#5. 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. #28. 1961 World Champion New York Yankees
A main event anywhere in the world; the top remaining seed in the field, the 125 win '98 Yankees against a Yankees team from 37 years prior - Maris/Mantle and the '61 squad.
Yankees 114-48 (Pythag 114-48) Mgr. Joe Torre (AL MoY)
1st in AL East
d. Rangers 3-0 in ALDS
d. Indians 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-David Wells)
d. Padres 4-0 in World Series (MVP-Scott Brosius)
d. #124 2004 Cardinals 2-0 (MVP: Bernie Williams/Tino Martinez)
d. #69 1910 Cubs 3-1 (MVP-Orlando Hernandez)
All-Stars 3B Scott Brosius, SS Derek Jeter (3rd AL MVP) OF Paul O'Neill, SP David Wells (3rd AL Cy Young) OF Bernie Williams
Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Tim Raines, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre
125-50 regular/postseason, won the AL East by 22. 41 games over .500 by the All Star Break. David Wells threw a perfect game in May. Darryl Strawberry had a cancer diagnosis in October.
Yankees 109-53 (Pythag 103-59) Mgr. Ralph Houk
Won AL Pennant
d. Reds 4-1 in World Series
d. #101 1949 Dodgers 2-1 (MVP-Roger Maris/Hal Reniff)
d. #37 2002 Angels 3-0 (MVP-Whitey Ford/Bill Stafford)
All-Stars RP Luis Arroyo, OF Yogi Berra, SP Whitey Ford (AL Cy Young, 5th AL MVP) C Elston Howard, SS Tony Kubek, OF Mickey Mantle (2nd AL MVP) OF Roger Maris (AL MVP) 1B Moose Skowron
Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle,
Maris hits 61 homers, from June 1 on they won 70% of their games; Yogi, Ford and Mantle are all also on the '53 team that advanced to this round (Yogi's also on the '47 team that advanced to this round)
LF Berra (36) (LH) 115 2.6
DH Blanchard (28) (LH) 168 3
CF Mantle (29) (SH) 206 9.9
RF Maris (26) (LH) 167 6.2
C Howard (32) 153 5.6
1B Skowron (30) 113 1.3
SS Kubek (25) (LH) 90 3.3
3B Boyer (24) 79 3.7
2B Richardson (25) 67 -1.2
SP Ford (32) (LH) 115 6
Bench:
LF Cerv (36) 124 1
LF Lopez (31) 64
P Stafford (22) 139 3.6
SP3 Terry (25) 118 3.3
Platoons at C and LF, the RH Sheldon will be the 4th starter should they advance.
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
DH Davis (38) (SH) 116
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
LF Curtis (29) 90 2.9
SP Cone (35) 125 5.3
Bench:
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132 1.5
C Girardi (33) 85
IF Sojo (33) 37
SP Wells (35) (LH) 127 5.2
P Hernandez (32) 132 3.7
Platoon at DH and left. It'll be Pettitte who gets the 4th starters spot if they advance.
Lineups:
C-Howard
1B-Martinez
2B-Knoblauch
SS-Jeter
3B-Brosius
LF-Push
CF-Mantle, easily the best player in the series
RF-Maris
DH-Blanchard
SP1-Ford
SP2-Wells
SP3-Hernandez
Pen-1998
WAR: 1998 7 1961 5, '98 isn't better by much, but they're better and favored here.
GAME ONE
1st: Yankee Stadium will be the site for every game of this Regional Semi-Final; for the first time in the tournament, two representatives of the same franchise face off. Two dominant World Champions, each of which has just lost one game in the tournament. David Cone gets the game one ball for '98. He's a 35 year old RH, 20-7, 3.55. Cone was 4th in the AL Cy Young this year; his 4th career top 5 finish. His 20 wins led the league. He walks Mickey Mantle with 2 away, that's all.
