The worst bullpen meltdown of the 2001 World Series was not the one you think. You probably go right to Byung-Hyun Kim blowing saves in games four and five in Yankee Stadium, putting the Diamondbacks on the brink of elimination heading into game six. But that’s not it.
You might also think of Mariano Rivera blowing the save in game seven. Mark Grace singled, Rivera turned a sac bunt attempt into runners on first and second, Tony Womack eventually knocked home the tying run. Then Tim McCarver – without so much as a spoiler alert – laid out exactly what was about to happen like he’d seen it already, and Luis Gonzalez shoveled a ball over the drawn in infield to win the World Series. Just like that, the greatest closer of all time blew game seven of the World Series, ending a Yankee dynasty in its tracks.
But that’s not it either. I’m talking about Jay Witasick’s beautifully disastrous performance in game six.
With the Yankees up three games to two in the 2001 World Series, the series shifted back to Arizona for a critical game six. The Yankees were just one win away from their fourth consecutive World Series championship, while the Diamondbacks, in their fourth season, hadn’t yet existed in a world in which the Yankees were not the champs. Kim’s consecutive blown saves put Arizona in this position, but in game six, it would be the Yankees bullpen that would implode. Though Jay Witasick’s meltdown didn’t come in as high a leverage situation as Kim’s (nor Rivera’s), it was something to behold.
Witasick entered Game 6 with runners on second and third with the Yankees trailing 5-0. It was still early. The game was in reach. Here’s how hitters fared against Witasick that inning:
- Single to LF
- Single to LF
- Single to LF
- Single to RF
- Tony Womack strikes out swinging (phew!)
- Single to CF
- Double to LF
- Single to CF
- Double to CF
- Reggie Sanders strikes out swinging (finally!)
In a game when the Yankees could have clinched a World Series victory, Joe Torre let Witasick stay in the game to surrender four consecutive hits – twice! – in one inning. By the time Reggie Sanders finally struck out, the Diamondbacks led 12-0. Relievers are often made to wear it the way Witasick did here, but a win in this game meant a World Series title. This wasn’t a normal game. This was the type of game when – normally – you never give up. Witasick’s 8 earned runs tied him with Grover “Pete” Alexander for the most runs ever given up in a World Series game. Alexander took 2 1/3 innings to give up that many in the 1928 World Series against the Yankees.
Witasick would give up two more hits the next inning (he started another inning!), giving him a final line that looks like this (parents, cover your children’s eyes): 1 ⅓ innings, 10 hits, 9 runs (8 earned), 4 strikeouts. Randy Choate came on and allowed Witasick’s stragglers to score, by which point the Diamondbacks led 15-0. Luis Gonzalez – their consensus best player – was pulled for rest in the bottom of that inning (the 4th inning!). Given the stakes of the game, it’s amazing that Torre allowed Witasick to get shelled the way he did.
I’ll give Torre this: games four and five of the 2001 World Series went into extra innings, and leading 3 games to 2 going into game six, the Yankees had some cause to pack it in by the time Andy Pettitte left the game without recording an out in the third inning. And it’s not as if Witasick was giving up home runs. These were mostly bleeders through the left side of the infield – but they weren’t totally cheap knocks either.
On the other hand, when Pettitte exited the game, it was still just a 5-0 deficit in the 3rd inning. Of course, Torre also had reason to doubt whether his offense could come back from a deficit that large. In the first five games of the series combined, the Yankees had scored a total of four runs in innings 1 through 8. Without a pair of clutch ninth-inning home runs from Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius, the Yankees came dangerously close to losing all 7 games of the series (which, of course, would have been impossible).
Still, Witasick’s ill-fated stint in the third and fourth inning of game 6 stands out as a woeful performance with the season on the line. Witasick put together a solid professional career, pitching for 7 teams over 12 years with a 4.64 ERA/4.69 FIP, and it’s hardly his fault that Torre decided to pack this one in by the third inning, but it’s worth a re-watch nonetheless.
proof Yankees players, even All-Time greats, are not infallible simply because they wear the pinstripes
Who said they were infallible?
