slump, now had a chance to potentially put this game's outome squarely into the corner of the Yankees. However, like Casey at the Bat, Jason struck out.

Now came the sixth inning. With the Yankees leading 6-4 Jason Giambi came to the plate with runners on at second and third and one out. A simple single would have made the score 8-4. A home run would have made it 9-4. Even as tough as Boston is either of those two scores would have been a devastating blow to the Red Sox. But, like Casey at the Bat, Jason struck out.

The Red Sox took advantage of the Yankees' Achilles heel, the frequent inability to score RISP. Give them credit. They battled back from a two-run deficit to lead the Bombers 9-6 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. The Yankees had just 3 outs to make some noise and possibly take this game back from the Red Sox. With the game, and the right to go to the World Series, on the line Jason Giambi lead off the inning. But like Casey at the Bat, Jason struck out.

As I stated earlier, Jason Giambi was given a truckload of money by George Steinbrenner in 2002 for his offense and to get the Yankees to the World Series. Jason did his job the first year as he batted .314, while hitting 41 home runs and driving in 122 RBI. He also did his job in the playoffs as he hit .357 with 1 home run and 3 RBI in 14 at bats. This year Giambi batted 52 points less than his career average. His power numbers were similar as he hit 41 home runs and knocked in 107 runs. However, this year Giambi has been a tank in the playoffs. In the combined ALDS/ALCS Giambi is batting .216 with 1 home run and 3 RBI in 37 at bats.

In the ALCS alone, Giambi has batting a whopping buck ninety with 1 home run and 1 RBI. And guess what? He got that today with his first inning shot. That means that before today Giambi has had no home runs and no RBI against Boston. As a matter of fact Jason Giambi is 6 for 21 with 6 strikeouts. Three of those also came today. Now there have been rumors that Jason is sporting a bum left knee, which is supposed to be operated on at season's end. That knee is the power knee for a left-handed hitter. If that's a real problem for Jason then he needs to go to Joe Torre and tell him he can't go and that he is hurting the team. It's also been rumored that it's psychological. All in his head. If that's true then Joe Torre needs to decide who can best fit into the role of this team's DH during the playoff run.

Tomorrow is do or die for the Yankees and their fans. The Yankees haven't lost a Game 6 and 7 since 1926 and have never succumbed to the Boston Red Sox in that manner. Tomorrow it could happen. Ask yourself this question. It is Game 7. The bases are loaded, with 2 outs and the Yankees are down by a run in the bottom of the ninth. Would you want your team's chances of going to the World Series resting on Jason Giambi at the plate? I know my answer and you live with yours.

PLAY BALL!

(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

PEDRO SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS....YELLOW!

Martinez intentionally hits Karim Garcia after losing lead;
throws Zimmer to ground in 4th inning melee

I am going to go straight to the point of my article. I HATE PEDRO MARTNEZ! Never in my forty-plus years of following baseball and the New York Yankees have I ever seen a more loathsome and despicable player as Pedro Martinez. This guy has issues. This guy is sick and this guy is dangerous.

We all know the history between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. It all started, when in 1920, the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Two years before the Babe helped the Red Sox win the World Series. It would be the last World Series victory for the Sox during the remainder of the 20th century. In fact it has been 85 seasons since Boston has popped the cork on the champaign.

In the meantime, the Yankees, who had never won a World Series, reeled off 26 of them between 1923 and 2000. The change of fortune between the two teams spawned the phenomenon called, "The Curse of the Bambino." Since 1920 it has been Ted vs Joe D, Dent vs Torrez, Munson vs Fisk and so on. The Red Sox and Yankees, over the years, have developed the fiercest rivalry in sports. Let's face it. These two teams don't like each other. Never have. Never will. But, what happened today went way beyond the perceived hatred, competitiveness and history of these two teams.

Both Yankees' starter Roger Clemens and Red Sox' starter Pedro Martinez have always had a reputation for throwing inside. They've also been known to hit a few people along the way. Everyone knows Roger Clemens history with the Red Sox so there is no point in rehashing that.

