You saw it, and even if you didn’t, Matthew has told you all of the details (any he missed can be found here). Now’s the time for some random impressions:
An obviously gutsy performance from Andy Pettitte on short rest. He didn’t seem to suffer much for it, which is amazing considering the mileage on that left arm of his.
A just as gutsy performance from Pedro, even in defeat. He certainly knew before anyone -- and probably well before the game started -- that he had nothing last night. He’s Pedro, though, and he did his vain best to figure out a way to work around it. It’s weird: for a Hall of Famer, I’ve always thought that Pedro’s character as a pitcher was better defined by his losses than his wins. In the 2003 ALCS, last night, and many other times, I’ve come away strangely more impressed by him when he leaves a game in defeat, and I’m not sure why that is. Your theories are welcome.
Matsui. What can you really say? For a guy who often looks like he’s in pain when he’s hitting, he made it look rather easy last night. He was as good an MVP choice as anyone else.
Nine years ago is when Jeter, Posada, Rivera and Pettitte last won it all. I know that beyond them there has been massive roster turnover since 1996, but I’m struggling to come up with an example of a team with at least a handful of core players winning World Series outside the context of a continuing dynasty. This would be like Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford hanging around to win one with the 1971 Yankees, or Chipper, Maddux and Smoltz doing it in 2004. I suppose this is mostly a function of them being so young when they were winning them back in the 90s, but it is kind of odd to think about it.
Factoid I found on ESPN: “Wednesday’s clincher marked the sixth time New York has defeated the defending champ in the World Series.” Without looking it up, I’ll say the Phillies last night, the Braves in 1996, the Braves in 1958, the Dodgers in 1956, Cardinals in 1943, and, um . . . I’m blanking. First one to figure it out wins a fully paid subscription to Circling The Bases.
I, along with all of you, wait with great anticipation to hear what the “PHILLIES IN __! MARK MY WORDS!” guy writes in the comments today. Don’t disappoint us, dude.
After an offseason of terrible predictions, I’m rather pleased with myself. I picked the Yankees in six based on the strength of their rotation, but noted that Cliff Lee will get his. Hey, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while, right?
151 days until Opening Day. I wish it would hurry up already.
