permit me my moment in the sun! What a year we've just had here in Phoenix. The Arizona Diamondbacks, in their 4th year period, are going to the *WORLD SERIES*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on Cherri, I am rooting for Seattle (Hate New York period) until they meet up with my D-backs, then you are on your own!! World class

Emmanuel Lozano/The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate on the field after Sunday's decisive NLCS win. Craig Counsell was the Most Valuable Player.

Durazo homer gives D-Backs NL title

Mark Gonzales

The Arizona Republic

Oct. 22, 2001

ATLANTA - They may be old, but they celebrated like kids.

And National League champions.

The Diamondbacks beat Atlanta 3-2 on Sunday night to seize their first National League title before 35,652 stunned fans at Turner Field.

"Let's hear it for the Geritol gang," shouted 42-year-old reliever Mike Morgan, who along with workhorse Randy Johnson, 38, and Greg Swindell, 36, hoisted the trophy commemorating their NL title on a stage inside a jubilant clubhouse.

The title capped the greatest achievement by the Diamondbacks, who made the World Series their crusade after getting eliminated in the 1999 NL Division Series and finishing third in the NL West in 2000.

Johnson and Curt Schilling led the way during the regular season with a total of 43 victories, and Johnson came through with seven innings of two-run ball Sunday to earn the clinching win.

But the Diamondbacks proved they were much more than Johnson and Schilling, especially when they beat St. Louis in five games in the NLDS and Atlanta in the NL Championship Series 4-1 in the best-of-seven matchup.

Second baseman Craig Counsell earned the NLCS Most Valuable Player award by going 8 for 22 with four RBIs against the Braves.

Counsell has the distinction of helping two expansion teams (Florida and the Diamondbacks) to the World Series.

"To be here all year with this team and just see everything, and the way we've won games in the playoffs, it's quite a thrill," said Counsell, who signed as a minor league free agent in the spring of 2000 and finally broke into the starting lineup for good in mid-June.

"But I think we still feel like we've got some work to do. There's no question if we're able to win this thing, it will be a bigger thrill."

The Diamondbacks won't play again until Saturday, when they will host the first two games of the World Series against either the New York Yankees or Seattle from the American League. The time off will allow them to set their rotation, anchored by Schilling and Johnson.

Manager Bob Brenly, who becomes the first rookie manager to lead his team to the World Series since Jim Frey did it with Kansas City in 1980, took some gambles that paid off handsomely.

The first move was starting Danny Bautista instead of Steve Finley, the team's most productive offensive player in the postseason. Bautista promptly hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead.

Associated Press

Arizona reliever Byung-Hyun Kim, left, celebrates with teammate Erubiel Durazo after pitching the final out against the Altanta Braves in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series in Atlanta on Sunday. The Diamondbacks beat the Braves 3-2 and advanced to the World Series. Durazo hit the game-winning two-run home run.

Mark Grace, who wasn't re-signed by the Chicago Cubs after 13 seasons, scored on Bautista's hit but had to leave the game because of a tight right hamstring.

Brenly, who replaced Buck Showalter after three seasons, opted to use left-handed Erubiel Durazo as a pinch-hitter against left-hander Tom Glavine in the fifth instead of right-handed hitter Greg Colbrunn.

Durazo came through with a two-run, opposite-field homer to snap a 1-1 tie.

"I should be the MVP for coming out of the game so Durazo could play," Grace joked.

After the game, Grace jokingly invited the entire Valley to his house for a party.

When asked whether Cubs president Andy MacPhail, who elected not to offer Grace a contract last winter, would be included, Grace smiled.

"He's not invited."

About 90 minutes after the game, nearly all of the Diamondbacks' traveling party took a group photo around the NLCS emblem painted in front of their dugout.

That included Johnson, who was spent after striking out Brian Jordan with the bases loaded to end a 35-pitch seventh inning of a 118-pitch outing.

Brenly opted for Byung-Hyun Kim, 22, to pitch the final two innings. Kim walked pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart in the ninth but struck out Marcus Giles and induced Julio Franco to hit a fly to center.

Finley, inserted as a defensive replacement, waved his arms in the air before catching the final out almost in the exact place where he made the final catch for San Diego's 1998 NLCS-clinching win over the Braves.

"BK and Erubiel are my favorite Diamondbacks," Grace smiled

-- Rob (celtic64@mindspring.com), October 22, 2001

Answers

Congrats to the D-backs.

The fact that Mike Morgan & Greg Swindell see ANY time on the mound tells me all I need to know about their pitching beyond Schilling & Johnson.