The Yankees have also had history with Pedro Martinez. Earlier this year in a game in July Pedro Martinez threw inside to both Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter hitting them on the hands. Both players left the game and missed a couple of games after that due to swelling and soreness. Martinez said he was throwing inside to move the players off the plate. Neither Jeter nor Soriano accused Martinez of throwing at them, but you know that thought was in the backs of their minds.

Fast forward to Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS. The site: Fenway Park. The park was packed in a sea of Boston Red Sox Red. Martinez vs Clemens. Clemens was making his last start ever at Fenway. The hype had been playing on TV for days. Who would throw inside first? Who would hit an opposing batter first? The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

In the first inning Clemens was getting pitches up and Boston struck first, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. In the top of the second Jorge Posada doubled off Martinez and Karim Garcia eventually singled him home. In the top of the third, with the Red Sox leading 2-1 Derek Jeter hit a hanging curve ball offered by Martinez up and over the green monster and the score was tied at 2.

Now the game got really interesting. Clemens held the Sox in the bottom of the third inning and the Yankees came back up to face Martinez in the fourth frame. Jorge Posada walked and Nick Johnson followed with a single. Posada moved to third base. Hideki Matsui hit a ground rule double, scoring Posada. The Yankees now led 3-2. Here's where things turned very ugly.

The Yankees' Karim Garcia stood again against Martinez and Martinez let fly a fast ball that headed directly for Garcia's head. Garcia ducked his head as the ball sailed behind him. The ball clipped Garcia on his left shoulder. Garcia popped his head back up and stared out at Martinez. Words then went back and forth between Martinez and Garcia as Karim headed to first base. Alfonso Soriano hit into a double play. As Garcia was sliding into second base he put a little extra into the slide and took out Boston second baseman Todd Walker.

As Garcia headed back toward the Yankees' dugout he continued to bark at Martinez. Other Yankees, including bench coach Don Zimmer, yelled at Martinez from the bench. Martinez, as seen on national television, pointed toward the Yankees' dugout and then to his right temple. You could see him saying, "I'll hit you here." He said it twice. It is unknown if he was pointing at Garcia or catcher Jorge Posada. Zimmer continued yelling at Martinez throughout the inning. Zimmer understands what it's like to be hit in the head with a baseball. In 1953 Zimmer was hit in the head with a pitch and was in a coma for two weeks. He had a steel plate put into his head, which is still there today.

The Yankees went back out to the field for the top of the fifth inning. Roger Clemens was stopped by two umpires and a short verbal exchange took place. You could see Clemens nod his head and pat one of the umpires on the arm. Clemens took the hill to face Manny Ramirez. With tensions already high Clemens threw a fast ball that was high and slightly inside. Ramirez ducked, but the pitch wasn't that close. Ramirez straightened up as Clemens was receiving the ball back from Posada and began throwing "F" bombs at Clemens. Clemens came off the mound toward Ramirez and threw a few "F" bombs of his own. Ramirez began advancing toward Clemens with a bat in his hands. The benches cleared as both teams met near the pitching mound.

Don Zimmer, who also left the bench, sought out one Boston player and that was Pedro Martinez. Keep in mind, Zimmer is an overweight, 72 year old man with two plastic knees. This scary scene was also caught on the cameras. You could see Martinez yelling something at somebody in front of him. Suddenly, Zimmer enters the picture and grabs at Martinez. Martinez back steps, grabs Zimmer by the head and forceably throws Zimmer to the ground. Martinez was then backed away by teammates as order was restored. What the hell were you thinking Martinez? You are a 31 year old athlete at the top of his physical abilities and you throw a grandfather over twice your age to the ground? Yeah, boy, big bad Pedro couldn't just side step an old man. No you got to make sure you grab him by the head and throw him to the ground a la Ty Cobb. Nice going you jerk.

Pedro Martinez is a coward. A coward who uses the designated hitter rule as a shield. He blantantly hits opposing batters, especially those wearing pinstripes, and then goes off to the sanctity of his dugout to smirk. He knows he doesn't have to worry about someone throwing at him. Funny how you never did that in the National League isn't it Pedro?

