D-Backs doing the deed

How realistic are the Arizona Diamondback's chances of beating the reigning World Champion New York Yankees? Pretty darn good.

In a best-of-seven series where all you need to do is win four games, the Diamondbacks simply needed to win the two games each Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson pitch in order to upset the three-time defending champs. They are well on their way after sweeping the first two games at Bank One Ballpark in Arizona. With the next three games at Yankee Stadium, just a little bit of luck will seal the deal.

The once unthinkable is becoming a reality and the mighty are about to fall. A team that supposedly is nothing more than two pitchers and a bunch of pretty good players is threatening to pull the carpet out from under the most successful franchise in sports history.

The Diamondbacks used two superb performances by dual-aces Schilling and Johnson, timely hitting, and solid defense to put them in the most ideal situation possible. If Brian Anderson can supply seven strong innings on Tuesday, you may actually begin to hear whispers of a sweep.

While the pitching performances were truly masterful, the Diamondbacks' position players have also done their part. You don't stumble to the eight-run victory they posted in Game one. They chased Yankee starter Mike Mussina, who was superb in the regular season, after just three innings and five runs.

In Game two, the Yankees were hoping Andy Pettite would give some relief, but to no avail. The Diamondbacks scored first and hung around until Pettite tired in the seventh inning and hammered home three more runs. Up 4-0, Arizona starter Randy Johnson coasted to a complete-game, three-hit shutout.

The Diamondbacks' prime weakness is their suspect bullpen, but the suddenly silent Yankee bats have not been able to exploit it. Batting only .102 so far and scoring just one run in 18 innings have put their backs against the wall. If they don't start quickly against Brian Anderson, it may be too late.

Arizona will be tested though, as the Yankees send Roger Clemens to the mound as the series shifts back the Bronx. Clemens continued to defy time and age by posting yet another 20-season and will provide the D-Backs with their first real dose of adversity.

At this point, the Yankees are far from dead. However their vital signs are fading. If the Yankees are tied or trailing when Clemens leaves the game on Wednesday, you can all but shut the door on the Yankees unbelievable run over the last five years which saw them win four World Series.

I'm sure the legitimacy of the Diamondbacks will be contended due to the lack of superstar names in their batting order. They are a team of veterans that have been there and done that, but never won that. Only 2B Craig Counsell has a World Series Ring, and that was from 1997 when he was with the Florida Marlins.

Names or not, they are adhering to the simple formula that pitching wins you championships. They may not be the flashiest team, or a storied franchise. They are, however, a solid baseball team. In fact, right now, they're the best.