World Series Redemption (Yanks 8, Phillies 5. Yankees lead World Series 2-1)

One of the most emotional and inspiring performances of the 1996 World Series came from one of the most unlikely sources.

In the middle of 1996 Graeme Lloyd, a tall, lanky Australian lefty came to the team. It was sort of weird, because he didn't look like a baseball player at all. He looked like a geeky kid on the math team. Torre put him in the bullpen and he promptly lost as many games as he could, getting utterly hammered by everyone. He routinely left games to loud boos from Yankee fans. By the end of 1996 he had racked up a preposterous 17 ERA for the Yankees in his 13 appearances and 5.2 innings pitched.

But somehow, he made the postseason roster. Stepping into the limelight, and in a defined role, Lloyd was unstoppable. Boos gave way to roars from Yankee stadium. The flop gave way to the champion, as Lloyd, in 2.2 scoreless World Series innings pitched, struck out 4 batters, all lefties. It was one of the most exciting, inspiring performances of that postseason for the Yankees. Over the next 2 years he would pitch in 4 more postseason series for the Yankees, and would never give up a run.

I was reminded of Mr Lloyd today while watching the Yankees take down the Phillies 8-5 and surge ahead in the World Series. Sure, the players we can rely on to come through when we need them most, they did what they always do. But the game was full of heroes who came through after having difficulty and testing fans' confidence that we could rely on them.

Andy Pettitte was first. With 52 pitches in the first 2 innings, and already down 3-0 fans began to worry that he'd get shelled. But he didn't. For the next 4 innings he threw 52 pitches again, and held the Phillies scoreless, giving the Bombers a chance to come from behind and tie the game on a hit by none other than Pettitte himself. (Jeter's reaction here)

A-Rod was next. He hadn't shown up to this world series so far, striking out repeatedly and looking outmatched by Philly's starters, while booting a ball in game 2 that eventually was responsible for the only Philadelphia run. He continued that trend tonight by allowing Rollins, on the first pitch of the game, to skip a sharp ground ball through a hole in his glove and into left field. But later in the game, A-Rod made plays in the field. And then he hit one, a screaming opposite field line drive that slammed into the camera lens overhanging the high wall in right, and suddenly a 3-0 game was 3-2. A-Rod had struck again.

More redemption followed. Nick Swisher, benched in game 2 for his horrendous, hellacious, Halloween-like nightmare of a postseason, first doubled, then scored the tying run on aggressive baserunning (on Pettitte's hit) and finally jacked a mighty home run that silenced the Philly crowd and provided the cushion needed for the Yankees to eventually win the game.

Johnny Damon saw what was happening and must have said to himself, "Why not me, too?". After almost singlehandedly losing game 2 with his difficulties at the plate and weak arm in left, Damon redeemed himself in spades with an electrifying 2 run double that scored both Pettitte, who had just singled in the tying run, and Jeter, who caught Pettitte and had to slow down before crossing the plate. Damon's shot was a rope in the gap, a beautiful drive that gave the Yankees a lead that they would never relinquish.

But Pettitte left after the 6th. The Yankees would need a bridge, and the bullpen who had been tagged so badly in game 1 would have to stick their collective necks out again, this time to protect a small lead in the World Series against the most powerful line-up, and in the most hitter friendly park, in the National League.

First it was Joba Chamberlain. His story is well known to Yankee fans. He's probably the most controversial player not named A-Rod on the team. He never looked comfortable, never looked right this year as a starter, and over the course of the year he left fans pining for the old days of Joba blowing people away in the 8th and handing it over to Mo. Even in game 1 he looked so uncomfortable that Girardi would not go to him in game 2, instead asking Rivera to get 6 outs with a 3-1 lead. But Joba came through today. His 1-2-3 7th set the stage for a new Yankee hero to emerge in the 8th inning.

And that hero was Damaso Marte. Oh yes, Marte. You're not reading that wrong. You don't need glasses. Marte, the same man who'd been lit up like a cheap Christmas tree last year after the trade with the Pirates. The same man who gave Wang a spirited challenge for worst ERA on the team, eventually finishing the season at 9.45. The same Marte who I think many fans, including myself, actually forgot was on the team this year because he went on the DL early and stayed there, drawing derision for the 2008 trade and heavy criticism on Brian Cashman for seemingly wasting a prospect and money to attain. It was said that, in that Nady/Marte trade, Cashman had gotten swindled.

But Damaso Marte didn't think so. Damaso Marte decided he would be this year's Graeme Lloyd, the man nobody thought would make it happen, the man everybody had long since lost faith in. He decided that he'd step up in the 8th and blow away the Philly lefties (and a righty) and lead the Yankees into the 9th with a lead. And that's just what he did. 1-2-3.

And that, my friends, is what Yankee Baseball is all about.

(Here's Mariano, finishing things off)