Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Shaken, rattled, rolled

That's the Yankees' prediction of the state of the young Athletics when they experience Yankee Stadium in October.

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 6, 2000

NEW YORK -- The best-of-five series is tied 1-1, but the Yankees apparently have the A's exactly where they want them.

In Yankee Stadium.

In October.

And -- theoretically -- in trouble.

Being young and in the playoffs for the first time is one thing. Being young and in the playoffs as a visitor to the Bronx for the first time is something else entirely.

"It's definitely going to be an advantage," Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson said. "This is a different atmosphere, especially if we can score and get ahead early and let our fans take over and get loud and show Oakland what, I guess, real fans are like."

Compounding their potential problems, the A's haven't played well at Yankee Stadium, going 2-4 this year and getting swept in a three-game August series. And their scheduled starters for Games 3 and 4, Tim Hudson, 25, and Barry Zito, 22, haven't pitched much in New York. Hudson made one start last season, Zito one this year shortly after his late July promotion. Neither got a win.

"For guys that aren't used to this, it will be tough," Nelson said. "If we can score early, they have two young guys, that's going to be a big factor."

Said Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera: "I don't think they've been in a situation like this with this kind of crowd."

Manager Joe Torre likes to talk about the ghosts of post-seasons past that roam Yankee Stadium, and with all the struggles the Yankees have had lately, he will take all the help -- supernatural or otherwise -- he can get.

"I'd like to believe Yankee Stadium gives us an edge," Torre said. "This is a special place in post-season play."

It certainly has been. In the 1990s, the Yankees were 18-6 in post-season play at home, and they have won nine straight.

The A's have some idea of what to expect, though they didn't get a chance to settle in Thursday night. Their charter flight was delayed two hours due to weather and other problems.

Having arrived in New York a night early for a late May series, a couple of players went the stadium to watch a game from the stands, and it happened to be the electric night Boston's Pedro Martinez was pitching against Roger Clemens.

"That atmosphere was just amazing," 22-year-old third baseman Eric Chavez said. "Just being a spectator, I got a feel for what it's going to be like (this weekend) and how every pitch is going to be real important.

"I'm looking forward to it. I think it is going to be a little bit different, and I know I'm going to be a little bit nervous."

A's rookie centerfielder Terrence Long already has had problems, becoming unnerved and irritated when fans threw things at him during the August series. Oakland manager Art Howe is aware of the potential distractions but took the diplomatic approach of saying it "will be very exciting" to see how Oakland's young players react.

A's slugger and team leader Jason Giambi said he relishes the opportunity. "I've always said that's the ultimate place to play baseball," Giambi said. "It's the sports capital of the world. It doesn't get any better than that."

It will certainly be the capital of the baseball world this weekend with the Giants-Mets National League series also headed this way. Their universes will collide Saturday when the Yankees and Mets play at home, the first time two playoff games will be played in the same city.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Lightning