Yankee haters who like to construct straw men lol
I’m a Dodger fan, but I admired those ‘96-‘01 teams the way I admired the ‘90s Bulls and the Showtime Lakers
Those Yankee teams were amazing. I hate the Yankees, but those ’96 to’01 teams I was rooting for. The best part was most of the true leaders of the team were home grown. Not just a collection of free agents. Which, if I remember, that’s what Arizona was at the time. Very few home grown players.
Metchez? Arizona was how old? Simple math. Of course NY had more home grown. DUH.
In 2001, 5/12 hitters with 100 PA were homegrown. 3/12 of the primary pitchers were homegrown.
Witasick was never infallible…
Great game to watch. Enjoyed it immensely
I still can’t believe Rivera blew that save. When he struck out the side in the 8th, I thought it was over. It didn’t occur to me at the time that he might be tired because of how dominant he was in that 8th inning
Or it could be that he wasnt tired and he is just a human being.
Rivera didn’t make mistakes, other than the error throw to second. The Diamondbacks deserve a lot of credit.
Sandy Koufax was better in the ninth inning on two days rest after throwing the first eight innings. Herculean performance at the other end of the spectrum.
And thats why he also blew his arm out and had to retire far too young
Actually Koufax’s problem was he kind blew out his arm in his first six years. Before he came to be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers ever he had a pretty explosive delivery with no control and was straining his arm to throw as hard as possible. A catcher, Norm Sherry, told his to stop throwing so hard which is what made him the great Sandy Koufax.
TC, I wouldn’t hold my breath for a Christmas card or any birthday well wishes from Mr. Witasick. I’m sure he probably preferred this be forgotten.
and as if his 2001 WS performance wasnt bad enough, he matched that ERA in the WS with the Angels the next year!
Haha. You’re probably off the list too, just so you know.
Twenty years from now:
“Grandpa! Didn’t you actually pitch in the WORLD SERIES?!?”
Witasick: “No… no… I don’t know where you heard that, but no…”
Mariano Rivera feels little to no guilt about blowing the lead in Game 7 because it saved Enrique Wilson’s life.
The man can lose the lead and the game but still pick up a save. Simply the best.
I’m no Yankee fan by any stretch, but Rivera is/was a class act all the way.
It might have saved Soriano’s too. They both would have been on that plane…
Im a RS fan n I really admire Rivera n his entire career. Even though he blew the 4th game of the 2004 playoffs to the RS he wasn’t responsible for the rest of the games t he e RS won. It was fate, n human beings, along with Curt Shilling leading the team with his spirit and determination.
He also blew the 5th game. However, it certainly did not help that Tom Gordon was total trash in the 8th inning.
You could also make the argument that Torre played the numbers and decided the game was already lost.
So there were 4 major bullpen collapses, games 4-7. If we go by bbref’s win probabilities though you get a different angle:
Game 4 – When Kim enters the game in the top of the 9th the Diamondbacks have a 90% chance of winning the game. When the inning ends they’re down to 50%.
Game 5 – When Kim enters the game in the top of the 9th the Diamondbacks have a 92% chance of winning the game. When the inning ends they’re down to 50%.
Game 6: After 2 innings the Yankees are down by 4 and have a 15% chance of winning. When Witasick enters the game they have only a 7% chance of winning. By the time he leaves it’s pretty much at 0%.
Game 7: When Mariano enters in the top of the 9th the Yankees have a 78% chance of winning and the Diamonbacks win.
So sure, Witasick had the worst line but Kim blew the closest to a sure thing and Mariano had the biggest win chance drop. The other truth was as you mentioned the Yankee bullpen was already taxed and another thing to take into account is they were facing vintage Randy Johnson on his home turf. Gotta give a little credit to Torre for knowing a lost cause and be willing to sacrifice a reliever.
Torre needed Yogi whispering in his ear: “It ain’t over until it’s over.”
