2001 World Series Game 3 Thread

[NetShrine]

Thoughts? Observations? Comments? Opinions?

I'll start it off with - - - For the Yankees, it was a must win, an assumed win, and barely a win. Given the latter, something has to be done to get the offense going in Game 4 and thereafter.

Brian Anderson is not Tom Glavine - 'tho, the Yanks made him appear to be that type of pitcher.

[Duque]

Exactly. Being a pessimist, I am not happy with the Yankees performance in Game 3, exempting Clemens, Rivera, and Posada. Knoblauch is not hitting. Martinez is not hitting. For all the stuff we hear about experience in the postseason, Alfonso Soriano has drawn more walks in the playoffs than Knoblauch, Martinez, and Brosius combined (these 3 are just about playing themselves out of a contract next year). The fact that the Yankees managed only two runs off of two of Arizona's worst pitchers (Anderson and Morgan), does not bode well for them the rest of the series. Some lineup shakeups are definitely in order. I always thought a team's best hitters should be bunched together in order to maximize your run scoring opportunities, but Torre's got them all split up. I'd really like to see Jeter-Williams-Posada as a 3-4-5 combination.

That said, the Diamondbacks were completely dominated by Clemens and Rivera. The argument's been made that Roger has never pitched well in a crucial game (i.e. - a game when his team was down). That should be tossed aside after tonight. Hernandez, with his funky windup, could be tough on the NL hitters tomorrow night, but even if the Yanks win Game 4, they've still got to beat one of the Schilling/Johnson tandem, something that they haven't shown any signs of doing.

[NetShrine]

Knoblauch is German for Garlic. Knoblauch is English for Pop-up.

He and Justice have been nada so far - granted, Schilling and Johnson helped on that.

Tonight, v. Schilling - - I would hope that O'Neill is in RF (to start) and that Spencer gets the nod in LF (to start). At least Shane has had some loud fouls - - more than Justice and Knobby can say. Plus, Duque is a fly-ball pitcher and the Yanks could use the glove in the big LF.

Randy Velarde is at his best when batting #2. Plus, it would be nice to get him some ABs before Game 6. If I'm Torre, I'm tempted to go with this line-up tonight:

1. Jeter SS
2. Velarde DH
3. Williams CF
4. Posada C
5. Martinez 1B
6. Soriano 2B
7. O'Neill RF
8. Spencer LF
9. Wilson 3B

Yeah, Wilson in the nine hole - - something different, plus, he gives you some speed leading back into Jeter.

That gives you Knobby, Justice and Brosius on the bench - - but, the way they've played so far, that may be their best spot?

Tonight is HUGE for NY. If they can win, it makes it a best two of three series with these match-ups:

Batista-Mussina
Pettitte- Johnson
Clemens- Schilling (on back-to-back 3 days rest starts).

If this happens, I like the Yankees' chances.

[willyg]

You know as well as I do you are not getting that Game 4 lineup.

The only chance you have is Spencer over Knoblauch in left. Justice has great numbers off Schilling, Brosius, just know Torre is going to go with him.

[NetShrine]

I know Torre will not go this way. I just wish he would. Maybe? You never know? Well, at least I can hope.

All I know is that Jete finally got a hit, Knobby's still a "oh fer" guy and I'm expecting Curt to cut some Z's around the 5th.

I've never heard of a postseason closer working the complete 8th and 9th so we'll see what happens. I say Yankers take this one and since Johnson isn't on for Thursday, Moose should have a great day. Andy will have to face Johnson again. If Joe pulls Andy's hook around the 6th, doesn't take any chances --- and I couldn't care less which baseball wisdom dictates he leaves him in, since I'm entirely bottom line oriented re the score --- I saw we've got a series going.

Losing tonight means backs to walls and absolutely no room for error. That would be beyond awful. I can't see Joe getting outsmarted by a rook.

[Duque]

Originally posted by NetShrine
I know Torre will not go this way. I just wish he would. Maybe? You never know? Well, at least I can hope.

Well, he got two right, putting Jeter at leadoff and Spencer in leftfield. But it looks like he's still stuck in '98 - he splits up his best hitters (Jeter, Williams and Posada) with guys that can't hit Schilling's fastball (O'Neill, Martinez, and Justice). Justice, in particular, looks particularly brutal at the plate. I don't know if he's even hit a foul ball, and O'Neill looks totally overmatched.

You're right about Velarde - he hit really well when in Texas because he hit in front of Alex Rodriguez, and got a ton of fastballs.

[Duque]

Btw, was I the only one annoyed by Joe Buck yakking about how Roger Clemens didn't look "comfortable" on the mound in the 3rd inning?

Of course, followed by one of FOX's insta-polls.

[NetShrine]

Yeah Duque - if I was Tim M., I would have said "Gee, I've only watched him pitch about 20 times this year. You would know better."

Justice was 0 for 8 with 8 Ks until his gift INF 1B tonight. Brutal indeed.