Open Mic: 2001 World Series

t home to score the tying run. Were Giambi to score, the game would be tied with Long waiting on third base as the go-ahead run. The hit to right was collected by Shane Spencer, who in his haste to get the ball back to the infield, overthrew both cutoff men Alfonso Soriano and Tino Martinez. While it looked like the ball would just roll harmlessly toward the catcher, allowing the run to score and leaving Long dangerously at 3rd base, Jeter rushed over from his place between second and third all the way to the foul line in between first base and home plate to scoop up the throw. While his momentum was still carrying him toward the dugout, Jeter backhanded the ball right into the glove of Posada, who with one motion caught the pass and swung his arm around to catch Giambi by a fraction of a step. The Yankees went on to preserve that 1-0 lead, and with that momentum shift, were able to sweep the rest of the series. A 4-1 series victory over the Mariners in the ALCS, (The 2001 Mariners being another great topic for the Open Mic: Greatest Dissapointments), and the Yankees were ready to face the Diamondbacks with history on their side and a country at their backs.

The 2001 World Series would not begin play until October 27th on account of the break from play that Major League Baseball took following the attacks on September 11th. Casual Americans looked to their traditions and practiced them with more purpose and intent. These traditions included American sports, and the games became that much more important to fans and non-fans alike, because they did so much to bring everyone together. Casual fans felt compelled to rally around the Yankees during that post season in the same way that casual football fans felt compelled to rally around the New Orleans Saints during the 2006-2007 playoffs, when the team represented all those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Game one saw Mike Mussina leave before the 4th inning began. 5 runs were scored during his tenure on the mound, and while only 3 were earned due to a costly error by Bernie Williams , the Moose was scrapped so that he may be fresh to pitch again later. Randy Choate would relieve Mussina, and in his one inning of work, another 4 runs would score, albeit only one was earned on account of another costly error by Scott Brosius. By this point the game had gotten out of hand and the Yankees would have no success in their attempts for retaliation. The night belonged to Curt Schilling, who gave up one run and recorded eight strikeouts in seven innings, although my unsung hero of the game had to be Sterling Hitchcock, who not only struck out six batters over three scoreless innings, but also kept the game nicely at "embarrassing blowout" instead of "Why is this team even participating in the World Series?"

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