2001 World Series Game 2 Thread

[NetShrine]

Thoughts? Observations? Comments? Opinions?

I'll start it off with - - - obviously, Game 3 is now must win for NY.

I'm confused though - - - on FOX, they kept saying that Schilling is pitching Game 4 (based on convos with Brenly and Curt) unless the D-backs are up 3-0. On the radio (I was switching back and forth) they (the Yankee announcers) really still seemed to believe that Batista was pitching Game 4.

Regardless, the Yanks looked like a defeated team tonight - - too much whining too - and, the D-backs acted like they wanted it ('tho I also thought they were a little too celebratory at the end of the game - - it is only 2-0.)

And, as good as Johnson was, I thought the Williams' HR was huge. A 1-0 in the 8th makes it a different game, IMHO.

[willyg]

I agree the Yanks did bitch and moan a little too much for my liking last night. The thing is the Yanks (aside from O'Neill) really do not bitch. Last night you were getting it from Bernie, Jeter, etc. That is and has never been their style. Players, not umpires lose games, but Johnson (and Pettitte although not to the same extent) was getting a very generous inside corner on his sliders.

I thought Andy pitched a hell of a game. Sure the final numbers will look very average, 7 IP 4 ER, but Andy did everything (except win) you could ask from your starter. I think McCarver and Buck made a little too much on the bobble by Brosius. Yes he did bobble, yes the throw was a split second late to Soriano, but IMHO Soriano needs to make that play. If you want to get on Brosius for anything get on him for making a thigh high throw to Soriano making him go down and get the ball, I believe that hurt more than the bobble.

*****
Other that that you know what the most depressing thing about this weekend was...

was not pretty boy Sehorn getting torched late in the game by Michael Westbrook for a 76 yard touchdown and the Giants losing their third crappy game in a row.

was not the fact that I did not remember the time change until I was on my way to work this morning, thus allowing my early start at work to begin at 6am instead of 7am.

was not the fact that I went to a friends wedding with an absolute drama queen.

was not the fact that Andy Pettitte hung a pitch and Matt Williams hit it to the moon. Although I cannot empathise how miserable I was at that moment.

The worst moment this weekend came after Williams hit the homerun.

Did any of you see his wife? Good lord, a guy who looks like that should not have a chick that looks like that. Unreal, simply unreal. :rolleyes:

I've always used quotes to make sense out of things. Back in my gambling days in college, it was "it's not whether you win or lose, it's whether you cover the spread". If you ever gambled you know that is true. It is not "turnovers kill ballclubs". Again, so true, you turn the puck/ball/whatever over you will lose, but still not the best quote out there. I think the best line out there was said by former Giant GM George Young. Young put it best when he said "its always about the money." It truly is.

I apoligise for the rant, but I had some things I needed to get out.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by willyg
The worst moment this weekend came after Williams hit the homerun.

Did any of you see his wife? Good lord, a guy who looks like that should not have a chick that looks like that. Unreal, simply unreal.

Willy - gotta laugh at the time change thing. Sorry. Ever wonder why these things happen to you? ;)

On the Williams wife thing - - she's classic Baseball Annie material. Should be no shock. Major big time wannabe actress who was probably an outstanding rent check away from doing porno - - latches onto a recently divorced and insecure millionaire baseball player, and then uses his fame to create a platform for herself. Just saw that she's lined up some work for Disney. Think if she's not married to him and getting her name and picture all over the place as a result that she would get that job?

Did you see her after he hit the HR? The only way she could have hammed it up more would have been to lick the camera lens and then make a swallowing gesture.

If Matt Williams has a big series, I'm sure we'll be subject to her camera shots until we (or at least I) :bigbarf:

They also showed Laura Pettitte at one point - nice, reserved, just sitting there with her baby on her lap.

Williams' wife couldn't keep her studded tongue in her mouth the minute the red light went on. The camera man should have taunted her with some plastic bead necklaces. I'm sure she would have lifted her top for us.

OK, sorry for the :rant: ya'll. This woman (and those like her) really gets on my nerves.

[Duque]

One of these days, Net, there'll be NetShrine Annies :naughty:


Back to baseball - there is a good chance the Yankees could win Games 3 and 4, depending on which Clemens and which Hernandez show up. But that still leaves them with having to beat at least one of the Schilling and Johnson duo, something they haven't even looked close to doing yet. Will Mussina pitch better next time out, now that he's back on regular rest? Sure, but even if he had pitched lights out in Game 1, the Yankees would have had trouble winning the game.

[Yogi#8Fan]

The wife did look veddy veddy pweety I will admit.

