Saturday, October 27, 2001
'We're not afraid,' D'backs proclaim
Defending champ Yankees rank as clear favorite
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamonbacks won't be intimidated by the New York Yankees.
Curt Schilling said it. Mark Grace said it. Luis Gonzalez said it. Reggie Sanders said it. Bob Brenly said it.
On the eve of the Diamondbacks' first appearance in the World Series, it wasn't clear whether the Diamondbacks were trying to convince the world or themselves that they weren't afraid of the big, bad Yankees. But it was a recurring theme.
“We won't be intimidated,” Gonzalez said Friday. “This is a veteran club. No disrespect to the Seattle Mariners, but the Yankees are the team we wanted to play. For us to be the best, we have beat the best.”
The Yankees — with three straight World Series titles and four of the last five — are clearly that.
The Diamondbacks get their chance at dethroning the Yankees when the series starts at 8:02p.m. today at Bank One Ballpark. Arizona's Curt Schilling faces New York's hottest pitcher, Mike Mussina.
The Diamondbacks made history by becoming the expansion team to reach the World Series the quickest (four years). The Yankees are going for their 27th world title.
This crew of Yankees has won 16 of its last 17 World Series games. “It is amazing,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “No question. To win the 16 of 17, the only thing it gives us is that we have the experience.”
The streak makes the Yankees the favorite. But Arizona, with Schilling and Randy Johnson, makes an intriguing matchup. Schilling is 3-0 with three complete games in this year's postseason. Johnson is 2-1.
They'll combine to start at least four games in the Series.
“Schill and Randy can be pretty intimidating,” Grace said.
And the Diamondbacks? They won't be intimidated.
“When you use the words "mystique' and "aura' ... those are dancers in a nightclub,” Schilling said. “Those are not things we concern ourselves with on the ball field.”
Said Gonzalez: “Our ballclub has a lot of quiet confidence. We are not intimidated by anybody, by any means.”
Said Sanders: “This is a veteran club. We're glad to be playing the Yankees.”
The World Series figures to be decided by pitching.
The Diamondbacks have the advantage with the big duo; the Yankees have the superior bullpen.
Schilling and Johnson are arguably the two best starters in the game and possibly the best one-two combination since Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale pitched for Los Angeles in the mid-1960s.
For the Yankees, Mussina was 17-11 with a 3.15 ERA in the regular season. He is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in the postseason.
Mussina doesn't have to pitch into the eighth inning. The Yankees are 36-1 in the their last six postseasons in games they led after six innings.
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'We're not afraid,' D'backs proclaim
