M's, Yankees set for epic struggle

Superstars Ichiro, Jeter spark squads

MIKE DODD, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Originally published October 17

SEATTLE -- The best team in baseball, maybe even a team for the ages, will open the American League Championship Series here Wednesday. You'll get virtually no argument on that statement.

The only debate is in identifying the team: the Seattle Mariners, who tied the major-league record with 116-regular season wins, or the New York Yankees, who have won four world championships in the last five years.

The Mariners demonstrated championship grit in their tough five-game Division Series victory against Cleveland; the Yankees defined it in coming from the brink of elimination three times to defeat Oakland.

It's a rematch of the 2000 ALCS, which the Yankees won in six games, but a much more compelling series this time. They are more closely matched and while each team exceeds the sum of its parts, they depend greatly on a resident hero who has attained rock star status on his respective coast.

Ichiro Suzuki is the catalyst for a Mariners offense that leads the majors in runs scored. Derek Jeter is simply the soul of the Yankees.

Quite likely, neither team would be here without them.

The Mariners' Suzuki doesn't qualify as the clubhouse leader Jeter is -- he speaks very little English and he's a major-league rookie after seven-plus star seasons in the Japanese leagues -- but he is one of the leading candidates for AL MVP.

He made a run at George Sisler's 81-year-old record for most hits in a season (257), ending with 242 hits and a league-leading .350 batting average while giving the Mariners the leadoff man they've lacked for years.

"He's just a tremendous all-around player. He's very disciplined, he plays hard," says Seattle manager Lou Piniella.

How is Piniella's communication with Suzuki? "It's great. I put his name in the lineup and basically I let him play."

Ichiro's play throughout the Cleveland series showed his value to the team -- he hit .600 (12-for-20), an AL Division Series record, and tied the ALDS record for most hits in a five-game series. But his at-bat in the seventh inning of Game 5 Monday really illustrated what makes him special.

He hit a medium-speed grounder just to the left of second base. Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, the perennial Gold Glove winner, dove for the ball and popped up to make an accurate throw to first. It would have gotten almost any other batter, but Ichiro is so fast, he beat it. It was his third infield hit of the day, and he came around to score the Mariners' insurance run in their 3-1 victory.

"That guy flies," Vizquel said. "If he hits the ball two steps to your right or left, it's almost a sure base hit."

Ichiro, 27, has handled intense scrutiny all year, both from the American press and the group of 20 or so Japanese writers assigned to record his every sneeze.

"I haven't had any major problem living in Seattle because it's close to what I had in Japan. Everything is so natural living here. I didn't know whether I could play here or not. ... What I know about myself is I could prepare for the game well. The preparation, I have a lot of confidence with that."

Jeter doesn't put up the eye-popping numbers that lead to the Most Valuable Player award. He just wins.

"He makes great plays in great situations," says Yankees outfielder Shane Spencer, whom Jeter bailed out with his spectacular relay flip in Game 3 of the Oakland series Saturday night.

"I guess that's the reason he's wearing so many rings," says Oakland manager Art Howe. "Whenever they need a big play, he's there to make it. Whenever they need a big hit, he gets it. They have a new Prime Time."

It is no coincidence that the Yankees' string of four world titles in five years started in Jeter's rookie season. Just 27, he is quickly carving his place in the gloried Yankees lore.

First baseman Tino Martinez said that when Jeter caught Spencer's overthrown relay Saturday night, he just assumed the shortstop was going to hold the ball. Instead, Jeter flipped it in one motion to catcher Jorge Posada, like an option quarterback, to nail Jeremy Giambi at the plate and preserve New York's 1-0 victory.

"You don't draw 'em up like that in postseason," said Martinez.

If the Yankees go on to win their fourth consecutive World Series, it'll rank with Willie Mays' catch in 1954, Al Gionfriddo's in '47, Tommie Agee's in '69 and Brooks Robinson's repeated defensive magic in 1970.

Jeter remains remarkably centered through it all. He still calls his manager Mr. Torre. And he explains his sensational plays matter-of-factly. "If you are not constantly moving, especially at my position, shortstop, something's wrong," he says. "You are not doing your job."

Yankees vs. Mariners

- Series: Best-of-seven.

- Today: New York (Pettitte 1-0) at Seattle (Sele 0-1), 1 p.m. (Fox).

- Inside: Guillen activated for ALCS.

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