But...you do have Schilling & Johnson!

BTW, that Yankee game last night was a classic. Listened on radio - WABC - to the irrepressible John Sterling and I tell you HE WAS STUNNED by the Soriano blast. It took him something like 30 seconds before he could get out his tag line:

"THEEE YANKEES WIN!!! THEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEEEES WINNNN!!!"

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Rich

This might not be such a big deal in other cities, but here in Phoenix, we come from all 50 states, all over Canada, and other places, that we really don't yet have a *sense of community*. This is what ties us together and creates those bonds that can last. This place is going crazy and I am LOVING every minute of it!! My voice is gone my hands are sore from all the hi-5's, but, damn, it feels sooooo good! Sorry, just gotta brag a bit, a little hometown pride sure can go along way!

-- Rob (celtic64@mindspring.com), October 22, 2001.

Hey Rob, enjoy yourself! I think these days, any cause for a little hootin' and hollerin' should be taken advantage of. Go to it.

I'm not a Yankee fan per se, but I'd give my right nut (which I almost donated involuntarily in a hockey game this past Saturday) to see them win the World Series (again) this year. This community of millions NEEDS a little mindless joy right about now.

Wiht the D-backs awesome one-two punch in the starting rotation, we should see at least a couple of dynamite world series games this year.

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Given the world we live in - who could give a shit about something as stupid as proffesional sports?

-- Buff Body (cheeseburger@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

buff body

I CARE ALOT!! and so do millions of other people. And it is for the same reason you use, "because of the times we live in!" Why should I go hide in a cave? why shouldn't life go on? You still have the right NOT to participate in any manner and that's cool with me. I will NOT apologize for the joy I am feeling in this moment as a Diamondback fan!! Go D-backs and good luck to you Rich! I'll root for a NY champion in hockey, not baseball this year!{{vbg}}

-- Rob (celtic64@mindspring.com), October 22, 2001.

Rob, You're welcome for Randy. I luv that guy and miss watching him pitch. I was flipping channels between the two games because of him, I wanted the Diamonbacks to win and scared my kids with all my yelling. I would love to have the M's play the Diamonbacks in the world series. I feel for New York, but we worked too darn hard all season to let them win out of pity. With the D's clinching a world series slot I took a nosedive when the M's lost, thinking they had lost their chance. It was only an hour later that I realized it was the best out of 7 and not out of 5. Whew, what a relief. The M's are known for their comebacks and have it in them to win the rest of the series.

See you at the World Series!

-- Cherri (jessam6@home.com), October 22, 2001.

Cherri, I already owe helen an ice cream - the money is in escrow, helen - but I can't resist an opportunity. If the Mariners come back to beat the Yankees in this series I'll pay for ONE gooeyduck clam (let's hope they aren't sold by the pound). What are YOU gonna put up?

HINT: I'm partial to microbrews and I know they be plentiful in the Pacific NW. ;)

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Rich, You have yourself a deal. Seattle is as fanatical about microbeer as it is about coffee, this is the only place I know of where you can get an espresso beer! Since there is a micro brewery in almost every neighborhood you have plenty to choose from. Sorry to say gooeyducks are sold by the pound. They are great in chowder or slow cooked all day in a gooeyduck stew.

I'm sure the M's have the heart to play their best tonight, they do have the tendency to play their best when their backs are against the wall.

Just making it to the world series would be enough to send this entire region out dancing in the rain. Winning the world series would bring down the Kingdome...ooops it's already gone. I'm kind of sorry for ken Griffey Jr though, he left because he wanted to be in a team with a chance of playing in the world series. We have had so many great player we traded or let go to other teams. Jr., Randy, A-Rod. But we always seem to find new treasures, guess it's because we are open to new talent instead of going after established high quality players.

How do you want to do this? Game by game or sudden death?

-- Cherri (Jessam6@home.com), October 22, 2001.

It is remarkable that the Reds got stuck with Junior & vice versa, A- Rod chose to go to Texas (what the hell was he thinking?) and yet the Mariners improved significantly where it counts - wins/losses. So much for the "must have a superstar to win" theory.

Let's go even up on tonight's game, Cherri. Yanks do not want to travel back to Seattle. Wish it weren't Lou Pinella being sent packing. Sweet Lou has a place in Yankee history, doncha know.

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Rich, You gotta deal.

Yep, we are aware of Lou's history in NY. I think he gets kinda melancholy when we play there (every few years or so).

