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Right bat, right time
As usual, World Series time sees Brosius swinging hot bat
Posted: Monday October 25, 1999 01:10 AM
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Scott Brosius is making a case for a second straight World Series MVP. AP |
ATLANTA (AP) -- Scott Brosius has regained his hitting stroke - and just in time.
Distracted most of the year because his father was dying of colon cancer, Brosius struggled at the plate for the New York Yankees.
But in the first two games of the World Series, he has been their best hitter, getting five hits, including two in a 7-2 win Sunday night to give the Yankees a 2-0 Series lead over the Atlanta Braves.
"My mind's obviously been in two places at one time and it's difficult to really keep focus 100 percent," Brosius said. "But we're at a time now where I know that this is what we play for. This is the apex of the year, and in another week, win or lose, I'm going to go home."
For a second straight year, this has been Brosius' time to shine. Last year's World Series MVP, he had two hits and an RBI Sunday after going 3-for-4 in the opener and is hitting .500 (13-for-26) in six career Series games.
"I enjoy what the postseason is all about," he said. "But it is just a few games. A bloop hit here, a grounder that gets through there and you're numbers start to look pretty good."
Befitting his unassuming personality, Brosius isn't even sure where the trophy is right now, saying it's sitting on a shelf somewhere in his basement.
But the 1998 World Series against San Diego was special for more than his individual accomplishments.
His father, Maury, was undergoing chemotherapy and could not attend the first two games at New York, but saw the final two games at San Diego.
Brosius hit two homers, including a game-winner off Trevor Hoffman, in the third game and won the MVP as the Yankees swept the Padres.
That game was the highlight of Brosius' nine-year career and he often talks about how important it was to have his father there for it.
The two relived those memories two months ago, when Scott missed six games to go home to Oregon to see his father for the final time before Maury died on Sept. 12.
"There's no question it's been a more difficult year focus-wise than last year," said Brosius, who missed five more games for the funeral.
After having a career year in 1998, hitting .300 with a career-high 98 RBIs, Brosius hit just .247 with 71 RBIs this season and was one of the reasons why the Yankees scored 65 fewer runs in 1999.
But he has been in the middle of New York's scoring these two games, singling off Greg Maddux to start a four-run rally in the eighth inning Saturday night and hitting an RBI single in the Yankees' three-run first inning in Game 2.
"He's swinging the bat really well again," teammate Derek Jeter said. "He makes the offense go from the bottom of the lineup. Obviously, everybody remembers what he did in the World Series last year. He's stepping it up again."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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