WORLD SERIES NOTES
PHOENIX – He broke Yankee fans’ hearts in the 1955 World Series by winning two games, including Game 7, 2-0, for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Eight years later he won Game 2 when the L.A. Dodgers swept the Yankees.
Now, legendary pitching coach Johnny Podres could play a part in the Diamondbacks ending the Yankees’ string of World Series victories at three.
Curt Schilling, tomorrow night’s Game 1 starter for the D’backs, owes his career to Podres. When Schilling was traded from the Astros to the Phillies in 1992, he was a failed starter in Baltimore, a failed closer in Houston and sported a big-league record of 4-11.
Dealt for Jason Grimsley, it was perceived as nothing more than two good arms out of options being swapped.
Enter Podres, the very effective Phillies pitching coach.
“He was a sinkerball pitcher and I got him to throw the fastball, that’s all there was to it – he got to use both sides of the plate,” Podres told The Post from his Glens Falls, N.Y., home. “And he really improved his split-fingered pitch. He turned into a pretty good pitcher and he will pitch his [butt] off in the World Series.”
*
Roger Clemens was the only Yankee to miss yesterday’s two-hour workout.
“He was under the weather with a stomach problem and we left him at the hotel,” Joe Torre said.
*
Much is being made of the Yankees’ huge World Series experience edge. Only five of the 25 Diamondbacks have World Series experience, with the total being 22 games. Matt Williams leads with 11.Conversely, only five of the Yankees’ 25-man roster for the ALCS didn’t have World Series experience.
*
It’d be hard to find a mop-up middle reliever more popular than Mike Morgan.
The 42-year-old veteran who broke into the big leagues in 1978 is set to play in his first World Series, and he’s fielding the love coming from all corners of the baseball world.
“It’s been special, so special,” Morgan said. Asked how he’s spent most of his recent Octobers, Morgan (a 4.26 ERA in 31 games and 38 innings this regular season) didn’t hesitate to laugh and answer.
“I’ve been at home – getting ready to watch the Yankees,” he quipped.
Since he first took the mound for Oakland in 1978, Morgan has made stops in New York (Yankees), Toronto, Seattle, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Chicago (Cubs), St. Louis, Cincinnati, Minnesota and Texas.