Torre didn’t trust his defense; so I blame the loss on Torre.
But again, look at the circumstances. You’re playing against a tough team and you’re playing down 5 runs against the best pitcher in the game. Torre gambled everything on Game 7 knowing Game 6 was already lost.
It was Curt Shilling leading the RS to victory, Rivera had no chance. The point is the RS saw Rivera too much, doesn’t mean he failed, just. the RS were destined to win.
Diamondbacks*
If I remember correctly, the score ballooing to 12-0 is what allowed Brenly to use his bullpen and save a little in the tank of Randy Johnson for Game 7. If the Yankees keep it closer, Johnson may have to finish the game and would be watching game 7 instead of slamming the door in the 8th and 9th. Proof that there is no such thing as a throw away game in the WS.
I just housed a burrito
Just shows that even the best at what they do can have a moment where everything goes wrong. Say what you want, but you have to give props to Rivera that he never let these moments have a negative impact for the rest of his career.
He could’ve easily crumbled after these heart breaking moments, yet he continued on to dominate the rest of his career. Sometimes **** happens, but you can’t let it define you. That’s why Mariano Rivera is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, cause he didn’t let even the worst of moments follow him the rest of his career.
Eck pitched 130 innings in the next two seasons after the Gibson homer to the tune of about a 1 ERA and .6 WHIP.
Scott Brosius not throwing to first for the double play cost the Yankees the World Series.
No it was because Luis Sojo didn’t tip his waiter a fair amount the night before at Shuckster’s BBQ Hut.
I would have gone with Mitch Williams himself vs the blue jays in….early 90s. Was that 93?
Yeah, it was ’93.
Don’t the Arizona hitters deserve some credit here?
Plain and simple Mo costs the Yankees in 97 and 01 but without him we probably don’t win in 96,98,99 & 2000.
Witasick did NOT have a solid career and no, I’m not saying it because of that nightmarish performance, but because 32-41 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP is total garbage.
To be fair, pitching numbers in the offensive era that he played were ballooned far above norms. Not saying the guy was The Duke or anything but you have to keep those variables in play. Also, W/L record is a piss poor indicator of a relief pitchers talent and success.
Cardinals should have beat the DBacks in the NLDS. They didn’t thanks to Curt Schilling.
On November 15, 2001, American Airlines Flight 587 crashed to the ground in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in Queens, New York killing all 261 people aboard and three on the ground. The fatality total ranked second highest in aviation accidents in US history.
Seven days before the tragic events, Yankee closer Mariano Rivera unceremoniously blew the biggest game of his Hall of Fame career in Game 7 of the World Series.
If things had gone according to Yankee plan, the team would have been basking in confetti and applause down the Canyon of Heroes in celebration of yet another World Series championship. If Rivera had slammed the door on the D-backs, after the parade teammate Enrique Wilson would have been aboard that doomed flight to Santo Domingo that never made their destination.
empiresportsmedia.com/new-york-yankees/how-blowing…
Hmm my bad this was meant to be a reply to the Enrique Wilson inquiry above. Me no know how 2 post on the interwebbys
would have been worth it
Disgusting.
i wanna see Enrique’s plane ticket before I believe it.
He has a 54 ERA in that series. Then the next year he goes to the World Series again with the Giants where he pitched 1/3 inning and again attained an ERA of 54.. He’s gotta be the worst World Series pitcher of all time
That was an amazing series. Some of the top pitchers in the game at the time facing off against each other.
Schilling vs Mussina
Johnson vs Pettite
Clemens vs Schilling in game 7
Starters Batista and Johnson coming out of the pen in relief.
The Yankees stacked lineup hitting .183.
D’Backs get offense from Durazo, Danny Bautista, and Steve Finley
Witasick made some bad pitches but he had a lot of bad luck with so many double play grounders finding holes
It was an incredible performance based upon “advanced” stats. 1 1/3 innings, 4 strikeouts 0 walks 0 home runs. His FIP was amazing.