Mariners classic preview: Game 2 of 2000 ALDS vs White Sox

With baseball season delayed for the foreseeable future, 710 ESPN Seattle will be broadcasting classic Mariners games throughout the spring. Tonight the second part of a rebroadcast of something that has happened just once in team history – a playoff series sweep. Here’s Shannon Drayer’s preview of the airing of Game 2 of the 2000 American League Division Series between the Mariners and White Sox.

ALDS Game 2: Oct. 3, 2000

The Mariners take a 1-0 advantage into Game 2 of the best-of-five series against the White Sox. Heading into the game there was a little bit of intrigue as to who would start for the Mariners. It was Jamie Moyer’s turn in the rotation but it had been a rocky year for the then 37 year old. He missed a month and a half early in the season with a shoulder injury and struggled down the stretch.

After Moyer experienced shoulder tightness following his previous outing, Mariners manager Lou Piniella opted to give him an extra couple of days, holding him back for a Game 4 in the more pitcher-friendly Safeco Field if needed. Paul Abbott would get the start in Game 2.

The White Sox had pitching problems of their own. Chicago’s top game winner Mike Sirotka was dealing with an elbow issue at the end of season and James Baldwin was suffering from a sore shoulder in his final two outings of the year. Cal Eldred, who had started the season 10-2 before being sidelined with a nerve issue in his elbow, attempted to make a return for the playoffs but was unable to fully come back. It would be Sirotka who would get the start in Game 2.

LINEUPS!

Mariners

Rickey Henderson, LF
Mike Cameron, CF
Alex Rodriguez, SS
Edgar Martinez, DH
John Olerud, 1B
Jay Buhner, RF
David Bell, 3B
Dan Wilson, C
Mark McLemore, 2B

Paul Abbott, P

White Sox

Ray Durham, 2B
Jose Valentin, SS
Frank Thomas, DH
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Carlos Lee, LF
Paul Konerko, 1B
Herbert Perry, 3B
Chris Singleton, CF
Charles Johnson, C

Mike Sirotka, P

There was still a buzz in Game 2 about Piniella’s move to spark the action in the 10th inning the previous night by calling time out and walking over to have a conversation with Mike Cameron at first base. It wasn’t just the brilliance of a move that to that point nobody could recall seeing before, however. This Mariners team was playing a different kind of baseball than what we had seen with the teams from the ’90s.

Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald got some interesting comments at the time from bench coach John McClaren about how Piniella had been managing the entire season. From the article:

When Safeco Field was built, it may have resurrected Piniella.

In the Kingdome, he was never able to show his ability as a manager, said McLaren.

Offensive strategy? Fans would go weeks without bunts, steals or hit-and-runs. Piniella simply waited for the three-run home run.

“He’s so focused right now,” McLaren said. “He’s at his best right now.”

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