Damon's 'instinctual' double dash makes World Series history

PHILADELPHIA — Had Derek Jeter(notes) been the culprit of the double theft, it would have gone done in the history books as the all-time greatest display of "baseball smarts."But since it was a self-described Idiot doing the thieving? Well, every ensuing description of the heads-up play seemed to use a decidedly less brainy term — "instinct." In the end, the label doesn't change much of anything, because Johnny Damon's(notes) seizure of an unoccupied third base during Sunday night's Game 4 was a definite game changer and ranks as one of the rarest and strangest World Series plays we've ever seen. Indeed, no player in Fall Classic history had ever stolen two bases on one pitch until Damon did it off Philadelphia reliever Brad Lidge(notes) in the ninth inning of the Yankees' 7-4 victory over the Phillies. The ultra-aware play put Damon on third base with two outs, robbing Lidge of his slider and sparking a three-run rally that helpe...