As far as the game, Joe blew it. With an amazingly efficient Ramiro Mendoza, who is great at taking down difficult power hitters, waiting and available, I can't figure out why he wasn't used in the 7th, especially since this is the inning Andy tires in. When Andy faced Boston in YS, up came Manny, out came Joe, in came Bull-Doza, grabbing bench goes Manny. It's like a script, but Joe didn't follow this. There were 2 outs when Williams went yard.

That 8th inning rally could've been big, since we'd then have been on the cusp of being on the board and it having been a ballgame, but down 4-0, it's like nothing could've been done. Down 1-0, it's like if 1 or 2 runs score, you knew Mariano would earn his paycheck that day. Even if we'd have lost 1-0 or 2-1, it would've still been better than 4-0. That was the sad part about it, losing what I considered a winnable game.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Duque
One of these days, Net, there'll be NetShrine Annies :naughty:


You mean there's none now?!? :(

Originally posted by Duque
Will Mussina pitch better next time out, now that he's back on regular rest?

If he pitched any worse, he'd had to have his name legally changed to "Kenny Rogers Jr."

[Jen]

Thanks, you guys for making me laugh today. I thought the same porno reference when I first saw her. :rolleyes: :D

Last night's game sucked. Plain and simple. The Yankees sure don't look like they wanna win at all. I hope Torre wupped some ass on the plane back to NY.

My other observation...is it just me or does it seem like the Fox announcers HATE the Yankees and want nothing more than to see them fail? I understand there's an underlying "We're sick of seeing the same people win all the time" vibe but they don't seem to ever have anything nice to say...or maybe I'm just being too sensitive while watching us take a beating. I find myself screaming for Joe Buck to shut up more often than not, though.

[hmrsf]

I am married to the 2001 reigning champ............King of the suck league!:p

There all sorts of perks and privileges.....so try not to be too jealous!:D

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Jen
My other observation...is it just me or does it seem like the Fox announcers HATE the Yankees and want nothing more than to see them fail?

I don't see it Jen - I think the've been OK so far - - 'tho I hate FOX for making us watch Terry and the Boys do football highlights in what should have been the baseball pre-game.

[Jen]

Originally posted by NetShrine

'tho I hate FOX for making us watch Terry and the Boys do football highlights in what should have been the baseball pre-game.

Oooohhh, don't even get me started on that topic. :rolleyes:

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Jen
Oooohhh, don't even get me started on that topic. :rolleyes:

Aw, com'on Jen. Go for it. Letterip!

[willyg]

Sorry to keep changing topics, but I like the Fox NFL weather girl! :p Very, how do I say this . . . , talented. During the auditions for the position I frankly can not see how anyone could be more "knowledgeable" than her.

Anyway enough T&A, back to baseball.

Yogi I think you are a little hasty in you criticism of Joe Torre. Pettitte did not not have a tremendous amount of pitches, he had electric stuff, sure the outcome was did not work out, but I cannot argue with the move. In that game in that situation, in the NL park, keeping Pettitte in was the correct move. I know you have a more than rested pen, but using Mendoza would have been only a 2/3 of an inning stint because of the lineup next inning. Yes I know you have to play to win, but Andy was dominant.

JUst like some fans got on Bobby V last year for going with Leiter after 140+ pitches, I think sometimes the starter earns the right to win or lose the game himself.

[NetShrine]

Agreed Willy - - after Williams, Pettitte blew the next two batters away. He had plenty of stuff left - - just that one pitch that he hung to Williams. He even said it in the post-game - not only did he hang it, but he elevated it for him, right there begging to be ripped.

To Wiiliams' credit, he pounded the snot out of it - - when he very easily could have popped it up.

[jpalexa]

I know that this is primarily a pro-Yankee board, but I have a Diamondbacks question that I'd like some opinions on.

Do you think Brenly should have pulled Schilling earlier in Game One? I mean, Schilling had the huge lead after four...let him pitch the fifth and get him the hell out of there as fresh as possible for a Game Four on three (really, four) days rest. Schilling would have thrown at least 20 fewer pitches. Does that make a difference?

Probably not as critical a question now that Arizona is up 2-0...but they didn't know they would be at the time.

Similarly, do you pull Johnson after he gets the four-run lead? His situation was a little different -- later in the game, score not so lopsided.

I vote for pulling Schilling after five and for riding Johnson as far as he says he can go. Thoughts?

[jpalexa]

Originally posted by NetShrine
On the Williams wife thing - - she's classic Baseball Annie material. Should be no shock. Major big time wannabe actress who was probably an outstanding rent check away from doing porno - - latches onto a recently divorced and insecure millionaire baseball player, and then uses his fame to create a platform for herself. Just saw that she's lined up some work for Disney. Think if she's not married to him and getting her name and picture all over the place as a result that she would get that job?