Pedro Martinez is now a marked man. He laid hands on a Yankee treasure and sent him to the hospital. Fortunately, all tests conducted on Zim were negative and he was released. I don't think a team of wild horses will keep him out of Fenway on Sunday. But, Pedro, you are a marked man. At some point before you retire the Yankees will exact their revenge. I don't know how or when, but I have faith that it will happen. I live for that day you classless punk.

PLAY BALL!


(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

ROGER CLEMENS: MOMENT OF TRUTH!
Saturday's start will be a defining event in
Rocket's 20 year career

As the bottom of the ninth inning waned into it's final moments in Game 2 of the ALCS the largely pro-Yankees crowd broke into a chant of WE WANT PEDRO! WE WANT PEDRO! FOX Television quickly aimed their cameras into the dugout of the Yankees. Not one of them had a smile on their face. Not one player was joking around and not one player looked relaxed. No one in pinstripes was joining the crowd in their chant. FOX, then aimed their cameras into the dugout of the Boston Red Sox and onto the person for whom the crowd was chanting.

Pedro Martinez, when healthy and on target, is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. Martinez heard the crowd chanting his name and a small, whimsical smile came over his face. It's as if he was silently saying, "be patient. You'll get me soon enough." Saturday afternoon's game between the Red Sox and Yankees will be huge. Both teams go into the game with a victory apiece. The winner gets to go up a leg on the other and will be in command of the series. Granted, there would be four more potential games after this one, but in terms of morale and psychological advantage Game 3 will be of enormous importance.

Right now there is slight pressure on the Red Sox, because they know that Pedro Martinez will only get to potentially pitch twice in this series. A loss by Pedro would put the Red Sox at a definite disadvantage as the Yankees would have the edge in the pitching matchups in Games 4, 5 & 6. The Sox need this game as badly as the Yankees do, but there is one man standing in their way. That man is Roger Clemens.

Clemens is no stranger to the Red Sox or the Fenway faithful. For thirteen years the Rocket donned Red Sox colors and went out and did battle for the team he will be facing Saturday. Clemens won three Cy Youngs while in Boston, but left after the 1996 season when he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Most of the Boston Red Sox fans never forgave Roger for that. They called him traitor and a backstabber. Even, then, Boston GM Dan Duquette said the Roger was in the "twilight of his career." Well, Roger's sun has been setting very slowly ever since.

While in Toronto Clemens won back-to-back Cy Young awards, but he was never able to quench one small fire in his belly. One thing tortured the Rocket and one thing was missing from his trophy case. That one thing was a piece of jewelry that was inscribed, "World Champions." After the 1998 season Roger knew where he had to go to get it. He went south to the New York Yankees. The team he had turned down two years before now took him into their fold, but Roger's exodus from Toronto into New York was anything, but a happy affair. In trading for Clemens the Yankees sent the fans' favorite bad boy, David "Boomer" Wells to Toronto, along with Homer Bush and Graeme Lloyd. The fans blamed Clemens for their Boomer not being in pinstripes anymore. The same Roger Clemens that decked Derek Jeter with a pitch up-and-in was now sitting in the Yankees' dugout.

Over the past five seasons Roger Clemens completely threw himself into the dimension known as "the Bronx Zoo." Clemens slowly, but steadily, won the fans over to his side. Clemens won his ring in 1999, along with the rest of his Yankee teammates, but he wasn't satisfied at stopping there. He wanted another. He went out for the 2000 season and improved on a mediocre 1999 season. He helped the Yankees to another ring, but he still wasn't done yet.

The guy Dan Duquette said was finished showed the baseball world that he wasn't ready to be buried yet. The Rocket started out the season with a 20-1 record. He set a new major league mark for best start by a pitcher. He became the only 6-time Cy Young award winner with his dominating season. Unfortunately, a third world series ring has eluded Roger as the Yankees lost in 7 games to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 series (although Roger won Game 3) and the Bombers were ushered out of the 2002 ALDS by the Anaheim Angels, the eventual World Series champions.

This year Roger added more honors to his distinguished baseball career. He became the latest 300 game winner and finished the season with 310 victories. Good enough for 17th on the all-time list behind Tom Seaver (311 victories). He also became only the third man in baseball history who has struck out over 4,000 batters. He finished his career with 4,099 K's, trailing only Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carleton (4,136).

