2001 World Series Game 1 Thread

[NetShrine]

Thoughts? Observations? Comments? Opinions?

I'll start it off - - - I think the Yankees got very lucky tonight.

They were lucky to have matched up their worst possible offensive performance in the same game where they had their worst possible pitching/defensive performance.

Seriously, to me, as a Yankee fan, it would be worse to lose 2-1 (in a game where your pitcher pitched VERY well but you could only muster 3 hits) or to lose 9-8 (in a game where your offense worked VERY well but you got no pitching and played like crap in the field) than to lose 9-1 in a game where nothing worked for you.

[Duque]

It was ugly. Mussina's stuff looked good, but the 9 or 10-day layoff seemed to affect his command. I've never seen so many hard-hit balls on 0-2 and 1-2 counts.

Btw, I absolutely HATED those two IBBs Torre called.

I'm also sure I jinxed the game - when I was watching for the first 5 innings, the DBacks creamed the Yanks. After the score was 9-1, and I admitted there was no chance they were coming back against Curt Schilling, I abandoned the World Series for The Outlaw Josey Wales. Then the Yanks pen shuts down Arizona for the next 4 innings. I am torn whether or not I should watch the game tomorrow night.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Net - I can't speak for you, so I take your sentiments at face value, but here is my take. Any time you march Mussina out there and come away with a loss, you can't be happy, whether that be 2-1 or 9-1.

I watched very little of the game myself (Mex and I were out having a late dinner), but I suspect that Schilling came out of the game early enough to be fresh for Game 4 is need be. Is that true?

[NetShrine]

Brenly was tight lipped in the post-game on Schilling for Game 4. When asked about it, he gave short answers like "It could" and "It might." Later, he confirmed that the plan is for Batista in Game 4 - but, if something happened to change that, it could be Schilling based on the fact he only threw 102 pitches.

Mussina had no command whatsoever. In his post game, he said he would not use the long layoff as an excuse; but, it could have been the reason why he had no command.

With lines like that, I say he has a future in politics.

Torre had a wild line in the post game - - he was asked if the Diamondbacks scored so often as a result of Mussina missing his spots or them hitting good pitches. Joe's reply was:

"That's like the old question - Do you still beat your wife?"



He later clarified that it's a type of question where either yes or no puts you in a bad spot. If he says they hit good pitches, it's a reflection on Moose's stuff; and, if he says they hit bad pitches, it's disrespectful to the Arizona hitters.

I dunno - - maybe I would have skipped that analogy in a National Press Conference?

Duque - - you were no whammy - - Hitchcock pitched good. Good sign for tonight if Pettitte has his stuff. These guys can be pitched to - - if you have something. Question is - will the layoff hurt Pettitte? Seems to have more impact on control pitchers rather than power pitchers.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Duque
Btw, I absolutely HATED those two IBBs Torre called.

You made me go back and look at them - 'cause I really didn't note them as bothersome while watching the game.

Mark Grace has batted .300 or higher with runners in scoring position in each of the last TEN seasons - - that's the best run of anyone in the bigs.

I would much rather face Miller over him - any day. No issues here with that IBB.

The one to Sanders was related to Choate. No way should you IBB the 4 hitter to get to a 5 hitter. But, Sanders is a RH batter and Finley was a LH batter. LH batters only hit .183 v. Choate this year. Most of the damage v. Choate this year has come off RH batters.

Just one of those nights - nothing worked for Torre.

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
Net - I can't speak for you, so I take your sentiments at face value, but here is my take. Any time you march Mussina out there and come away with a loss, you can't be happy, whether that be 2-1 or 9-1.

I watched very little of the game myself (Mex and I were out having a late dinner), but I suspect that Schilling came out of the game early enough to be fresh for Game 4 is need be. Is that true?

I've heard that Moose has never faced the Snakes, but Curt as a Philly faced the Yankees, having watched his tape against us from 97. Must've worked. He lasted 7 innings, only 1 ER, which was the only run allowed from the Snakes.

Originally posted by NetShrine
He later clarified that it's a type of question where either yes or no puts you in a bad spot. If he says they hit good pitches, it's a reflection on Moose's stuff; and, if he says they hit bad pitches, it's disrespectful to the Arizona hitters.

I dunno - - maybe I would have skipped that analogy in a National Press Conference?

I'd think that hitting bad pitches would be a compliment, since that's what McGwire did in 98 season. He would hit balls you'd need a 9 iron to reach and still hit it over the fence.

As far as Moose's control, I'd say he just got nervous. Too many well over the plate. Andy has done the same, keeping them up way high and they just golfed it like they were Tiger Woods. He needs to just replay that tape of him against Pedro and see what he'd done this. I'd remembered in the last Supe, the Ravens were shown a customized vid of the Gladiators movie and that pumped them up to no end. Not a bad idea.

Curt looked way too much like Jeff Nelson, just throwing his stuff out there, strikes and all. The man had neither hesitation nor mercy. Moose, by contrast, was very slow and deliberate in his windup. Perhaps a little too careful since I feel if you overrespect your opponent, you may lose your edge. I think he was too busy trying to hide the ball (and thereby show which pitch he was tossing) and spot his pitch too perfectly. Curt just put it into play and fooled us a lot by throwing out of the strike zone and our players just swung away anyway. Pathetic.

A learning experience, which like all others, shouldn't be repeated or there shall be a longer fall and winter ahead.

[Duque]

Originally posted by NetShrine


You made me go back and look at them - 'cause I really didn't note them as bothersome while watching the game.

Mark Grace has batted .300 or higher with runners in scoring position in each of the last TEN seasons - - that's the best run of anyone in the bigs.

I would much rather face Miller over him - any day. No issues here with that IBB.

The one to Sanders was related to Choate. No way should you IBB the 4 hitter to get to a 5 hitter. But, Sanders is a RH batter and Finley was a LH batter. LH batters only hit .183 v. Choate this year. Most of the damage v. Choate this year has come off RH batters.

Just one of those nights - nothing worked for Torre.

On further review, you're right. Intentional Walks are just one of those things I'm intrinsically opposed to, like bunting with your #3 hitter.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Duque
Intentional Walks are just one of those things I'm intrinsically opposed to, like bunting with your #3 hitter.

Gotcha. I'm not big on them either - - only when it's a slam dunk, say, when it's the #8 hitter up, with runners on and 2 out, and the pitcher is up next.