SO, which team has the better pitching now? Could Jon Lieber be Pedro’s daddy?
It’s easy to ridicule the Yankees as being the Evil Empire, a team that buys world championships. That’s the party line up in Boston, the easy way out, the “take no responsibility” approach that is so prevalent in our society.
But what about the great baseball decisions the Yankees make? How about the bargain-basement deals? Such a deal may have won the pennant for the Yankees last night.
On a night Curt Schilling was shelved, possibly for the rest of the postseason because of an ankle tendon that is snapping out of place, Lieber, the reconstructed wonder, pitched the game of his life against the Red Sox’ big, bad offense.
From his first pitch to his last, Lieber located his pitches. All the “Moneyball” geniuses must have been choking on their statistics and radar gun readings. Pitching is still about location and Lieber was in command, throwing seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball in the Yankees 3-1 victory at the Stadium to take a 2-0 lead in the ALCS.
“I still think there is room for improvement,” said Lieber, who arrived in the interview room five minutes after midnight with his two young children. “I’m just trying to move the ball around, hit spots and hopefully they get themselves out.”
Lieber, who loves to be in the background, perhaps that’s his Iowa roots, said, “It was perfect,” that all the attention was on Pedro.
He also knew of the challenge of facing a motivated Pedro.
“But I knew there was no room for error,” Lieber said.
Lieber allowed only three singles, the last by Trot Nixon to lead off the eighth. At that point, Joe Torre came out to the mound and took the ball from the right-hander. As Lieber trotted off the field, the crowd of 56,136 gave him a standing ovation.
Lieber played the classy role of Andy Pettitte, who used to make these Game 2 starts, to perfection. The mighty Red Sox have one single to show for the first six innings of the first two games.
“These two games were huge,” Torre said. “Lieber was locked in.”
The Yankees have now gotten two incredible outings from their starters. Mike Mussina’s was expected. Lieber’s gem caught many by surprise, including the Red Sox, even though he beat them Sept. 18.
“He pitched very effectively,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “He pounded the strike zone down, he stayed out of the middle of the plate, sank the ball, cut the ball.”
Lieber sailed through the first five innings, throwing only 45 pitches. To start the sixth, he won a 16-pitch duel against Johnny (No Hit) Damon when Damon lined to center. “That was one of the keys to this game,” Lieber said.
Boston’s lack of discipline that has been embraced by Francona and GM Theo Epstein may finally be catching up to them. Lieber not only out-pitched his opponents, he also had a better game plan. He retired Manny Ramirez all three times he faced him. Same goes for Kevin Millar. Two out of three times he got David Ortiz, who did manage a harmless single.
The Red Sox are clearly feeling the heat. Meanwhile, Lieber kept his cool. You would never know from his disposition that this was only the second postseason start of his career. The former 20-game winner got a no-decision against the Twins in Game 2, allowing only three runs over seven innings.
Watching all this from above was GM Brian Cashman, who had the vision to sign Lieber last year to a two-year, $3.5 million deal, plus incentives. Lieber did not pitch at all last season because he was rehabbing from “Tommy John” surgery.
Signings like that is what Moneyball is all about.
Take two
Jon Lieber followed Mike Mussina’s strong performance by outpitching another Boston ace, Pedro Martinez, last night in the Yankees’ 3-0, ALCS Game 2 win at the Stadium.
Here’s a look at how the two starters fared:
Lieber Martinez
7 Innings 6
3 Hits 4
0 Runs 3
82 Pitches 113
25 Balls 49
57 Strikes 64
24 Batters 27
9 Ground outs 5
9 Fly outs 6
3 Strikeouts 7
1 Walks 4
.130 Avg. .182