Saturday, Roger Clemens will be starting, what may very well be his last game. He is facing the man who, for all intents and purposes, replaced him. He is facing Pedro Martinez. Whether or not Roger wins the game will not affect his stature as one of the all-time greatest pitchers, nor will it affect his eventual induction into baseball's Hall of Fame. What it will affect is Roger Clemens himself. Roger Clemens has always prided himself on being a winner. A winner both on and off the field and a winner in life. That is how Roger Clemens wants to walk off the mound. A winner. Saturday will be a huge, defining event in the Rocket's career. Rest assured Yankees' fans he will bleed himself dry trying to accomplish that goal for you, his teammates, his owner, the city his team represents, his family and lastly himself.

The Rocket wants to reach that pinnacle one last time before he rides off into his sunset. This writer thinks he will be ready. You be ready too. Cherish what you see and what you have seen. When Roger Clemens becomes part of baseball's lore you can proudly tell your kids and grandkids "I saw Roger Clemens pitch." We're with you Roger. Now go get those Red Sox and may the Babe be with you.

PLAY BALL!

(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

AN OLD ENEMY VISITS MOOSE!
Three home runs sink Mussina; Yankees

Mike Mussina is a wonderful pitcher. The Yankees were lucky to land him after a successful career in Baltimore. The one knock on the Moose is his propensity for giving the home run ball. In his career Mike Mussina has given up 278 home runs. He gave up 21 dingers this year. However, that was improvement over last year when he surrendered 27.

Tonight, Mussina, coming off a solid performance in Game 1 of the ALDS, started Game 1 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox, as everyone who is a baseball fan knows, are the Yankees longest and fiercest rival. Boston countered Mussina by starting journeyman pitcher Tim Wakefield.

The game started off innocently enough as both Wakefield and Mussina retired the opposite sides 1-2-3 in the first inning. The second and third innings came and went without either the Sox or the Yanks scoring a run. However, in the fourth inning the ghost of Babe Ruth left the building, took a nap or went to the bathroom. Mussina faced Manny Ramirez, who up to this point was batting a buck ninety in the playoffs. Moose threw Ramirez a tough pitch which he hit off the end of his bat to the right side of the mound. The ball took a high bounce and Mussina, coming off the mound, made a leap to snag it. The ball bounced off his glove and rolled between Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson. Soriano tried to scoop it to Johnson for the out, but couldn't come up with the ball. Ramirez was aboard.

The next batter, David Ortiz, wasn't hitting much better than Ramirez. He had only collected his first hit in Game 4 of the ALDS. He finally got a solid hit against the Oakland Athletics pitching staff in the bottom of the ninth inning when he hit a two-run double off the right field wall. Mussina quickly got ahead Ortiz who fell behind 0-2. Mussina tried to peck around the plate and Ortiz kept fouling off or letting pitches off the plate go. He finally worked the count to 3-2 before Mussina grooved one down the middle and into Ortiz' wheelhouse. Ortiz hit a monster shot into the upper deck in right field and the Red Sox led 2-0.

The Yankees offense continued an anemic performance and went quietly in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth inning the Moose, again, took the hill. The first batter he face was Todd Walker. Walker promptly homered to right field and the score was 3-0. There was a bit of a controversy as first base umpire Angel Hernandez ruled that Walker's shot had gone just foul to the right of the foul pole. However, the Sox appealed and home plate umpire Tim McClelland overruled Hernandez and awarded Walker the home run. Replays of the hit confirmed that Walker's ball did, indeed, hit the foul pole. The score was now 3-0.

Mussina retired the next two batters, Bill Mueller and Nomar Garciaparra, before facing Manny Ramirez again. Ramirez, who collected four hits on the night, didn't disappoint his teammates as he took the Moose deep for the third time making the score 4-0. Mussina lasted just 5-2/3 innings as the damage was done. With the Yankee offense collecting a total of 3 hits on the night three home runs were more than enough to win the first game of the Championship Series.

Tim Wakefield, pitched a great game. His knuckleball, when working, is one of the nasitest pitches in baseball. It was working. The Yankees could only manage 2 hits off Wakefield in 6 innings of work. He left the game with two runners on. Reliever Alan Embree gave up a double to Jorge Posada who scored from second base. The Yankees' second run was scored when Hideki Matsui knocked in Bernie Williams from third base with a sacrifice fly. That was the extent of the Yankees offense.