Tne M's owners really did a job on Randy, he didn't know if he was leaving or staying up until the day before he became a free agent. A-Rod got a quarter of a Billion Dollars, I'm not sure how many more millions than we were offering him. He's young and his status had went to his head a titch, but then he was been given an offer almost no one could refuse. With the "stars" gone, the other players could bring out their best playing and not have it diminished by an exceptional player. We like the way they play now, where every game we have exceptional playing a different player. Like Slye and the Family Stone sang... "Everybody Is A Star"~~~~~~

All this terrible news, all day long, day after day... We NEED Baseball to give ourselves a break from all of the stress.

-- Cherri (Jessam6@home.com), October 22, 2001.

Our soldiers are dying far away from home and their families, our postal workers are dying, but pro sports must go on. {shaking head in disgust} Priorities are f**ked in this country

-- (take @guess.), October 22, 2001.

No take a guess, LIFE must go ON! and Thanks for the big unit Cherri! This year has been a blast watching him work! I only wish my job was as much fun!! We'll keep a spot warm for ya down here, Good Luck!

-- Rob (celtic64@mindspring.com), October 22, 2001.

"No take a guess, LIFE must go ON!"

What does pro sports have to do with life? Idolizing young men who make millions of dollars hitting a baseball is not life (especially when those men could give a rats ass about you). Frankly, it's stupidity...

-- Buff Body (cheeseburger@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Yay! Go D-Backs!!! Too bad all the tickets were sold out last night. Well at least it'll be on TV.

-- (Another@PHX.guy), October 22, 2001.

Hey, at $175 a ticket for a decent seat, I'd RATHER watch it on TV!! I caught a spring training game of theirs earlier this year, and these guys are amazing! ALL of Arizona is routing for them!! GO DIAMONDBACKS!!!!!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Rich, What flavor would you like?

New York needed this right now, I really don't mind. *snif*

Next Year.. (We've said that before).

Do you like your brew dark, light, heavy, a certain grain?

I had to turn the channel in the 5th inning....

-- (Jessam6@home.com), October 23, 2001.

I've been trying to remember some of what I drank when I was out there a decade ago. I caught two Mariner games at that hideous dome (R.I.P.) and drank before/after across the street at a place called something like *McCrory's*. Big place. Lotsa funky beer/ale on tap. A taste treat and a veritable gold mine. Wonder if they folded after they built *Safeco*?

Also enjoyed a microbrewery in the U of W district with a name having something to do with an elephant. *White Elephant*? *Pink Polka Dot Elephant*?

I'd like a black & tan, Cherri. Make it a bucket. And none of this chemically-induced to mix stuff. I want the stout floatin' on top of the lager with a clear line of demarcation.

And a Crazy Straw through which I shall sip it. :)

You can buy me one at the next get together, Cherri, or if either one of us is on the other's turf. Okey-dokey?

Now if you had been a doomer, you'd own a dehydrator...

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), October 23, 2001.

A great World Series match-up is just what this country needs right now. Sports have always had the ability to bring people together and channel energies for common goals, if only for a short time. Of course, not everyone is so enthralled over these events and the Puff Body’s of the country will feel left out. Hey, there’s always reality TV.

I predict the D-backs in seven and we will be treated to one of the greatest World Series EVER.

MVP? Curt Shilling with 3 wins.

-- So (cr@t.es), October 23, 2001.

We demand that the Diamondbacks change their name. The D-back rattler is a noble creature and must not be diminished by naming a baseball team after it.

Why don't you give the team some dumb Indian name?

-- (Petulant Petula @ PETA.pissed), October 23, 2001.

Look familiar?

http://www.fxmcrorys.com/fx.html

This is a quest I know I will enjoy.

Great job RANDY! AZ=4 N.Y.=0

F.X. McCrory's is alive and well. The new football stadium is being built on the KingDome site, the Safe is nextdoor, so business is good at Mcrory's

We will find a way to get you that brew, Hopefully I will be able to make the next gettogether, or meet up some how.

Oh, I'm a doomer at heart, just didn't see a justification for it for y2k, but I have a dehydrator, it's around here somewhere......

-- (Jessam6@home.com), October 28, 2001.

D'back win two on their home turf (YESSSS!!!!!). Next 3 games in NY', in chilly weather~! Then next weekend, they are HOME again! And folks think Az is sticks country-LOL!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), October 28, 2001.

It wasn't very long ago that the Yankees lost the first two games, of a shorter series, both losses *at home*, against a team that won more than 100 games, and THEN had to play at their opponent's park, where their opponent had won the last *SEVENTEEN STRAIGHT*. And the Yankees STILL won that series.

Much as I hate the Yankees, I must say that they don't choke. And that's how you win it all.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), October 29, 2001.