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Updated: October 30, 1:00 PM ET By David Schoenfield ESPN.com PHOENIX -- On paper, this matchup is like Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland. Holmes vs. Cooney. Reagan vs. Mondale. A mismatch. A wipeout. No contest.
Roger Clemens vs. Brian Anderson in the World Series? The greatest right-hander since perhaps Walter Johnson -- the man with a record five Cy Young Awards and a possible sixth on the way, coming off a remarkable 20-win season at age 39 -- against the left-hander who won just four games all season? Sure, Anderson is one of the most unlikeliest starters in World Series history, after going just 4-9 with a 5.20 ERA during the regular season. Opposing hitters pounded him for a .295 average and 25 home runs in just 133.1 innings pitched. He was so ineffective at times that manager Bob Brenly dropped him from the rotation in early September with the team fighting for a playoff spot. He didn't start in the first two rounds of this postseason. Yet, there he is, starting Game 3 in the Bronx, hoping to give the Diamondbacks a commanding three games to none series lead against a future Hall of Famer who has allowed six hits and one run over his past two World Series starts. "After BB told me that I was going to get the start, I was thinking about who they might start and, of course, Roger falls on Game 3," Anderson said Sunday prior to Game 2. "And I just kind of chuckled to myself, like, 'Well, it figures. If you're going to get a start in Yankee Stadium in this series, you might as well get Rocket.'" That he's even able to start is somewhat amazing when you hear Anderson list off his string of setbacks during this year.
And that was all before the regular season even started. Once the real games began, he went on the disabled list with a strained back and later was slowed by a strained groin. "And on top of that was plenty of ineffectiveness," Anderson joked. But Anderson had a couple good relief outings in the playoffs and combined with Yankee Stadium's generosity toward left-handed pitchers -- and perhaps the success that Seattle's Jamie Moyer, like Anderson a lefty who relies on control rather than power -- Brenly tabbed Anderson for the start. The charismatic and talkative Anderson, who touched on topics including his love of Nebraska (even though he is an Ohio native) during his Sunday press conference, looks forward to the crucial start opposite Clemens in front of the rabid, often hostile crowd at Yankee Stadium. "I love going in there because they can obnoxious," he said. "They may be mean, but they are witty. They come up with funny things … but you don't want them to see you laughing at it because you are supposed to be getting locked in for a game." Brenly has confidence his pitcher can do that. "Brian Anderson is a very calm, cool and collected pitcher. He does not get rattled," said Brenly, who also believes Anderson can draw upon his previous World Series experience with Cleveland in 1997.
He won't be sleepwalking Tuesday night. Not with a chance to all but wrap up the series for the Diamondbacks. Thirty-six of the previous 47 teams who won the first two games of the World Series went on to win it all. Of the 20 teams that went up 3-0, all 20 won it all (and 17 of those did it in four games). For Anderson to win, he'll have to keep the ball down, since he doesn't blow his fastball past hitters like Arizona's Game 1 and 2 starters (you may have heard of them). He mixes in a changeup and occasional cut fastball. Right-handers pounded him this season for a .547 slugging percentage. While that statistic may have Yankee hitters salivating, they're also staring at a .102 team batting average through two defeats. Anderson won't be expected to carry the load like Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. That burden now falls on Clemens. "Roger is the key," Joe Torre said. "Roger needs to go out and dominate like these two guys have." David Schoenfield is the baseball editor at ESPN.com. |
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Rocket's glare
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