Maybe Mike Mussina and the Yankees had too much rest, while Boston, coming off a tough five-game series with the Oakland Athletics, were a little more battle hardened. Whatever the reason, the Red Sox looked ready to play. The Yankees looked ready for a nap.

Tomorrow night the Yankees send Andy Pettitte to the mound. Pettitte pitched a bleed stopping game in Game 2 of the ALDS to help the Yankees even the series at one apiece with the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees are now in that same situation and Andy will need to muster up another bandaid. The Yankees don't want to leave the Bronx and go to Fenway Park down two games to none. And while they're at it, the offense might want to call on Jobu of "Major League" fame to get their bats going.

That's all for now. See you for Game 2. Go Yankees.....please!

PLAY BALL!

(c) 2003 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates

OAKLAND EARNS THE GOLDEN SOMBRERO
Boston advances to ALCS as A's are eliminated from playoffs
Oakland fails in 4th straight attempt to advance to Championship Series

Do you remember some really bad movies that were so bad you could replay them over and over in your head? Watching the Oakland Athletics play in the A.L Divisional Series is just like that. It's like a bad movie replayed over and over and over.

For the fourth time in as many years the A's were eliminated from the ALDS. Their latest conquerer is the Boston Red Sox. The Sox put their best pitcher on the mound and the Athletics countered with the best pitcher they had left. It was Pedro Martinez vs Barry Zito. Whoever's team won would advance to the Championship Series and face the New York Yankees.

As usual everything started out great for the Athletics. They won both games at home to start the ALDS and traveled confidently to Boston knowing they had only one more to win. One more and the curse that had been dogging them for the past four years would finally be broken. Yeah right.

Game 3 turned out to be a comedy of errors. The Athletics, who had played so brillantly at home, looked inept in this pivotal game. Ted Lilly took the mound and pitched the game of his life. He threw seven strong innings and left the game having not surrendered an earned run. Lilly did his job, but some of the other guys wearing his uniform did not.

Down only 1-0 going into the sixth inning the Athletics started coming to life. Oakland's Eric Byrnes singled off Boston's Derek Lowe, stole second and went to third on a grounder. Miguel Tejada then hit a weak roller which was fielded by Lowe who fired to his catcher, Jason Varitek. The throw was offline and Byrnes who was barreling into home crashed into Varitek. The collision caused Varitek to drop the ball. Byrnes, who hurt his knee on the play, was limping around in pain. He didn't realize two things. One, that Varitek had dropped the ball and two, he hadn't touched home plate. Varitek simply picked up the ball and tagged Byrnes out. It didn't stop there.

Eurbial Durazo and Miguel Tejada advanced to third and second on the play respectively. Next, Nomar Garciaparra misplayed a grounder allowing Durazo to score. Tejada rounding third ran into third baseman Bill Mueller. Instead of continuing toward home plate Tejada stopped and argued that he was obstructed, thereby, getting himself tagged out. The umpires ruled that if Tejada had been thrown out at home, because of the interference the out would have been nullified. However, since Tejada stopped of his own accord any consequence the obstruction had caused was thrown out the window and Tejada was out.

Now let's go back to the second inning. The Athletics caught Boston's Bill Mueller in a rundown between home and third. With Mueller retreating toward third base and catcher Ramon Hernandez in hot pursuit third baseman Eric Chavez called for the ball. Hernandez waited until Mueller was right on top of Chavez before lobbing it to Chavez. Mueller crashed into Chavez who was between Mueller and the third base bag. The umpires, again, ruled interference and awarded Mueller home plate. It was the only run scored by the Red Sox while Lilly was pitching.

To cut down on this sad tale let's go to the 11th inning as both teams were locked into a 1-1 tie. With Rich Harden on the mound for the A's Trot Nixon whacked a two-run home run to end the evening with a 3-1 Red Sox win.

