Veteran pitchers on mound for Game 2

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published October 10

SEATTLE -- After a Game 1 in which each team threw out their young guns, experience will rule the mound during Game 2.

Seattle's Jamie Moyer and Cleveland's Chuck Finley, two pitchers with a combined 27 years of major-league experience, will start Thursday afternoon in the pivotal game at Safeco Field.

The two pitchers will bring decidedly different styles to the hill. Even at 38, Finley still has a strong fastball, while Moyer will rely on his slow and slower routine to keep the Indians off balance.

Moyer registered the first 20-win season of his career, pitching some of his best baseball down the stretch.

"He's really pitched as well as anybody in baseball since the All-Star Game," Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. "So we'll feel confident that he'll go out and pitch a good ballgame for us."

Moyer is 2-0 against the Indians this season, holding the powerful Cleveland offense quiet in both starts, allowing only five hits in 14 innings pitched.

"Jamie basically pitches the same against everybody," Piniella said. "But depending on who the hitters are, he might vary somewhat, but invariably his game is to keep people off balance."

The Indians will try to keep their cool against Moyer, something manager Charlie Manuel said his team did not do in their earlier meetings.

"I've seen Moyer pitch his whole career, from the minors to the big leagues," Manuel said. "He's amazing. But at the same time, I also feel that our ballclub, if we approach him right, can still get to him.

"We start swinging wild and try hitting him out of the yard, and I think that's what makes him good against us. We have to change our approach against him."

In his only postseason appearance, Moyer lost to Baltimore in the 1997 ALDS, allowing three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings of work.

For Finley, just getting to the postseason is reward enough.

After making it to the 1986 ALCS with Anaheim, the lefty hadn't returned in the 15 years since, making his Game 2 start all the more special.

"This is wonderful," Finley said. "You know, I spent a lot of my time in Anaheim battling with the Mariners to get to this point, and having to go over to the Central with Cleveland to end up here is special.

"A lot of the guys in the playoffs probably don't have 16 years in the big leagues, much less waiting 16 years to get back to the playoffs."

Finley has been battling injuries for much of this year, going on the disabled list twice with neck and shoulder spasms. In his one start against Seattle, on Aug. 25, he had to leave after two innings after straining his oblique muscle.

But Finley said that he is back at full strength, as he finished the season with wins in three of his last five starts.

Manuel said that his club is counting on Finley's veteran leadership in Game 2.

"About the last two months of the season, Chuck's been throwing the ball real well," Manuel said. "He has good command of his pitches, he's strong, he's healthy and has always been good through September. I think this is a big chance for Chuck."

So, in a battle of crafty lefties, expect plenty of veteran tricks and solid pitching.

"Cleveland is a good ballclub we're facing," Piniella said. "We're going to have to pitch well against them and certainly Jamie is going to have to do his part."

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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