1st: '61 counters with 32 year old lefty Whitey Ford, 25-4, 3.21. Ford won the Cy Young this year and was 5th in the AL MVP. Ford led the league in wins, winning %, FIP. With one out, Bernie Williams homers just inside of the left field foul pole - this is going to be a loud, loud, divided crowd, split down generational lines, the younger Yankee fans roaring their approval as the '98 center fielder circles the bases. Chili Davis walks after the second out and then Jorge Posada singles That's all. 1961 0 1998 1
2nd: Elston Howard doubles. 32 year old Howard only catching against the RH Cone because the DH is in play in games 1-2. Howard made his 5th straight All Star team this year; he was 10th in the AL MVP. Cone gets one, then gives up a base hit to Tony Kubek. That's all.
2nd: Tino Martinez walks. The 30 year old first baseman had his big year the season before, when he was 2nd in the AL MVP. That's all Ford allows.
3rd: Johnny Blanchard draws a one out walk. Blanchard's DH'ing tonight; he's the Yankee catcher against RH pitchers normally. The 28 year old never had another year close to this one, slugging .613. Mantle singles, Roger Maris walks and 1961 has loaded the bases. Howard clears the bases with a double; 3 runs score, a big roar from the older fans. 1961 3 1998 1
3rd: Scott Brosius singles with 2 away. Brosius is 31, he makes the All Star team this year for the only time in his career. That's all
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Paul O'Neill singles to right center with one out, the Yankee RF is 35, made his 5th and final All Star team this year; this is the 6th straight season (and last) that O'Neill hit .300 or higher. Martinez walks, Chuck Knoblauch walks and 1998 has loaded the bases. Chad Curtis is in left today against the lefty Ford and he singles home a run. That's all. 1961 3 1998 2
5th: Blanchard and Mantle single back to back. Mickey Mantle has now reached 3 times; he's 29, finished 2nd in the AL MVP this year for the second straight season. This was his 7th career top 5 finish. He led the league in walks, slugging, and OPS+. A Maris sac fly scores a run. 1961 4 1998 2
5th: Williams doubles; Bernie's 29, this is the best year he'll ever have with the bat, he hit .339. Williams was 7th in the MVP and won his 2nd Gold Glove. After an out, Chili Davis comes through with a run scoring single. 1961 4 1998 3
6th: 1-2-3
6th: With one out, Knoblauch walks. The second baseman is 29, his first year in pinstripes; he never made an All Star team in NY, his last appeance was the year prior, which was also his only Gold Glove. Curtis walks, tying run in scoring position --- Ford gets the second out then walks Williams - bases loaded - 2 out -- and it's Brosius who comes through; a 2 run double that gives 1998 the lead. 1961 4 1998 5
7th: Yogi walks with one out. Yogi's already advanced as a coach with the '77 Yankees - on that team are Willie Randolph and Chris Chambliss who are both here, coaching for the '98 Yankees. Cone gets the next two.
7th: 22 year old RH Hal Reniff is the new 1961 pitcher. 2.58. O'Neill singles with one out, Martinez follows with a single, Knoblauch singles O'Neill home and it's 1961 4 1998 6
8th: Joe Torre turns the game over to his pen; Mike Stanton enters, 31 year old lefty, 5.47. He gets one - and then Elston Howard bombs a homer to left that draws 1961 within a run. 1961 5 1998 6
8th: Williams walks, an out later Chili Davis comes through again with a run scoring double. Davis is platooning at DH in the series; likely this is his only action - he's 38, in his first year in New York. Davis had a 19 year big league career and hit the ball in 17 of them. Davis played in just 35 games this season. Ralph Houk's out to the mound; it's now 28 year old RH Jim Coates. He's got 11 wins and a 3.44 ERA. He gets through it. 1961 5 1998 7
9th: The Sandman Enters; 28 year old RH Mariano Rivera comes on, 36 saves, 1.91. Rivera's just 4 years into his career.
Clete Boyer leads off. Easy grounder to short.
Bobby Richardson is next. Easy fly ball to left.
