Moose ready to make tracks in Game 5
When the Yankees boarded their charter flight from California to New York after Game 2 of the American League Division Series in Anaheim, they did so without Mike Mussina.
The winner of Game 1, in which he held the Angels to five hits without a walk over 5 2/3 shutout innings, Mussina stayed in Southern California with Mike Bozello, New York's bullpen catcher.
The idea was to spare Mussina the two cross-country flights required of everyone else should the series return to the West Coast, allowing him to stay on something of a normal throwing schedule in preparation for starting Game 5.
The Yankees' season-saving victory in Game 4 on Sunday ensured that Mussina will be reunited with his teammates on Monday at Angel Stadium -- and saved the team's brass from an almost certain round of second-guessing.
When Game 4 was postponed by rain Saturday, it was duly noted that if Mussina were in town, he could have started on regular rest Sunday. New York pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, though, had no regrets.
"If there's a Game 5, he's the guy I want to be on the mound," Stottlemyre said of Mussina. "I think it was the smart thing to do."
It certainly looks smart now. Mussina, who battled an elbow strain and inconsistency late in the season, should be plenty strong for Monday with an extra day of rest. And he should have plenty of confidence coming off his strong showing in Game 1, which helped erase the unpleasant memories of his previous postseason start against the Angels.
In Game 3 of the 2002 ALDS in Anaheim, Mussina gave up four runs on six hits in four innings and had to leave the game with a groin injury. The Yankees lost that game and Game 4, ending their season.
Monday will mark the fifth time Mussina has faced the Angels this year, and he's fared considerably better in Anaheim. On April 27, he gave up five runs on 10 hits in seven innings in a loss at Yankee Stadium. On July 24 at Angel Stadium, he gave up a run on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings to pick up a win. He pitched fairly well five days later in New York, giving up three runs over eight innings, but he took another loss as the Yankees fell, 4-1.
"When you get to this point, it doesn't matter whether you start at home or on the road," Mussina said before the series started. "The bases are the same, the mound is the same distance from the plate. The only difference is that most of the people in the stands are rooting for them instead of rooting for us. "You have to be able to do both. You can't just be able to pitch at home. You have to be able to go out on the road and win games if you want to win this thing, and that's what we're looking to do."
Yankees manager Joe Torre wouldn't reveal where Mussina and Bozello were staying in SoCal, but noted that he's been in regular contact with Mussina and likes what he'd heard.
"Mike is very responsible," Torre said. "I'm not really concerned about the fact that he'll be ready to pitch."
Big Unit to come out of bullpen?
Randy Johnson's abbreviated outing in Game 3 of the American League Division Series didn't do much to aid the Yankees' championship hopes, but the Big Unit could get another shot to help his team against the Angels.
Johnson, who threw just 62 pitches over three-plus innings on Friday, could be available to work out of the bullpen over the final two games of the series, though Game 5 would be much more likely than Game 4.
"I think I could pitch today if I had to; anything is possible," Johnson said Saturday. "I've done it before. Everything else goes out the door, because this is what we've been playing for. We're at the crossroads now where we need to win a couple more games. If there's anything I can do to help, obviously I will."
"We'll have to wait and see, but I would say he probably would be," said pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre when asked if Johnson would be available for a Game 5. "I think he would be an option out of the 'pen."
Johnson plans on watching tape from his Game 3 start with catcher John Flaherty, but the left-hander said he won't overanalyze the poor outing.
"It's done and over with," he said. "There's nothing I can do about it. If I keep dwelling on that, it's not going to be a positive thing."
Can Johnson be ready to pitch out of the bullpen in Game 4? Although he didn't say yes, he also wouldn't discount the possibility.
"Anything's possible," Johnson said. "We have to take it one game at a time."
"Whenever Randy feels physically able to do it, he'll jump in there," said manager Joe Torre. "He's done this before where he has volunteered for bullpen work. But when you're up against it, like we are right now, we certainly look for a show of hands and we'll take whatever help we can get."
Stottlemyre did say that Chien-Ming Wang, who started Game 2, would likely be available out of the bullpen on Sunday.
For Johnson, a postseason bullpen outing wouldn't be anything new. After all, he was the pitcher that came out of the 'pen -- on no days' rest -- to help the Diamondbacks defeat the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
"It's part of my job to help this team win" Johnson said. "If the opportunity comes along and they say, 'Can you pitch?' I'll say yes. I've never turned the ball down.
"I'm here, and if they need me, I'll do the best I can -- just like I do every time." Sympathy pains: When Jason Giambi heard the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium shower boos on the Big Unit as he walked off the mound in Game 3, he knew exactly what Johnson was feeling.
It was just three years ago that Giambi was the new kid on the block, and he heard plenty of boos in the Bronx as he started slowly during the season's first six weeks.
"When you're the big boy coming to town, that's tough," Giambi said. "I've been there, I know what it's like."
But Giambi believes that the Yankees' fans should remember what Johnson provided to the team during the regular season as well, as his 17 wins were an integral part of New York's eighth consecutive division title.