No problem Oakland thought. We're still up two game to one. Well, the baseball gods have a funny way of doing things. The Athletics started Game 4 with one of their potent triumvirate, Tim Hudson, on the mound. Things started off swimmingly for Oakland as Hudson set the Sox down 1-2-3. Hudson came out to start the second inning. He threw a couple of warmup tosses and all of a sudden his infield, manager and trainer were standing around Hudson. Seconds later, Hudson walked off the mound and into the Athletics' dugout. He was done for the day. Later, we were told Hudson had strained his left oblique.

The Athletics played a valiant game. They were able to manufacture a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth when, once again, disaster struck. Oakland's pitching had handcuffed both Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in the first three games. In fact, Ortiz had not collected a hit in almost four games. With Nomar Garciaparra (double) and Ramirez (single) occupying the corners Ortiz came up to face closer Keith Foulke. Foulke threw Ortiz a changeup, which Ortiz promptly deposited off the right field wall for a double. Both Garciaparra and Ramirez scored and suddenly Oakland trailed 5-4. That is where the game ended.

Sound familiar now? That game was the eighth time the Oakland Athletics had a team on the brink of elimination and couldn't close the deal. Now the series shifted back to Oakland for Game 5. The winner advances to the ALCS and the loser goes fishing. Unfortunately for the A's history wasn't on their side.

The Athletics were doomed. Boston knew it. After Oakland took the first two games of the series Red Sox manager Grady Little said that the Athletics had better sweep his team or they would be sorry. Oakland started Barry Zito who was pitching for the first time on three days rest. Boston looked to their ace Pedro Martinez to guide them. Zito pitched five scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth. Powered by Manny Ramirez' 3-run home run the Red Sox scored four runs in the frame and took a commanding 4-1 lead.

Oakland, to their credit, whittled away at Boston's lead. They scored once in the bottom of the sixth and once in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the score 4-3. It set up a dramatic ninth inning. The Red Sox failed to score in their half of the inning. Oakland came up with just 3 outs to salvage their season. The curse, the curse, THE CURSE! Oakland managed to load the bases and with two out and A's fans biting their nails down to the nubbins Terrence Long came to the plate to face Derek Lowe. Lowe, having inherited two runners walked by Scott Williamson, decided to walk one of his own. He now faced Long knowing that with one hit Boston's season would be over, the Curse of the Bambino still in effect and Oakland would finally get out of the first round. But like I said, Oakland was doomed. Terrence Long took a 1-2 pitch from Lowe and was struck out. The Athletics, like Casey at the Bat, stuck out.

The Athletics have now earned the ALDS' version of the golden sombrero or going 0 for 4. The Red Sox, as they did in 1999, live to fight another day after trailing 0-2 in the series. Now they are headed for the Bronx, on a collision course, to meet their century long arch-enemies the New York Yankees. It's cowboy up versus the Bronx Zoo. Will it be another year of frustration for the Red Sox hearing the chant "1918! 1918! 1918," or will they finally break the curse that has been plaguing them for 85 seasons? We'll all know in seven games or less.

As a side note there was a very scary moment in the seventh inning when Red Sox second baseman Damian Jackson violently collided with centerfielder Johnny Damon as both players were converging on a bloop hit into shallow center. Jackson and Damon smacked their heads together, which sent both players crumpling to the ground. Jackson tried to sit up, but Damon didn't move. Medical help arrived and Damon, who had been knocked unconscious, began responding. The placed Damon onto a gurney and loaded him into an ambulance. Jackson, although wobbley, walked off the field with a little assistance. The preliminary finding from the hospital as reported by the FOX broadcast team was that Damon had suffered a concussion. He was to be kept in the hospital, overnight, for obsrevation. No one wants to see something like that and I am thankful it didn't end up any worse that it did.

That's all for now.....See you Wednesday for Game 1

PLAY BALL!

ALCS HERE WE COME!
Yankees Beat Minnesota in ALDS 3-1;
await winner of Oakland-Red Sox series

On Wednesday night the Minnesota Twins left Yankee Stadium with plenty to be happy about. They did what they set out to do, which was to gain at least a split in the Yankees' home park. They accomplished that in Game 1 with a 3-1 victory. The Yankees made misplays and looked as old as anyone could remember. The Yankees came back in Game 2 by beating the Twins 4-1 behind a bleed stopping performance by Andy Pettitte. However, the series was tied and Minnesota had home field advantage as the next two games were to be played in the friendly confines of the Metrodome. The Twins felt that the crowd noise would strike a little fear into the Yankees. Silly boys!