Yogi is the last hope for 1961 -- he hits a line drive to right -- that hangs up enough for O'Neill to make a nice play to end the game.
1961 5
1998 7
WP Cone
LP Ford
Sv Rivera
The '98 team rips a dozen hits (everyone but Jeter) and get game one.
Williams 4x/ HR, double
Brosius 2x/double
Davis 3x/double
Posada 1x
O'Neill 2x
Martinez 3x
Knoblauch 3x
Curtis 2x
Berra 1x
Blanchard 2x
Mantle 3x
Maris 1x
Howard 3x/HR 2 doubles
Kubek 1x
LF Cerv (36) 124 1
C Howard (32) 153 5.6
CF Mantle (29) (SH) 206 9.9
RF Maris (26) (LH) 167 6.2
DH Blanchard (28) (LH) 168 3
1B Skowron (30) 113 1.3
SS Kubek (25) (LH) 90 3.3
3B Boyer (24) 79 3.7
2B Richardson (25) 67 -1.2
P Stafford (22) 139 3.6
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132 1.5
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
SP Wells (35) (LH) 127 5.2
GAME TWO
1st: Back at it, Game 2 - 1961 looking to even the series up against David Wells. 35 year old lefty. 18-4, 3.49. Wells is 3rd in the Cy Young this year; led the league in winning %, shutouts, WHIP, K/9, K/BB. He gets one, then gives up a base hit to Elston Howard. Wells walks Mickey Mantle and then - Look Out -- Roger Maris just thumps one - a three run homer into Monument Park; an absolute bomb to center field and 1961 bolts out in front. 1961 3 1998 0
1st: Bill Stafford is staked to that lead. 22 year old RH, 14-9, 2.68. He's in his second season, had a no decision in his only start in the Series this year. Tim Raines is in the lineup against RH pitchers and he singles. 2 outs later Paul O'Neill walks. That's it.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Scott Brosius singles with one out, he had a big 2 run double in game one and was World Series MVP. Jorge Posada singles. The Yankee catcher is 27, is his first season as an every day player. Chuck Knoblauch walks and we're loaded. But Stafford gets through it again.
3rd: Bob Cerv is in the lineup today against the lefty Wells and he doubles. Cerv's 36, platooning in left with Yogi. He came over in a deal during the season and played in 57 games with New York in '61. Elston Howard then singles Cerv home and now it's 4-0. After the first out -- Good God he did it again, Roger Maris blasts a 2 run shot to dead center and even the 1998 fans are roaring their approval - Maris has two monster homers and 1961 is rolling today. Johnny Blanchard follows with another home run. Wells is out of the game; Ramiro Mendoza, 26 year old RH comes on. 10 wins, 3.25. He gets through it. 1961 7 1998 0
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Derek Jeter singles; it's his first hit of the series. Jeter's 24, it's his 3rd full season in the bigs, he finished 3rd in the AL MVP, led the league in runs scored. 2 outs later Knoblauch singles, Raines then walks and 1998 has loaded them again -- and again, Stafford escapes.
5th: Elston Howard singles. 3 hits for Howard today. Mantle walks, an out later Blanchard singles and its 1961 8 1998 0
5th: Tino Martinez singles with 2 away, Jeter follows with a single and again, again, 1998 can't cross the plate.
6th: Bobby Richardson singles with 2 away. The Yankee second baseman is 25, he won his first of 5 straight Gold Gloves this year. His bat is bad, 67 OPS+. That's all.