"They need to not forget that he was [6-0] down the stretch when we needed him to be big," Giambi said. "Sometimes they can forget real fast around here what got us here. If he hadn't done what he did, we wouldn't have ever been in a situation to be in the playoffs."
Waiting game: Mike Mussina remains in Southern California, waiting to see whether the series will return to Anaheim for Game 5, which would now be played on Monday.
Mussina has been keeping his arm in shape, throwing to Mike Borzello, the Yankees' bullpen catcher.
"They have been doing regular workouts," Torre said. "Mike is very responsible, so I'm not really concerned about the fact that he'll be ready to pitch."
Stottlemyre said that he has no regrets about keeping Mussina in Anaheim, even though he could have pitched Sunday's delayed Game 4 on regular rest had he been with the team.
"If there's a Game 5, he's the guy I want to be on the mound," Stottlemyre said. "We just have to get there. I don't have any regrets at all. I think it was the smart thing to do."
Lining 'em up Torre wouldn't say what his lineup for Game 4 would have been, and he'll wait until Sunday to decide who to use as his designated hitter.
"We have some options that we can use for tomorrow," Torre said. "Ruben [Sierra] is one, [Bubba] Crosby is another. We'll have to look at it."
Sierra is just 4-for-21 (.190) with no homers against Washburn, while Crosby has never faced the left-hander. If Crosby gets the start, it would be in center field, with Bernie Williams serving as the DH.
Another option is Tino Martinez, who is 6-for-12 with two homers against Washburn. Should Martinez start, Jason Giambi would likely DH, with Martinez playing first base.
Crowd of 56,226 gives center fielder a standing ovation
Bernie Williams may or may not have played his last game in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium, but the 56,226 fans in attendance at Sunday night's Game 4 made sure to send Williams off to Anaheim in style.
Williams, the longest-tenured player on the team, will be a free agent at the conclusion of the postseason. It is unclear whether he will return for a 16th season with the Bombers, as New York may pursue a new center fielder over the winter.
Every time Williams stepped to the plate on Sunday -- four at-bats in all -- he received a standing ovation, serenaded by chants of "Bernie! Bernie!"
"I appreciated all of the support they gave me tonight," Williams said. "To me, it was one of those, 'Just in case you don't come back, we'll show you how much we love you.' The focus was the game and the victory, so that's what I was focused on."
After he recorded his fourth out of the night and returned to the dugout in the seventh inning, Williams received a fifth standing ovation, only this one didn't stop. Jorge Posada, who had stepped to the plate, stepped out of the batter's box and turned toward the dugout, giving Williams a chance to take a curtain call.
"He stepped out and looked at me like, 'Let's go. I'm trying to get an at-bat here,' " Williams said. "I was forced to go out and acknowledge the crowd, which was pretty cool."
Williams received similar treatment on Sept. 25, in the Yankees' final home game. It brought back memories of Game 5 of the 2001 World Series, when fans chanted Paul O'Neill's name in the late innings, recognizing the contributions of the retiring outfielder.
"I think I know how O'Neill must have felt when they did that for him," said Williams, who was in center field that night in 2001. "It felt great, but it was sort of bittersweet, because I was hoping to get a couple of hits and be more of a contributor. It didn't happen that way for me."
"They did a similar thing with O'Neill a few years back," Derek Jeter said. "Our job is to make sure Bernie has more games here."
“The House That Ruth Built”
The Yankees knew they were getting a star when they purchased Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, but they had no idea they were changing the course of modern sports history. In what became known as the “Curse of the Bambino,” the New York Yankees would go on to win 39 American League Pennants and 26 World Series Titles. The Red Sox, on the other hand, did not win another World Series until 2004.In 1920, his first season in New York, Babe destroyed his own home run record he set the year before. He slammed an astounding 54 home runs, nearly double his previous record of 29. When Ruth joined the Yankees, the team shared the Polo grounds with the New York (baseball) Giants. Within a short time, Babe’s sensational home run hitting and undeniable candor became the biggest ticket in New York City. Soon, the Yankees drew so many fans that the team could afford to build Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923. The famous stadium became known as “The House that Ruth Built.” Fittingly, he hit a home run on opening day. Later that season the Yankees began a tradition of excellence that continues today by winning their first World Series title.Off the Field Regardless of Babe’s on-field accomplishments, his personal life continued to be turbulent. He married 17-year-old waitress Helen Woodford in October 1914. By 1919, Babe made enough money for the couple to buy a country house in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in addition to their New York City home. In 1921 they adopted a baby girl named Dorothy. Ultimately the relationship faltered and the couple officially separated in 1925. After the separation, however, Helen and Babe remained married because their religious beliefs prevented divorce. Tragically, in 1929 Helen was killed in a house fire. Dorothy, who had been living with her mother, came to stay with Babe. He married actress and model Claire Hodgson a few months later in April 1929, the day before the Yankees’ opening game against the Boston Red Sox. Babe hit a homer out of Yankee Stadium for his new bride on his first at-bat.The Sultan of SwatDuring his 22-year professional career, Babe cemented his name as the most prolific home run hitter of his time. In 1927, he hit 60 home runs during a 154-game stretch. This record stood until 1961, when Roger Maris hit 61 homers in an expanded 162-game schedule. Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick decided Maris’ record would enter the record books with an asterisk denoting the difference in the schedule. He may no longer be the career home run king, but his record .690 lifetime slugging percentage may never be topped. Writers attempted to capture the essence of his greatness by giving him nicknames like “The Great Bambino” and “The Sultan of Swat.” The Called Shot Perhaps the most famous moment in baseball history, and certainly of Babe’s career, came during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. In 5th inning, after he had already hit one homer, Babe came up to bat. He ran the count to two balls and two strikes. Before Cubs pitcher Charlie Root hurled the next pitch, amid the heckling of Cubs fans, Babe pointed to the center field bleachers. Then he slammed what is believed to be the longest home run ever hit out of Wrigley Field, directly above the spot where he had pointed. This story has been as debated as often as it has been celebrated. Did he really call his shot, or was he simply pointing at the pitcher? The world may never know. However, to many fans this moment symbolizes the golden age of baseball. The Yankees went on to win the 1932 World Series, their third sweep in four years.The Beginning of the EndAfter the death of Yankees manager Miller Huggins in 1929, Babe expressed an interest in managing the team. Joe McCarthy, former Chicago Cubs manager, was chosen instead. Babe and McCarthy did not get along. Babe still harbored hopes to manage a Major League team while continuing his playing career as the most popular player of all time. In 1935, Babe thought he would get the chance to manage the National League Boston Braves. He retired from the Yankees and signed on as a player and first base coach with the understanding that he would become the Braves’ manager the next season. However, once again, his managerial hopes were dashed. In one of his final Major League games, he crushed three homers in Pittsburgh. On the final trip around the bases, the Babe tipped his cap to the somber crowd of 10,000 at Forbes Field. That home run would be number 714, the last of his amazing career.He retired three days later in Boston, still holding out hope that the Yankees would hire him as manager. Instead, they offered him the managerial position of the Newark Bears, one of their minor league franchises. He defiantly turned down the job arguing that many other players jumped directly from their playing days into managing.Major League Baseball came knocking one last time in 1938 when the Brooklyn Dodgers hired Ruth as a first base coach. Again, he believed that he would take over for Burleigh Grimes as manager after the season ended. Once again, his heart would be broken as Leo Durocher was named manager the following season. Never again would Babe don a Major League uniform.
Chacon's postseason debut a success
Shawn Chacon wanted to pitch in a big game. He said he was looking forward to it.
Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Sunday night was his chance. It was also his statement. It said, "Shawn Chacon just might be a big-game pitcher."
One game isn't enough to add the tagline to Chacon's resume, but the pen is poised pending future performance. In his first postseason start, Chacon limited the Angels to four hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings.
"It's win or go home, so you don't want to come in, pitch the game and have the end of the season on your shoulders," Chacon said. "When gametime came, I had to put all of that stuff out of my mind. I had to go out and execute my ballgame."
Chacon was perfect through three, and faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings. He ran into trouble only in the sixth, when the Angels scored both of their runs.
Juan Rivera led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Adam Kennedy grounded out, and then Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera laced back-to-back RBI doubles.
Manager Joe Torre removed Chacon the next inning, after the pitcher allowed a one-out single to Bengie Molina. Torre said it was a move he knew would be unpopular -- Yankees fans heartily booed the decision -- but it was one he had to make.
Torre had both Tom Gordon and Al Leiter warming up in the bullpen, and was prepared to use either if an Angel reached base. With Molina followed by left-handed-hitting Darin Estad in the batting order, Torre tabbed Leiter to enter. Leiter quickly induced an inning-ending double play. When the Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the inning, Chacon was off the hook.
"When I was on the mound, I was pretty relaxed," Chacon said. "I was focused. I don't know what it is, but I'm more nervous before I pitch and then after I come out of the game. When I'm in there, I don't feel any of that."
The performance earned raves from his manager, who compared the unpredictability of starting the untested Chacon to sending Orlando Hernandez to the mound against Cleveland in the 1998 AL Championship Series. "El Duque" had sat out the two weeks prior, but pitched seven shutout innings during his first postseason start.
Torre compared their similar styles, saying each bases his success on feel, and was encouraged when Chacon hit his spots early.
"He's cool," Torre said. "He's having a good time. He just really told people a lot more with this last start than we learned since he came over from Colorado." The Yankees had found out Chacon truly benefited from a change of scenery. After going 1-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) with the Rockies, Chacon went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) for the Yankees. His pitching down the stretch solidified a fractured Yankees rotation and helped New York overtake the AL East-leading Red Sox in the season's final week.
"He's been doing it all summer," Alex Rodriguez said. "He reminds you of a David Cone, a seasoned veteran who has been through these wars many times."
Chacon, who is arbitration-eligible, will likely return to the Yankees and have the chance to become exactly that.