Did you see her after he hit the HR? The only way she could have hammed it up more would have been to lick the camera lens and then make a swallowing gesture.

If Matt Williams has a big series, I'm sure we'll be subject to her camera shots until we (or at least I) :bigbarf:

They also showed Laura Pettitte at one point - nice, reserved, just sitting there with her baby on her lap.

Williams' wife couldn't keep her studded tongue in her mouth the minute the red light went on. The camera man should have taunted her with some plastic bead necklaces. I'm sure she would have lifted her top for us.

OK, sorry for the :rant: ya'll. This woman (and those like her) really gets on my nerves.

At least Michelle Williams dresses (marginally) better than Kurt Warner's wife -- anybody remember the Trailer Queen outfit she pulled out for the Super Bowl a couple of years back? :topic:

[jpalexa]

Originally posted by Jen


Oooohhh, don't even get me started on that topic. :rolleyes:

Yeah, that, and the Fox TV advertising they were projecting on to the blank green wall behind the batters. Let me watch the freakin' game in peace -- I couldn't give a crap *when* the hell Ally McBeal or Boston Public or any other crappy Fox primetime show is coming back. It is bad enough we have to suffer through McCarver's over-analytical and just plain wrong and insipid drivel....

[satchel]

Originally posted by willyg


The worst moment this weekend came after Williams hit the homerun.

Did any of you see his wife? Good lord, a guy who looks like that should not have a chick that looks like that. Unreal, simply unreal. :rolleyes:

Uh, yeah. He deserves a woman who eats. :rolleyes: I'll never understand this fascination some people have with stick insects.

[satchel]

Originally posted by Jen

My other observation...is it just me or does it seem like the Fox announcers HATE the Yankees and want nothing more than to see them fail? I understand there's an underlying "We're sick of seeing the same people win all the time" vibe but they don't seem to ever have anything nice to say...or maybe I'm just being too sensitive while watching us take a beating. I find myself screaming for Joe Buck to shut up more often than not, though.

I've been finding throughout the playoffs that the Fox announcers have relentlessly licked the buttocks of whatever team happens to be winning.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by jpalexa
Do you think Brenly should have pulled Schilling earlier in Game One? I mean, Schilling had the huge lead after four...let him pitch the fifth and get him the hell out of there as fresh as possible for a Game Four on three (really, four) days rest. Schilling would have thrown at least 20 fewer pitches. Does that make a difference?

Probably not as critical a question now that Arizona is up 2-0...but they didn't know they would be at the time.

Similarly, do you pull Johnson after he gets the four-run lead? His situation was a little different -- later in the game, score not so lopsided.

I vote for pulling Schilling after five and for riding Johnson as far as he says he can go. Thoughts?

Not sure if there's much difference in Schilling's bounce back ability in 5 v. 7 innings? (He did go 7, no?)

Johnson had to stay in that game - it was too close up until the Williams' HR.

[Duque]

McCarver's not so much of a pain when you don't take anything he says seriously. Then he ends up being kinda amusing, in a sorta rambling grumpy old man kind of way, like your grandfather who used to wax about walking to school in his bare feet, uphill both ways.

By the way, Matt Williams's actress wife has starred in such illustrious films as Glimmer Man, the Menendez Brothers Story, and Blame it on Rio. A real Meryl Streep, she is.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by satchel
Uh, yeah. He deserves a woman who eats. :rolleyes: I'll never understand this fascination some people have with stick insects.

Hollywood and the media have us programmed. Just a theory. I know :topic:

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Duque
McCarver's not so much of a pain when you don't take anything he says seriously. Then he ends up being kinda amusing, in a sorta rambling grumpy old man kind of way, like your grandfather who used to wax about walking to school in his bare feet, uphill both ways.

By the way, Matt Williams's actress wife has starred in such illustrious films as Glimmer Man, the Menendez Brothers Story, and Blame it on Rio. A real Meryl Streep, she is.

I always try and look at him as the drunk old man at the end of the bar - he's amuzing then too. Nice work on the filmography - - I still bet there's a porno in there under another name.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Getting back to the question....no lead is big enough so I can't see Brenly taking Schill out after 5. If the Yanks somehow turn that game around on the D'Backs pen, then the whole complexion changes.

[jpalexa]

You're probably right -- I can't see what a difference of ~20 pitches would make after four days. Probably throws varying number of pitches on the side and on game day, anyway.

Just a thought.

[jpalexa]

Originally posted by Duque
McCarver's not so much of a pain when you don't take anything he says seriously. Then he ends up being kinda amusing, in a sorta rambling grumpy old man kind of way, like your grandfather who used to wax about walking to school in his bare feet, uphill both ways.