6th: Stafford's day is done and Bob Turley enters. 30 year old RH, 5.75 ERA. He gets two and then Raines ends the shutout with a homer to center. Rock Raines is 38, he's 11 years past his last All Star appearance. 1961 8 1998 1
7th: The next Yankee pitcher is Mike Buddie, 27 year old RH, 5.62 ERA as both managers scraping the bottom of their pens here in an 8-1 ballgame. Mantle walks with one out, after the second out - Johnny Blanchard hits his 2nd homer of the day and now it is 10-1. Torre's back out to the mound, it's Darren Holmes, 32 year old RH, 3.33, and he gives up another home run, this one to Moose Skowron. Tony Kubek then walks - Game 2 is over and it is a beating, 1961 11 1998 1
7th: Darryl Strawberry singles; Strawberrys DH'ing against RH pitchers; at 36, he's 7 years distant from his last All Star game. Paul O'Neill follows with a base hit. Tino Martinez singles and '98 has loaded the bases with nobody out. Turley walks Jeter and it's 11-2. Houk goes back to the pen, 32 year old RH Al Ditmar, 4.64. He gives up a single to Brosius and it's 11-3. A Posada double play scores one more run. So, this game is long out of hand, but this helps a little. 1961 11 1998 4
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Bernie Williams singles with one out, that's it.
9th: 31 year old lefty Mike Stanton on for 1998; and 1961 gets one more homer - Mantle hits a majestic, soaring shot that clears the left field foul pole. Maris walks, that's all. 1961 12 1998 4
9th: 3 outs left to even the series - Martinez walks, Jeter singles - and after one out, Posada homers to right center - a 3 run shot that makes it 12-7. 22 year old RH Hal Reniff now comes on, 2.58. He gets the second out, then walks Raines - and ends it.
1961 12
1998 7
WP Safford
LP Wells
15 hits for 1998 - but 1961 unleased the power today; 6 homers, which might be the high for a single game in the tournament and this series is tied.
Berra 1x
Blanchard 5x/2 HR
Mantle 7x/HR
Maris 4x/2 HR
Howard 6x/HR 2 doubles
Kubek 2x
Cerv 1x/double
Skowron 1x/HR
Richardson 1x
Williams 5x/ HR, double
Brosius 4x/double
Davis 3x/double
Posada 3x/HR
O'Neill 4x
Martinez 6x
Knoblauch 5x
Curtis 2x
Raines 4x/HR
Strawberry 1x
Jeter 4x
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
P Hernandez (32) 132 3.7
LF Berra (36) (LH) 115 2.6
C Blanchard (28) (LH) 168 3
CF Mantle (29) (SH) 206 9.9
RF Maris (26) (LH) 167 6.2
1B Skowron (30) 113 1.3
SS Kubek (25) (LH) 90 3.3
3B Boyer (24) 79 3.7
2B Richardson (25) 67 -1.2
SP3 Terry (25) 118 3.3
GAME THREE
1st: We move...well, nowhere, other than 37 years back..to 1961, which means no DH, but we stay at Yankee Stadium for pivotal Game 3. 25 year old RH Ralph Terry on the mound; 16-3, 3.15. A year from now, Terry is MVP of the '62 World Series. Tim Raines greets him with a base hit. That's all.
1st: 32 year old RH Orlando Hernandez was MVP of 1998s win in the previous round and he goes today. 12-4, 3.13. He was 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year. Yogi walks. An out later Mantle walks, he's reached 8 times, leading both teams. That's it.
2nd: Scott Brosius singles with one out. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Bobby Richardson walks and then Hernandez hits Terry. But Hernandez escapes it - 1961 has yet to get a hit.
4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Terry - different game than the offensive explosion we've seen so far.
4th: Mantle singles, 1961's first hit - and the Mick has reached 9 times. Maris follows with a walk. Maris is 26; he hit two monster home runs in game 2. This was the back half of his consecutive MVP seasons. He broke the single season home run record with 61, he led the league in runs scored, RBI and total bases. Again - Hernandez escapes.
5th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Terry
5th: Terry doubled twice during the season - he doubles here with one out. Hernandez holds it here; both clubs with just two hits today as the pitching steps up.
6th: Williams singles with 2 out - but that's all.
6th: Mantle walks, he keeps getting on base. That's all Hernandez allows and we're still scoreless.
7th: Martinez singles. That's it.
