Hold up, hold up: It's not over yet. You think the Yankees are done? Just sit back down; they're not going anywhere. Yeah, I saw Randy Johnson strike out about 47 guys Sunday night. Yeah, Curt Shilling is having one of those the-planets-are-all-in-alignment kind of years.
But remember one thing- the second time around, it's going to be a completely different story. Have we so quickly forgotten about how the Big Unit's effectiveness decreases exponentially when he's pitching on short rest?
He's no kid, and neither is Shilling. They haven't pitched this late into the season in a long, long time- if ever.
On the other side, you've got Pettite, El Duque and (as much as I hate to say it) Clemens, who are used to pitching late into October. I have no excuse for Mussina's poor performance in Game 1- he's usually such a clutch post-season performer. Maybe he's saving it up for a killer Game 4 performance, a no-hitter maybe, that will even up the Series at two games apiece.
Joe Torre may be a great manager, but that doesn't mean he's above all second-guessing. I will now take the opportunity to point out his mistakes to the average viewer who does not have the advantage of years of experience reading Joe Torre's mind.
Humungous Error No. 1: How do you not start Paul O'Neill in Game 1 or Game 2?
Don't give me this whining lefty-righty-David-Justice-has-better-numbers-against-these-guys excuse. You don't platoon Paul O'Neill. Period.
You want to know why you lost the first two games, Torre? Here's why- no O'Neill. A Paulie-less line-up is not nearly as intimidating, no matter how you look at it. Barring some huge change of heart, we're watching him play his final games. When Paulie hangs up those spikes, you're going to be lost without him. I think we all are.
Anyway, on to Humongous Error No. 2: Where was Tino Martinez in Game 2?
We really felt the need to sit another left-handed bat, just for the heck of it, despite the fact that he's the Bam-Tino?
If Bernie Williams was a lefty, would you have sat him, too, Torre? How about Jeter- you don't really need him either.
Heck, let's let Luis Sojo(sorry, Luis) start at shortstop for the rest of the Series. That makes sense, right? About as much sense as thinking you're going to win the game without O'Neill or Martinez in the line-up. I love Shane Spencer, but he's not Paulie.
I'm not going to predict how many games this series will go, since it was not so long ago I was marching around proclaiming "Oakland in five," but did someone say Game 7? It's kind of got the feel- it won't be easy, but it will be one sweet victory. For the Yankees, of course. There's no arguing here. They will find a way to win. Oakland was more of a challenge than these Arizona dudes will be, I assure you.
And then in Game 3, see how the tables turned? See how Arizona's defense fell apart and then the whole game unraveled? Slowly but surely, the Yanks picked away at the D-backs' pitching staff and recorded the victory.
It was a win everyone could appreciate. Even if it had to be Clemens. He is getting no credit here for the win. The MVP of the game was clearly Jorgie Posada for his clutch home run. End of story.
And in honor of the start of the basketball season, I wrote a little haiku.
Travis Knight's a Knick
In case you didn't notice
Play him Van Gundy!
The annual Cara-against-the-world Yahoo fantasy basketball league is also underway.
My team, SuperTravisJakeRocks, is going to be awesome, despite the sketchy circumstances surrounding the draft. It was clearly rigged-wasn't it, Dave, Mr. Commissioner/Sports Editor? My, it's funny how fantasy basketball can be used as a metaphor for life sometimes. It's all one big game, isn't it? I personally take it very seriously.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that the person in my fantasy basketball league with the incredibly over-inflated ego who thought it would be funny to draft Travis when he knows perfectly well that Travis belongs on my team had better watch out if he knows what's good for him. You're not getting Eddie Griffin, you pansy-boy.
If you're lucky, I might throw a little Ilgauskas your way, but that is all you are going to get. ashamed of yourself.
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