Ugh. McCarver's horrible. And I can't escape by going to radio -- there I drown in Joe Morgan's vapid babble.

It oughta be a law that Vin Scully does all World Series games.

[Duque]

Originally posted by jpalexa

It oughta be a law that Vin Scully does all World Series games.

I'd love that. Living out here in Southern California for the past year, I get to listen to Scully call the Dodgers games almost every night, and it truly is a privilege. He has just the right balance of commentary and being quiet, and serves as his own color man. And he's obviously been around the game long enough to know a great deal of its intracacies.

There was a newspaper column out here that applauded the Dodgers calling up of Hiram Bocachica, just because they loved listening to Scully say "Bocachica."

[NetShrine]

Everyone I know who has had the chance to listen to Scully on a regular basis says the same thing - he is the best.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Duque
By the way, Matt Williams's actress wife has starred in such illustrious films as Glimmer Man, the Menendez Brothers Story, and Blame it on Rio. A real Meryl Streep, she is.

More on this - kinda funny.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2001/worldseries/news/2001/10/28/pearlman_williams/

Best supporting actress

A star is reborn: Williams' wife relishes role as cheerleader
Updated: Monday October 29, 2001 4:43 AM
By Jeff Pearlman, Sports Illustrated

PHOENIX -- Of late, her credits have not been especially, umm ... well ... uh, good.

Last year, Michelle Johnson played "Fumiko's Girl" in The Replacements, the dreadful Keanu Reeves football flick (If you're curious -- and those with cranial lobes shouldn't be -- Fumiko was offensive lineman Jumbo Fumiko).

Before that, she was "Vicky Mayerson" in Revenge. Which also was released as Eternal Revenge. Which also was released as Fallen Angel. Which probably shouldn't have been released at all.

Dallas: War of The Ewings and When the Bullet Hits the Bone. Incident at Deception Ridge and Menedez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. Her Finy Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter and Birds of Prey.

All are movies that (we swear) exist, and all include the work of Johnson, who found fame 17 years ago as the saucy "Jennifer Lyons" in Blame It On Rio. Cinematic classics? Nope. But a gal's gotta work.

During Game 2 of the World Series, Johnson finally got her vintage starring opportunity.

With one out in the seventh inning, two runners on and Arizona leading 1-0, Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams approached the plate. A Fox TV camera flashed to Johnson, who not only starred as "Tamara" in Dr. Giggles, but is Williams' wife of two years.

She looked nervous. Scared, even. Then, with one strike, Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte threw Williams a cut fastball that didn't exactly cut. BOOM! The ball traveled 412 feet into the left-field stands.

Williams took two steps, then the camera turned back to Johnson. The star of Trabbi Goes to Hollywood could not contain herself. She burst from her chair, smile wide, arms raised, excited as one could be. She screamed. It was dazzling stuff -- the kind of emotion and realism Hollywood can only dream of.

"Oh, I heard about her, but I didn't see it," Williams said shortly after the game, a 4-0 Arizona win. "I'll have to watch the tape at home."

Minutes earlier, Johnson greeted her husband outside the Diamondbacks' clubhouse. She rubbed his bald forehead with her right hand, then kissed him passionately on the lips. It wasn't just a congratulatory peck, but the embrace of two people who, of late, have been through much.

Williams, an original Diamondback from waaaaay back in 1998, is the city of Phoenix's new official whipping boy, courtesy of a second consecutive injury-plagued season and a terrible Division Series against St. Louis, during which he accumulated just one hit.

The negativity, of course, was unfair and unjustified. Williams has been the unofficial Mr. Diamondback since his arrival four years ago. Need a D'back to pose for pics? Here's Matty. Need a D'back to film a public service spot? Here's Matty again. Public speaker? Infield tips? Electric slide? Matty. Matty. Matty.

"There were a lot of times during the course of this season that a lot of people were ready to give up on Matty," said D'backs manager Bob Brenly. "I never was. I know what he's capable of doing. I know what a warrior he is. I will stick by him as long as he wants to play."

Williams has played. And played. And played. Fifteen seasons. Three World Series.

As he fielded questions by his locker, Williams wiped away the dust from his uniform pants. The man Arizonans gave up on was, once again, the star.

Williams, and his wife, too.

[jpalexa]

Originally posted by NetShrine
Everyone I know who has had the chance to listen to Scully on a regular basis says the same thing - he is the best.

Great point. You know, this might be the one reason I break my boycott on listening to games on the Internet via MLB.com.

This might be a good thread topic...Who are the best local/national baseball announcers? Or have we already done that one?

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by jpalexa
This might be a good thread topic...Who are the best local/national baseball announcers? Or have we already done that one?

Go for it. Start one!