7th: Richardson doubles with one away -- can 1961 punch this one across and will that be enough? Hernandez gets the second out -- but then Yogi comes through with a run scoring single and 1961 has broken the logjam in this crucial Game 3. Blanchard singles. Mantle singles. He's reached 11 times. Bases loaded for Maris -- Torre leaves Hernandez in and Il Duque gets him. 1998 0 1961 1
8th: 6 outs to get and Houk turns to his closer, 34 year old lefty Luis Arroyo. 15 wins, 29 saves, 2.15. This is his career year, the only All Star season of his career - Arroyo finished 6th in the AL MVP. Knoblauch greets him with a single. An out later Raines walks, Tying run in scoring position. And Bernie comes through - Williams singles to score Knoblauch and tie this game and tie this series. That's all. 1998 1 1961 1
8th: Mike Stanton comes on for Torre; 1-2-3, big inning for Stanton.
9th: 1-2-3, Arroyo buckles down and we go to the bottom of the 9th.
9th: With one out, 31 year old backup OF Hector Lopez pinch singles. Potential winning run on base. But Stanton gets the next two and we head to the 10th.
10th: Hal Reniff is the new 1961 pitcher. Brosius walks. Reniff gets the next two and then 25 year old second baseman Homer Bush pinch hits -- and down an 0-2 count battles all the way back for a walk. Go ahead run in scoring position. 2 away. And it's Tim Raines who comes through with a base hit -- Brosius scores - 1998 takes the lead - Rock Raines singles and it's 1998 2 1961 1
10th: Mariano Rivera to the mound. 3 outs away.
Mickey Mantle rips a single. Mantle an on base machine in the series.
Maris singles. Mantle goes all the way to third and 1961 has them on the corners. Nobody out.
And Skowron flies to left -- Raines doesn't really have a play home - Mantle scores and it's tied again.
Kubek singles -- Maris goes to third - and the winning run is at third base - Rivera getting hit by this big 1961 offense - winning run at third base.
Boyer flies to shallow center -- Maris headed home -- Bernie with the bullet through - there's going to be a collision at the plate - Maris barrels in to Posada --
And Posada holds on! Maris is out - Bernie Williams guns Roger Maris out at the plate and the game continues! Bernie Williams saves this game - saves the day - and we head to the 11th! 1998 2 1961 2
1th: Reniff gets one, Martinez then reaches on an error - Reniff gets the second out, Martinez moving into scoring position. Houk goes to the pen - Jim Coates is a 28 year old RH, 11 wins, 3.44 -- and Brosius singles to right -- it scores Martinez -- the '98 Yankees have again taken this lead. Posada walks - that's all, but again, it's 1998 who pulls ahead. 1998 3 1961 2
11th: Rivera still on; rough 10th inning, but now he has a chance to get this win.
Richardson grounds to short.
33 year old third baseman Billy Gardner on to pinch hit -- easy fly to left.
Yogi singles. 1961 stays alive.
Blanchard singles.
Tying run in scoring position. Winning run at first. 2 outs.
Mickey Mantle comes to the plate. Rivera vs Mantle in the biggest spot of the series. Classic moment.
And Mantle hits a long one -- deep - deep to right field -- O'Neill catches it at the base of the wall and it's over.
1998 3
1961 2
WP Rivera
LP Reniff
A roller coaster here - 1998 down 1-0 going to the 8th inning, Bernie singles home the tying run, Raines the go ahead run -- 1961 came back against Rivera to tie the score -- but Bernie throws out Maris at the plate to keep 1998 alive; they come back with a Brosius RBI in the 11th and with 2 on and 2 out - Rivera gets Mantle and ends the game. And now 1998 is just one game away from the Region 5 Final.
