by Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News.
Forget about the future of baseball.
The present is right now. And it's in the hands of two men who have a combined 31 years of experience between them.
For the Yankees, it's a chance at winning a World Series. For the Phillies, it's a chance to fight for a last breath in a game seven.But there's no denying it's in the hands of two guys who know what they're doing.
Andy Pettite, who will be on the hill for the New York Yankees tonight for the 8:00 p.m. Game Six first pitch, debuted for the Bombers back in 1995. Since, the 37-year-old has started 468 games, 384 of which have been in pinstripes.
Meanwhile, for Philadelphia, 38-year-old Pedro Martinez takes the reins of a desperate Philadelphia team, needing a win to stay alive in this year's World Series. For Pedro, his journey has been much less localized - starting in Los Angeles, passing through Montreal, Boston and New York, and culminating right now in the city of brotherly love.
But for number 45, he faces a familiar foe tonight in the New York Yankees, whom he became oh-so acquainted with during his seven year tenure with the Red Sox.
Pedro carries with him a storybook of Sox-Yankee memories, ranging from Don Zimmer, to 'who's your daddy,' all the way to Grady Little and the telltale 8th inning. But all that get's thrown out the window tonight.
Tonight is the final page of a completely new chapter for Petey - even if it does have a few similar plot characters.
Boston fans will get shivers watching Jeter step in against number 45. Posada too. Because just as Dan Shaughnessy said in his Globe piece this morning - all these years later, and he's still pitching for the Red Sox. Why? Because we live the sport regardless of who's playing. And Pedro is one of our own - he always will be.
Even so, the Yankees trot out a completely different team now then they did back in the early 2000's when Pedro was wearing the maroon socks. New acquisitions such as Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Alex Rodriguez's Playoff Bat have been propelling this year's Bronx run at a title.
Meanwhile, backing up Pedro on the hill will be Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and most importantly, Mr. New October, Chase Utley. In Game Five, Utley belted two home-runs, tying Reggie Jackson with five total as the most ever by any player in a single World Series. But most importantly, the second baseman sparked a Philly win that kept their title hopes alive.Chase looks to continue the magic tonight, in a decisive Game Six - a Yankee win handing the title to New York, while a Philly win would push the series to a breaking point and a final Game Seven.
But nobody has more pressure then Mr. Martinez and Mr. Pettite. Two men that have pitched just under 1,000 combined games, but no single one being bigger than tonight.
Tonight is about defying age, defying the numbers and playing the game.
Above all, tonight is about two men who will have to put it all behind them for one final game - the biggest game.
A game that will forever define the careers of two of baseball's best ever.
Tonight is about making history.
Prediction: Phillies in a squeaker. This team just won't quit. But Ryan Howard needs to heat up tonight or the win won't matter come game seven.
article also on WERSnews.com
Agreed man. It's like dejavu for Sox fans. VOTE FOR PEDRO. Good stuff as always.
ReplyDeleteThe matchup of Pedro and Pettite is the pinnacle of why this series is so exciting. These two have seen each other so many times before, and right now is probably the biggest matchup of their careers.
ReplyDeleteWhat matters is how the Phillies come out. They need to come out with a strong sense of urgency and get to Pettite early. He's labored through a lot of starts this year. If the Phillies can get his pitch count high, score a few early runs off him, and force Girardi's hand to the bullpen, then they will force a Game 7.
If, however, they squander their chances and let Pettite off the hook, he wil get into a groove and before you know it, the Yanks will have the lead in the 8th, and since Mariano Rivera hasn't pitched since Sunday, Girardi will likely go with him for two innings and the Phillies season will end in the blink of an eye.
Good call Phil. I know its an overused cliche, but a big first inning would really do wonders for the Phillies here. Pettitte's one of those pitchers, you're exactly right, you can't let him settle down. Fortunately, the 1-4 of the Phillies can put up runs in a heartbeat. For Pedro's sake, I hope they can pull it off.
ReplyDelete-ian