THIS was a grand start for the Yankees’ new Mr. October.
This is why George Steinbrenner spent $120 million on Jason Giambi. Yes, it was Burn, Baby Burn-ie Williams, who lasered the game-winning three-run, eighth-inning home run that turned what would have been a stunning loss to the Angels into a stun-gun 8-5 victory last night in Game 1 of the ALDS, but Williams never would have gotten the chance to be the hero if not for Giambi’s spectacular at-bat prior to the home run.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Giambi put together a masterpiece against left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis. Just after laying off a 1-2 breaking ball that was a pencil-thin mustache outside, Giambi lined a rocket single off the glove of first baseman Scott Spiezio to tie the game 5-5, setting the stage for Williams.
This came on top of a blistering two-run homer in the fourth against left-hander Jarrod Washburn, the Angels ace. Giambi also lined a single to right in the first. All this came against the Angels’ shift, which plays right into Giambi’s muscular game.
Pitch him inside and you pay the price. What Giambi gives the Yankees is the first true fear-factor slugger since Reggie Jackson. Never underestimate the importance of such a weapon.
“Jason got baptized tonight in Pinstripes in October,” said general manager Brian Cashman, who put his reputation and Steinbrenner’s checkbook on the line in signing Giambi. “He passed another test. He showed he can play on the Big Stage in October.”
Did he ever. And that was the best news of all for the Yankees last night. Giambi’s performance also narrowed that leadership gap that was created with the departure of Paul O’Neill and Tino Martinez. These Yankees have their own home run identity now.
The Angles now know a little bit more about the Yankee Stadium mystique. This is the Happiest Place on Earth. It didn’t hurt that manager Mike Scioscia left his closer Troy Percival sitting in the bullpen with the Angels holding a 5-4 lead with two outs in the eighth.
Giambi loves the view from this side of post-season after being victimized by the Yankees while with the A’s. He had just such a conversation with first base coach Lee Mazzilli after tying the game.
“I said, ‘Thank God I’m in this dugout, and not the other one this time,’ ” Giambi said. “I’ve been in the other one two times, going, ‘Oh, [rhymes with hit], here they go again.’
“It’s unbelievable,” Giambi added. “It’s like clockwork. The seventh, eighth inning rolls around and [Alfonso] Soriano goes from an 0-2 count to a walk, [Derek] Jeter takes a great at-bat. I smoke a ball into the hole that goes off the glove of Spiezio and then, of course, Bernie steps up and hits the three-run home run. Unbelievable.”
That’s what October is all about.
Asked if he expected to see Percival, Giambi said, “That’s a tough one. That’s one for Mr. Scioscia.”
That’s also the advantage of having so many weapons. Other managers become confused by Yankee magic and now Giambi is really a Yankee because he has played in October in Pinstripes.
“You always want to say it can’t be magic,” he said, “but the Pinstripes, it’s a different ballclub this year, but the Pinstripes find a way.”
Even if the Pinstripes are ripped. Giambi had a hole in the backside of his pants – the same pants he has worn all year. That’s one of his superstitions.
“I’ve always been like that,” Giambi said. “I know it drives Mr. Steinbrenner crazy . . . because he’s calling down saying, ‘Tell him to change his pants.’ But I’ve always done that, wear the same pair of pants.”