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World Series capsule
Posted: Wednesday October 24, 2001 7:21 PM
Updated: Wednesday October 24, 2001 7:29 PM
Pitchers | Hitters | Matchup Breakdown | Big Picture
| New York Yankees |
| Game 1 |
Game 2 |
Game 3 |
Game 4 |
W-L: 17-11
ERA: 3.15
Postseason: 2-0, 1.38 |
W-L: 15-10
ERA: 3.99
Postseason: 2-1, 2.18 |
W-L: 20-3
ERA: 3.51
Postseason: 0-1, 3.38 |
W-L: 4-7
ERA: 4.87
Postseason: 1-1, 5.06 |
| Team pitching statistics |
| Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Game 1 |
Game 2 |
Game 3 |
Game 4 |
W-L: 22-6
ERA: 2.98
Postseason: 3-0, 0.67 |
W-L: 21-6
ERA: 2.49
Postseason: 2-1, 1.88 |
W-L: 4-9
ERA: 5.20
Postseason: 1-0, 2.45 |
W-L: 11-8
ERA: 3.36
Postseason: 1-1, 3.95 |
| Team pitching statistics |
Pitchers | Hitters | Matchup Breakdown | Big Picture
Pitchers | Hitters | Matchup Breakdown | Big Picture
| Matchups |
Yankees:
Teams have never played in regular season, postseason or even spring training, so there isn't much to go on.
Gonzalez is the only Diamondback starter to face Hernandez, whose tricky delivery makes his especially tough on teams that haven't faced him before.
O'Neill and Justice will almost definitely sit against Johnson, one of the toughest lefties in the game. Spencer should get the Game 2 start in right field. Randy Velarde, with a .452 career average against the Big Unit, could get the nod at third base over Brosius (2-for-18). Velarde also has been taking grounders at first base in case Martinez sits against Johnson.
Wohlers, Witasick and Hitchcock are the only Yankees pitchers to face the Diamondbacks.
Yankees lefties have had good success against Game 3 starter Brian Anderson. O'Neill is 9-for-19 with four homers; Martinez is 5-for-13 with four homers.
Justice is 8-for-23 with three homers against Swindell, one of Arizona's key lefty setup men.
Diamondbacks:
Scheduled to play New York next June 10-12 at Yankee Stadium in an interleague series. Now, they get to see the Yankees sooner than expected. The Yankees already have gotten a good look at Arizona, sending nine scouts to watch the NLCS clincher.
Schilling (1-2) and Johnson (6-7) both have losing records against the Yankees, albeit some of those games were a while ago. They've each had big moments against the Yanks, too. Schilling's career-high for strikeouts is 16, set against New York on Sept. 1, 1997 -- in only eight innings. He fanned Jeter four times. Johnson, pitching in relief for Seattle, beat New York in the clinching Game 5 of the 1995 AL Division Series.
The lefty trio of Justice, O'Neill and Martinez are a combined 0-for-7 with six strikeouts vs. the Big Unit.
Justice has done well against Schilling, going 10-for-28 with four home runs.
Williams is 9-for-22 with five homers lifetime at Yankee Stadium.
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Pitchers | Hitters | Matchup Breakdown | Big Picture
| New York Yankees |
New York was written off after losing first two games to Oakland, but won seven of eight against teams that combined for 218 wins in regular season. Became first team to win five-game series after losing Games 1 and 2 at home to Oakland, and ended Seattle's 116-win season 4-1 in the ALCS.
Looking to become just third team to win four straight World Series titles, joining Yankees from 1949-53 and 1936-39.
Manager Joe Torre will have to decide whether to sit Justice or O'Neill with no DH in NL park.
As always, getting the ball to Rivera with a lead will be the key. He has converted 22 consecutive saves in the postseason since blowing the only one in his career in Game 4 of the first round to Cleveland in 1997. His 0.74 postseason ERA is the lowest in history.
Torre doesn't have the big bats he's had in the past, but pitching -- especially the bullpen -- has been the key to run of four titles in his five seasons in New York.
Brosius (.121) and Martinez (.184) have struggled in postseason.
Williams is key to making the offense go. Appears to have hit his stride after slow September with three homers in ALCS.
Posada has reached base at a .475 clip in playoffs.
Soriano has also been strong with .303 average and game-winning homer in Game 4 of ALCS.
Weren't the best team during the regular season, but always play best in biggest situations. Lost 15 of 18 to end last season, but recovered to win third straight World Series.
Jeter and Brosius made 37 errors on left side of infield, but Jeter's remarkable relay was key to comeback against Oakland.
Mendoza has more than replaced Jeff Nelson as Torre's righty setup man, with an 0.93 ERA in the first two rounds.
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| Arizona Diamondbacks |
Reached World Series in fourth season, faster than any expansion team ever. Beat mark of 1997 Marlins, who made it in five years. The common link? Counsell, the only player on the team with a championship ring. He starred in Game 7 for Florida, then was MVP of NLCS for Arizona.
Schilling tied for the major league lead in wins, then was even better in the postseason -- 3-0 with an 0.67 ERA and three complete games.
Johnson could win his fourth Cy Young award. Led the majors in ERA and strikeouts.
Schilling beat St. Louis in deciding Game 5 of opening round, Johnson went 2-0 against Atlanta in NLCS and won clinching Game 5.
Finley hitting team-leading .364 in postseason. Counsell tops club with 7 RBIs.
Often overlooked is Arizona's defense. The Diamondbacks led the NL in fielding percentage, and have not given up an unearned run in the postseason.
Full of veterans making their first Series appearance, among them Johnson (38), Grace (36), Jay Bell (35) and Gonzalez (34). Also on the list: Mike Morgan (42), who has pitched for a record 12 teams in the majors.
Took over NL West lead for good in mid-August, went on to win second division crown.
Owner Jerry Colangelo freely spent to build a championship team, and got results.
Manager Bob Brenly replaced fired Buck Showalter and, with a more relaxed clubhouse, made a successful transition from the broadcast booth to the dugout.
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| Things To Look For |
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Four in a row. A fourth straight title puts Torre's Yankees on par with dynasties led by Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle. Only the 1936-39 Yankees and the 1949-53 team have won at least four straight championships.
The other guys. Can Brian Anderson, tagged by current Yankees in the past, keep Arizona close in Game 3? How will Miguel Batista do in Game 4 on Halloween night? Tough assignments for them at Yankee Stadium.
Rise to the occasion. The Yankees won five games started by Pedro Martinez by staying close long enough to pull out a win. They also beat Tom Glavine, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito this year. They'll need the same patient approach against Schilling and Johnson.
Designated for victory. Losing the DH has never hurt the Yankees in the World Series, no matter who it's cost them in the lineup. Minus Justice, they're still plenty potent. Adding a DH has not really helped recent NL teams, either.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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