Here's an example of pure situational baseball at its best, and worst. The Johnny Damon Double Steal video (here) shows a rarity: a double steal by one player.
You'll have to watch through the highlights of earlier innings to get to the amazing part of the Johnny Damon Double Steal video, but it's worth it. Tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Damon worked a two-out single off of Phillies closer Brad Lidge.
As the Johnny Damon Double Steal video shows, Damon stole second, which isn't necessarily a surprise. However, because the Phillies were in an exaggerated shift toward the right side with Mark Teixeira at the plate, 3B Pedro Feliz who took the throw. Hey, wait, who's covering third?
In fact, it should have been Lidge, but he wasn't there. And Johnny Damon took advantage of this, taking off, and making it to third. Lidge then hit Teixeira with a pitch.
Runners at first and third, and A-Rod came up, only 1 for 13 so far in his first World Series. Rodriguez did what he needed to, lined a solid double into the left-field corner for a 5-4 lead. Jorge Posada followed with a two-run single, and Mariano Rivera closed the game for a 3-1 Yankees series lead.
Still, the Johnny Damon Double steal video shows the real highlight of the game. It probably upset Lidge, leading the the HBP against Teixeira, and that was all she wrote. Basic baseball, and perhaps the key to another Yankees title, though there's still plenty of baseball left.
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