Notebook: Pettitte leary about batting against Unit
PHOENIX - Andy Pettitte is resigned to the fact that he might be all that's left tonight for the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
With 6-foot, 10-inch Randy Johnson starting for the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yankees will counter by taking a conventional approach. That means an all-right-handed hitting lineup, one that won't include Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill and David Justice but will feature Pettitte.
And Pettitte is batting only because the rules don't permit a designated hitter to be used in a National League ballpark.
"I guess I'll try to get a bunt down if I have to," Pettitte said, laughing. "Everybody is telling me to look out toward second base because that's where the ball is going to be coming from, basically. It's going to be tough, obviously, to hit off him or even try to get a bunt down off him.
"But I'll just try to do the best I can."
Johnson won't be surprised if Yankees manager Joe Torre goes by the book with his starting lineup.
"Over the past three or four years, I don't think it's any secret that I predominantly have faced right-handed lineups," he said. "I think managers feel like that's their best chance."
Managers had little chance against Johnson this season, no matter what kind of lineup they used. Johnson was 21-6 with a 2.49 ERA and 372 strikeouts in 249.2 innings.
In the regular season, right-handed hitters batted .204 in 783 at-bats against the Big Unit. Left-handed hitters batted .196 while receiving only 107 at-bats.
"There is no left-hander, I think, that goes to sleep with a smile on his face knowing he's going to face Randy Johnson," Torre said. "He's intimidating. It seems like he steps on your foot every time he lets go of the ball."
Torre will start Shane Spencer in right field in place of Justice or O'Neill. He is undecided about first base, but he likely will sit Martinez in favor of Randy Velarde.
Velarde is 19 for 42 in his career against Johnson.
"You look for a fastball to hit - keep it simple," Velarde said. "You can't go up there with too many things on your mind. He's tough enough to deal with, let alone going up there with some distractions. You know you're going to get a lot of adrenaline, a lot of energy."
ROSTER MANAGEMENT
When the Yankees submitted their World Series roster yesterday, it included one change. Left-handed reliever Randy Choate was included, and right-hander Mark Wohlers was excluded.
Choates was not on the roster for the first two playoff rounds, but Torre wanted a third lefty in the bullpen. Wohlers wasn't a vital bullpen cog anyhow. He pitched just once in the first two rounds and was hit hard, giving up three hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
"The toughest thing was making a decision on not taking Mark," Torre said. "He's a guy I would go to war with."
Torre also considered adding left-handed hitting first baseman Nick Johnson, but he opted to keep infielder Luis Sojo on the roster.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The Diamondbacks might not be in the World Series if owner Jerry Colangelo hadn't convinced 10 players before the season to defer money from their contracts. That enabled the Diamondbacks to cut their payroll obligation below $40 million.
"If we didn't do that, guys would have been playing all over the place," outfielder Luis Gonzalez said.
The downside is that Colangelo is faced with owing $150 million in deferred compensation.
"When I set out to get it done, I never thought I wouldn't be able to get it done, so I never thought about people being elsewhere," Colangelo said. "I never thought that way. My thought was: 'Here's what I need to get done.' I believed the guys would be willing to do it and for the right reasons."
THE "OTHER" PITCHER
Much of the attention tonight will be on Johnson, but Pettitte will be an imposing obstacle for the Diamondbacks in his own non-descript fashion.
Pettitte was 15-10 with a 3.99 ERA in the regular season and his 103 victories in the past six seasons are the most by an American League pitcher. He also was 2-0 in the ALCS and was named the series MVP.
Still, Pettitte understands and accepts his role as the underdog in the matchup against Johnson.
"I don't go out and strike a lot of people out. I don't go out and dominate games. Sometimes, I just get the other guys out and don't let them score too much," Pettitte said. "I kind of do it in an ugly fashion."
STAR-STUDDED SERIES
The World Series is bringing out the celebrities and baseball stars. Actor Billy Crystal stood behind the cage while the Yankees took batting practice.
Recording artist Jewel sang the National Anthem, and Vanessa Williams sang God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch. Home run champion Barry Bonds threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Tonight, Ricky Henderson will have the honors of throwing out the first pitch. Ray Charles will sing America the Beautiful, and Emmy Lou Harris will sing God Bless America.