Williams 7x/ HR, double
Brosius 7x/double
Davis 3x/double
Posada 4x/HR
O'Neill 4x
Martinez 7x
Knoblauch 6x
Curtis 2x
Raines 7x/HR
Strawberry 1x
Jeter 4x
Berra 4x
Blanchard 7x/2 HR
Mantle 12x/HR
Maris 6x/2 HR
Howard 6x/HR 2 doubles
Kubek 3x
Cerv 1x/double
Skowron 2x/HR
Richardson 3x
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
SP Cone (35) 125 5.3
LF Berra (36) (LH) 115 2.6
C Blanchard (28) (LH) 168 3
CF Mantle (29) (SH) 206 9.9
RF Maris (26) (LH) 167 6.2
1B Skowron (30) 113 1.3
SS Kubek (25) (LH) 90 3.3
3B Boyer (24) 79 3.7
2B Richardson (25) 67 -1.2
SP Ford (32) (LH) 115 6
GAME FOUR
1st: Rematch of Game One - 1961 needs to win to force a showdown game 5. The great Whitey Ford on the mound. Ford was the regular season MVP and the World Series MVP, He went 2-0 in the World Series, didn't give up an earned run. 1-2-3
1st: David Cone can pitch 1998 into the Region 5 Final. Cone was 2-0 in the '98 postseason, going 24 innings and giving up 6 earned. With 2 out, Mantle singles. If '61 falls today, don't blame the Mick, he has reached 13 times. Maris follows with a single. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Clete Boyer singles with one out, it's Boyer's first hit of the series. The Yankee third baseman is 24, his second season as the every day third baseman, he'll hold the job through '66. Richardson singles. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3. 9 up, 9 down.
3rd: 1-2-3, early on, this resembles game 3.
4th: Jeter walks - and then Bernie Williams hits a 2 run homer to put 1998 in front. It's Williams' second homer of the series, and when you consider he saved game 3 by throwing Maris out at the plate, if 1998 closes this out today he has to be considered the MVP frontrunner. 1998 2 1961 0
4th: Boyer singles again, with 2 away, but that's all.
5th: Raines singles with one out, he's reached 8 times, tied with Bernie for club lead, and didn't play in game 1. That's it - Ford has 6 Ks.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Jeter doubles; Jeter got it going in game 3 and here's his first extra base hit. Ford strikes out 2 more for a total of 8.
6th: Mantle singles again, he's reached 14 times. Maris singles - Mantle goes around to third and he scores on a Skowron double play. Tony Kubek doubles. The Yankee shortstop is 25, he made his 3rd and final All Star team this year. Cone then hits Boyer - 2 on, 2 out - but that's all. 1998 2 1961 1
7th: 1-2-3. 9 Ford Ks.
7th: Ford stays in the game and draws a walk - but that's all.
8th: Just 3 hits off of Ford today, but one was a 2 run Williams homer and it's the margin. Knoblauch singles. 2 outs later Williams walks and that's it.
8th: Just 6 outs to go, Cone on the mound and you can see Rivera start to stir in the bullpen.
Cone strikes out Mantle.
Cone strikes out Maris.
Moose Skowron singles - can 1961 keep this going?
They can't - Kubek grounds to first and 1998 is 3 away.
9th: Hal Reniff comes on for 1961, he gives up a 1 out O'Neill single but that's it.
9th: So- you're Joe Torre; Cone is still strong; Rivera's already pitched twice in the series and went 2 innings in game 3. What do you do?
Cone goes to the pen. Mariano Rivera comes on. 3 outs from ending the series.
Boyer grounds to short.
Richardson grounds to third.
Bob Cerv off the bench to hit -- 1961 down to their last man --
Cerv fly ball to right -- it's an easy one for O'Neill and it's done. No huge celebration for 1998 - the two generations of Yankees shaking hands on the field - united applause from the crowd - 1998 has moved on to the Region 5 Final.
1998 2
1961 1
WP Cone
LP Ford
Sv Rivera
Williams 7x/ 2HR, double
Brosius 7x/double
Martinez 7x
Knoblauch 7x
Raines 8x/HR
Williams and Raines have the best series with the bats - Cone was great today and Rivera won a game and saved two -- but he did blow the save in game 3, a game 1998 would have lost if not for the Williams throw home - add that to his 2 run homer being the only runs '98 scored today and it's an easy MVP decision.