What the Twins forgot was that the New York Yankees play in front of the most fickle, noisy, critical and intimidating crowd in baseball. Ask Jason Giambi. Booed one minute and cheered like a conquering hero the next. After a day off on Friday, manager Joe Torre handed the ball for Game 3 to his elder stateman, Roger Clemens and told him to go forth. And go forth the Rocket did. Clemens, who at 41 should be sitting in a rocking chair, completely dominated the Twins. In 7 innings he only allowed only one earned run and five hits, while striking out 6 and walking one. Mariano Rivera, the Yanks ace closer, came in for the last two innings and slammed the door in the Twins face. The Yankees offense did just enough to help the Rocket win as Hideki Matsui hit a two-run home run in the 2nd inning, which were all the runs the Yankees needed enroute to a 3-1 victory.

With the Yankees up in their series 2 games to 1 Torre relied on his second oldest statesman, David Wells. Boomer took the rock and continued where Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens left off. Wells gave up only one run on eight hits, while fanning five and walking none as the Yankees took the final game in the series by pounding the Twins 8-1. The offense was lead by Alfonso Soriano (2-4, 2RBI), Nick Johnson (1-4, 2 RBI) and Derek Jeter (2-4, RBI). It could have been much worse as the Bombers left 12 men stranded.

The Yankees now travel home to New York City to await the winner of the Boston Red Sox-Oakland Athletics series, which is tied at 2 apiece. The Sox, who were down 2-0 to the A's, got the series even today with a come from behind 5-4 win. It is now Oakland who is feeling the pressure. They are one game from being ushered out of the ALDS yet again. This would be the fourth year in a row the Athletics would be "one and done."

I'm sure the Yankees will tell you they don't care who they face, but don't be fooled. Just like any true Yankees' fan they want the Boston Red Sox. Why? Because they are our fiercest rival and you want the Yankees to re-introduce the Sox to the "curse of the Bambino." We only have until tomorrow night to find out.

PLAY BALL!

THANK YOU ANDY!

This is going to be short and sweet. Memo to George Steinbrenner: Re-sign Andy Pettitte.

If you ever wondered what it would be like for a pitcher to put a team on his back and say, "follow me boys," then look no further than tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins.
Andy Pettitte proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is a New York Yankee, through-and-through. One of Joe Torre's soldiers who stood up to the test and passed with flying colors.

The all powerful, vaunted, New York Yankees were on the ropes. The Minnesota Twins came into Yankeeland and punched the pinstripers right in the nose, drawing blood. The Twins, who have used the underdog role to their advantage came into Yankee Stadium and stole Game 1 of the ALDS with a 3-1 victory. But, in reality, two teams beat the Yankees Tuesday night. The Minnesota Twins and the NEW YORK YANKEES!!!!

Sloppy defense and no offense gave the Twins a 3-0 lead going into the 9th inning of Game 1. The pinstripers scored their meager, single run in the bottom of the inning to make the final score 3-1. The Yankees looked old, tired, ineffective and disinterested. The Yankee faithful were in shock. For the first time I can ever remember Bernie Williams got booed.

Suddenly, the Yankees, who had the tied the Atlanta Braves for the best record in major league baseball, was down to the upstart Minnesota Twins one game to none in the ALDS.
Oh-oh Yankees' fans thought. This was starting to look like 2002 all over again. The Yankees were going to bow out of the ALDS for the second time in two years.

Not so!!! Andy Pettitte, the 7th Calvery in pinstripes, dug in and kept the Twins' hounds at bay. Andy pitched 7 of the most important innings in Yankees' history Thursday night. He kept his team in a 1-1 tie until the Bombers unlimbered their bats in the bottom of the 7th inning and scored 3 times to take a 4-1 lead going into the 8th inning.

