Echoes of the master
Raised in New York as a huge Derek Jeter fan, Joe Panik was 10 when Jeter made his shocking, dart-across-the-field cutoff play that helped sink the A’s in the 2001 playoffs.
Panik idolized the great Yankee and followed his career and in his footsteps by entering pro ball as a shortstop, always trying to emulate what Jeter stood for on and off the field.
Through it all, Panik never forgot Jeter’s backhanded flip to cut down Jeremy Giambi at the plate, a momentum shift for the Yankees in the third game of the Division Series.
Thirteen years later, Panik made a for-the-ages flip of his own, on a bigger stage in a more crucial situation — Game 7 of the World Series — but wouldn’t dare draw a comparison.
“I haven’t really made that connection,” Panik said in a phone interview. “He’s had such a long, illustrious career. It’s tough for me to say.”
The only similarity Panik would cop to: “Both were game-changing. Both saved some runs.”
Flip Play I: A signature moment of Jeter’s career turned around the best-of-five series. The A’s won the first two games and trailed 1-0 in the seventh inning when Jeter ran from shortstop to near the first-base line to take right fielder Shane Spencer’s errant throw that sailed over two cutoff men. Jeter’s backhanded flip to the plate nailed a nonsliding Giambi, who tried scoring from first base. The Yankees won 1-0 and took the next two games to clinch the series.
Flip Play II: The score was 2-2 in the third inning. Speedy Lorenzo Cain was on first with no outs, and Eric Hosmer hit a ball headed to center field. Kaufman Stadium was loud, and the Royals were eyeing a big rally, but Panik — who converted to second base in 2013 — made a backhanded diving stop near the bag and, in one motion while on his belly, glove-flipped the ball to shortstop Brandon Crawford, who turned a double play. The Giants won 3-2 for their third title in five years.
“Crack of the bat, you do whatever you can to stop the ball,” Panik said. “Once I got the ball, the way I caught it backhanded, it would’ve been hard for me to turn my glove over, get my hand in there and hook a throw to Brandon. You catch it and try to get rid of it. It’s instinctual. Thankfully, everything worked out.”
Manager Bruce Bochy admits now he had planned to use Tim Lincecum in relief of Jeremy Affeldt if the inning got out of hand.
“I don’t know what happens in Game 7 if he doesn’t make that play, to be honest,” Bochy said. “We’re in a tough position. Jeremy is probably facing one more hitter, and Timmy would have been in the game. But you have two outs instead of first and third, nobody out, that’s a huge difference, particularly when you’re looking at their bullpen. You can win games on defense, and that certainly won the game for us.”
Initially, Hosmer was called safe as he dived into first, and Bochy wisely challenged the call. After a 2-minute, 57-second review, Hosmer was ruled out.
It seemed an eternity for Panik, who broke his belt on the play and rushed into the dugout for a new one. Now it can be told: He used Andrew Susac’s belt to complete the inning and got a new one between innings from equipment manager Mike Murphy.
“I look down, and it’s bro- ken. I was hoping Boch would challenge the play,” said Panik, thankful the review took long enough for him to return to the infield, regain his composure and chat with an umpire before play resumed. “He said it’s hard to tell because Hosmer dove headfirst and it was bang, bang.”
The Hall of Fame asked for Panik’s glove, and he had a tough time saying no. His glove is his prized possession, and his parents are mounting it in a boxed picture frame accompanied by a picture of the play.
“I’m surprised (the Hall of Fame) didn’t ask for the broken belt,” quipped Panik. “I never got that back.” Actually, it was thrown out, the Giants said, a missed opportunity for a cool keepsake.
Instead, Panik has a lifetime of memories, largely from the flip play that helped the Giants win Game 7, a play that was reminiscent of his boyhood idol’s. One difference is the Giants won the World Series and Jeter’s 2001 Yankees did not.