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Dominating duo Schilling and Johnson control the series
The Arizona Diamondbacks did their job and took the first two games of the World Series at Bank One Ballpark behind outstanding pitching by Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. All the pressure now falls on the New York Yankees' shoulders as the scene shifts to the Bronx Tuesday night. CNNSI.com spoke with Sports Illustrated baseball writer Tom Verducci about the Series. CNNSI.com: Did anything in the first two games surprise you? Tom Verducci: Not really. I think Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson were the storyline coming in, and we've seen why. After two games they still are the storyline. The question remains: Can the Yankees hit those guys? CNNSI.com: The Yankees have been down 0-2 before, but not with the specter of two pitchers like Schilling and Johnson on the horizon. How much trouble are the Yankees in? Verducci: With any other team I'd say they are finished, but not the Yankees. However, they are in big trouble. Beating either of those two guys once is difficult enough, but the Yanks may have to get two wins against them and that's going to be a very tough job. CNNSI.com: Should the Yankees be concerned about their .102 team batting average for the first two games, or is it just a result of facing a pair of tremendous hurlers? Verducci: I don't think the Yankees are in a slump because they're not swinging the bats well. I just chalk up the poor hitting to great games pitched by Schilling and Johnson. If there is any concern right now it should be about Derek Jeter. I know he doesn't use this as an excuse, but the fact is he has not swung the bat nearly the same since he made the catch going into the stands in Game 5 against Oakland in the American League Division Series. He just doesn't seem to be having the same kind of at-bats, and obviously the result has been bad. He's the only guy on the Yankees whose problems are his own doing as much as a result of facing Schilling and Johnson. CNNSI.com: The big question on everyone's mind is who will start Game 4 for Arizona. Who do you think it will be? Verducci: Obviously if Arizona wins Game 3, Miguel Batista will pitch Game 4; it's a no-brainer. But, and I think this has been Bob Brenly's thinking all along, if Arizona loses Game 3, Schilling takes the ball in Game 4, Batista takes it in Game 5 and then Brenly has Johnson and Schilling lined up to pitch at home in Games 6 and 7. And the fact that Schilling got out of Game 1 without breaking a sweat really makes the decision to use him on short rest a lot easier for Brenly. He doesn't have to use Johnson on short rest, and by doing this he has Schilling and Johnson set up to pitch three of the final four games of the World Series, and the Yankees would have to find a way to win three of those, which could be very difficult. CNNSI.com: What kind of performance do you expect from Brian Anderson Tuesday night? Verducci: I actually think he'll be OK. He pitched well in long relief against Atlanta in the National League Championship Series, and he has World Series experience. He's also goofy enough that he won't be intimidated by the surroundings -- the noise, the crowd, the aura of Yankee Stadium. I just don't know how long he can stay sharp because he hasn't started in such a long time. Of course, the Yankees would love to get into the Arizona bullpen anyway. I think it's more a matter of how much rust Anderson has than whether or not he's intimidated. CNNSI.com: Roger Clemens has been bothered by a sore hamstring. Will this affect him Tuesday, and how close to 100 percent is The Rocket? Verducci: It sounds like he's as close to 100 percent as he's been this postseason. He's had a lot of extra rest to heal and get himself ready for this start. I think the hamstring problem is still there, but I don't think it should limit him very much. I fully expect him to go out there and pitch a strong game and not be held back by the hamstring. CNNSI.com: Lastly, what is your prediction on what will happen for the remainder of the series? Verducci: I think the Yankees will at least bring the series back to Arizona. I think they'll find a way to win two out of three at Yankee Stadium. But, like I said, if Brenly sets up his rotation the way I think he will -- to have Johnson and Schilling pitch Games 6 and 7 at home -- I don't know how the Yankees are going to get through those two games, but if they do their greatness will really be confirmed.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci covers the baseball beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send a question to his mailbag.
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