Manager Joe Torre, not wanting to take any chances at all, gave the rock to his closer. Mariano Rivera came into the game at the start of the 8th inning and totally dominated the Twins' hitters in the last two innings. The Yankees left the yard with a 1-1 split in the best-of-five ALDS. None of it would have been possible without the throughly gutty performance by Andy Pettitte. He, alone, kept the Yankees from leaving New York down 2-0 in the ALDS. Now it's a best-of-three affair. My money is on the Yanks.

Oh, by the way, as I said at the top of this article, George. I have but, three words for you regarding Andy Pettitte. They are "re-sign your lefty." Twenty-one game winners are hard to find these days. Especially those right under your nose.

PLAY BALL!

WHAT WAS THAT?

Can anybody explain to me what happened today? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? What happened today was unexplainable. The New York Yankees, the most storied franchise in sports history, the twenty-six time world champions got rolled by the Minnesota Twins. The Twins you ask? Are these the same Minnesota Twins the Yankees have beaten the last 13 times they've played them? The same team they beat all 7 times they faced them this year? The answer is YES and NO!

The "Yes" answer points to the name of the team the Yankees' had beaten 13 times out of 13 times over the past two seasons. The "No" answer points to a team that is clearly not the same one the Yankees faced at the beginning of the 2003 season. The Minnesota Twins team the Yankees saw today appeared more determined and had a stronger will to win than their pinstriped counterparts. They collectively outpitched, out-defensed and outhit the Bronx Bummers.

Case in point. The Yankees' numbers 2, 4 and 5 hitters (i.e. Nick Johnson, Jason Giambi and MVP wannabe Jorge Posada) combined for an 0 for 12 afternoon at Yankee Stadium. The number 1 and 3 hitters (i.e. Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter) combined for 4 for 8. What can you conclude from this? How about no timely hitting and no runs scored. Basically, missed opportunities. The Yankees were 0 for 10 with RISP. Now that we know the offense stunk, let's look the defense?

Although, the official line says the Yankees only committed one error those who either listened to or watched the game know different. The Yankees sloppy offense cost Mike Mussina 3 earned runs. Three runs that, personally, I don't think should have been scored as "earned." In the 3rd inning the Twins' Shannon Stewart singled to left field. OF Hideki Matsui gathered up the ball and fired it to 3B Aaron Boone who was waiting to tag an approaching Cristian Guzman. As replays, photos and satellite images showed Matsui's throw was clearly ahead of Guzman. So what happened? Boone allowed Guzman to slide into 3B under his tag. Guzman was safe. It was a terrible play by Boone. It wasn't scored as an error, but that is exactly what it was. As sure as Murphy's Law exists Cristian Guzman scored to put the Twins ahead 1-0.

The Yankees weren't done with their (cough, cough) stellar play. With one on in the sixth inning Torii Hunter smacked a ball to center field where Bernie Williams used to reign supreme. The old Bernie, the one that could fly like the wind, would have kept Hunter's knock down to a single. However, the new Bernie, the one with a reconstructed knee, took a bad angle to the ball and looked on helplessly as the ball skirted by him. Hunter was given a gift triple. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that Minnesota had a runner on who scored. Although, not officially an error it was a mistake by Williams just the same.

The play wasn't finished. As Hunter approached third base Alfonso Soriano, whose glove the ball ended up in, threw wildly to Boone and the ball went into foul territory. Soriano's poor throw allowed Hunter to score. Officially, that was the only error the Yankees had all day, but we know different. The Yankees know different. Everyone in the known world knows different. The Yankees' mental mistakes and lack of offense cost them the game.

Game 2 is back in the Bronx on Thursday, October 2nd, and the Yankees cannot give this game away. Clearly, they cannot afford to go to Minnesota down 0-2. The Bombers need this game in the worst way. It is the most important game of their 2003 season. If the Yankees lose Thursday, don't expect a miracle comeback like the one they had against Oakland in 2001 when Derek Jeter's unbelievable play to get Jeremy Giambi out at the plate turned around New York's fortunes.

Simply put, the Yankees are behind the 8-ball. They had better win or resign themselves to lose. Minnesota is a team that relishes the underdog role. It is their battle cry. They love beating the bully of the block. The Yankees have less than 48 hours to prove they belong in the playoffs. Minnesota has drawn the line in the sand.

PLAY BALL!