Yankee Classic

They say that Game 4 is the swing game of any series: either you go to Game 5 tied at 2, up or down 3-1, or the series is over. In the case of this year's World Series, a Yankees win at The Bank (that's what my friend who spent a semester in Philly called it, I guess it's better than the Cit) would mean a 3-1 lead with two at Yankee Stadium and having to face Cliff Lee only once more. A Phillies win would regain momentum with your ace going in Game 5 and likely only needing to get one in the Bronx.

Game 4 was a big game.

Both managers took a gamble: the Phillies not starting Cliff Lee for 3 games and choosing to go with Joe Blanton, the Yankees starting CC Sabathia on only 3 days rest. In the end, the starting pitchers came out a wash. The Yankees did hold a 4-2 lead going into the late innings, but solo HR's from Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz made it 4-4 going into the 9th.

It was here that everything was on the line. Finally, the World Series felt like the World Series. It was time for someone to make a defining play in this year's Fall Classic.

That someone was Johnny Damon.

With 2 outs in the Top of the 9th, Damon came to the plate to face beleaguered Phillies closer Brad Lidge. Damon battled Lidge pitch after pitch, and finally singled to left field. Damon's at bat was a true Yankee classic. It brought back to memory Paul O'Neill's legendary 10 pitch at bat in the 2000 World Series against Armando Benitez (only time you'll see Armando Benitez and legendary in the same sentence, unless it's his fight against the entire Yankee team in 1998).

But, Damon's at bat was only the beginning. He then managed to steal second and then third when nobody was covering due to a shift on Mark Teixeira. It was a heads up play by Damon to take the extra base, and risky with 2 outs. But, the shock sent around the stadium from Damon's Double Steal no doubt threw Brad Lidge off his game (I told you he'd blow a game this series). He then plunked Teixeira and then allowed an RBI double to A-Rod and a 2 RBI single to Jorge Posada that won the game for the Yanks, 7-4. Here's the highlights that will soon be taken down...

While most of the plaudits and the attention will be laid at the feet of A-Rod, it's Johnny Damon that will go down in Yankee lore for Game 4 of the '09 Fall Classic. Yes, A-Rod will get most of the attention for getting the clutch RBI, ridding his choker reputation, bouncing back from the steroid admission, dating Kate Hudson and the rest... we at RSS won't just repeat national talking points though. Damon's heroics are the story of Game 4 because his performance was a Yankee classic.

Damon's at bat and double steal was the way the Yankees used to win championships. Think about it, before last night had any of the new spendaholic Yanks done anything to be remembered besides making a ton of money and not winning a title? A-Rod, CC, and Tex, Pavano, Giambi, Sheffield, and Matsui... how many of those guys had ever produced a gutsy, championship winning moment.

None, until Damon last night.

When the Yankees were winning the World Series in the dynasty era, there were moments that won games not built on money, but intangible plays that are the mark of a championship team.

Jeter's famous flick to home plate to beat Jeremy Giambi against Oakland or his dive into the stands. Key home runs from unsuspecting sources like Leyritz and Brosius. Clutch hits from guys like Chad Curtis and Jose Vizcaino. The steady play of Bernie Williams. The warrior mentality of Paul O'Neill. The pitching of anyone from David Cone to Jimmy Key to El Duque to David Wells to Andy Petitte.

These were plays that only the Yankees made and attributes that only the Yankees had. For the first time in a long time, the Yankee magic was back last night when Damon ran to an uncovered third base. In the years since Aaron Boone's HR beat the Red Sox in 2003, last night was the first moment when you really felt that the Yankees were back to being the Yankees again.

Damon's Double Steal was a true Yankee Classic.