by Kind of Blue
*****
The New York Yankees sit with a 3-1 lead going into tonight's game, which could be the final game of this year's Series. Some of my prognostications below from last week have come to fruition. Mo Rivera does not blow a lead. When the Yanks have a lead going into the 9th inning, you can put it in the books.The power hitters for each team have done their thing as expected. For the Phillies, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and the unexpected Pedro Feliz have done damage. Ryan Howard's bat has been stifled by so many left-handed starters by the Yankees. The Yankees have finally seen production from Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter has been Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada has had some timely hits.
This series, with all the power and clutch hitters on both teams is all about pitching though. Outside of Cliff Lee's spectacular opening game win in New York, the Yanks starters have outdueled the Phillies. Neither team has had sterling middle relief. But, as I feared, Brad Lidge went back to his old ways of bad decisions and blown saves last night. He allowed Mariano Rivera to seal the deal in the ninth inning.
Cliff Lee is the only chance the Phillies have tonight. If he pitches as he did in Game 1, we'll go back to the Bronx where the Yankees will most likely close it out in six games. Cole Hamels is obviously struggling and although Pedro Martinez pitched well at times in his start, he's no #2 starter for a World Championship team. Without Hamels on top of his game, the Yankees are sure to win yet another title.
As someone pulling for the Phillies I can still honestly say, watching Mariano Rivera's other-worldly performances over the years is something I/we may, or most likely will not ever see again in our lifetime. The man has ice water in his veins and a body that is like granite. I hate to say it, but in the end the team with home field advantage and the best closer/defense usually wins. It should hold true again this year. I've left up last week's post for a comparison to how the series has gone.
Mariano Rivera - Simply the Greatest Ever
*****
The innaugural edition:
In retrospect a week later, the Saints made a huge comeback today against Miami and showed why they are still my favorite. The Steelers looked every bit as tough as I thought they would and moved to 4-2. They were 2-2 when I wrote last week's column. Prophetic? No. Informed? Yes.
The 2009 World Series Matchup
Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees
Any way you look at the two teams who have made it to the 2009 Major League Baseball World Series, history or more history will be made. The Phillies are looking to be the first National League team since the mide-70's Big Reg Machine Cincinnati Reds to repeat as World Series Champs. It would be the first for the Yankees since 2000 and should they win, it would be their 27th World Championship. This was the Yanks 39th American League pennant.
As I said in my first post in this series, I'm writing from my gut along with a little bit of knowledge I've amassed over the decades. This is the matchup that baseball junkies should have been dreaming of all season. I know it's what I hoped for secretly. The two teams are nearly mirror images of one another. If you look at their starting pitching and their lineups, they are nearly equal. There are however two major things the Yankees have in their favor going into the matchup. Home field advantage and the greatest closer (bar none) in baseball history in Mariano Rivera.
The Philadelphia Phillies
If we look at the two teams lineups of clutch hitters and sluggers on any given night you could say it's a wash. The Phillies have the new Mr. October in power hitting behemoth 6'4/255lb Ryan Howard as first base who had an RBI in five consecutive games at one point this post season. Second baseman Chase Utley is as solid as they come at the plate and has a hard nose and is a veteran. At shortstop, the Phillies boast the speedy Jimmy Rollins who is also known for his clutch hitting and intense passion on an off the field. Third base is held down by the veteran Pedro Feliz. He's no Alex Rodriguez, but he has played better than expected this season. At catcher the Phils have the sturdy anchorman in Carlos Ruiz. He is solid with a great pick off snap throw to first to keep base runners honest.
The Phillies outfield may be as good as any in baseball. Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth have power, speed and timely hitting and have gotten even better throughout the playoffs. They may very well be the one check mark that the Phillies hold over the Yanks. Picking up Ibanez and Werth to go with the up an coming superstar Victorino has only solidified and made the Phillies better.
Pitching is even stronger this season than the rotation that won the Series last year. The acquistion of Cleveland Indian Cliff Lee, who won last year's AL Cy Young Award was the steal of the decade at the trade deadline. Lee is a big reason the Phillies ended up where they are. By appearances it seems the Phils will go with a rotation of Lee, the phenomenal Cole Hamels who has been a bit inconsistent as of late, but is capable of shutting any team down on any given night. The third starter should be veteran Pedro Martinez who was another steal by the Phillies when he was basically written off as finished. Martinez has pitched in his share of big games in his career and is a certain Hall of Famer. If needed, the Phils have the youngster J.A. Happ and veteran Joe Blanton. Depending on how the series goes, these two will most likely come out of the bull pen in long or middle relief if/when needed.
The Phillies bullpen is a huge question mark. Last year closer Brad Lidge went an entire season without a blown save as well as the playoffs. This year he was one of the league leaders in blown saves. He seems to have found his groove again at just the right moment in the post season and has yet to give up a run or blown save. How Lidge goes may very well decide the series.
The New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have the best lineup money can buy once again. They boast an All-Star lineup, much like the Phillies. First base is held down by the power hitting, sure gloved Mark Texeira. The Yanks paid a hefty price for the slugger and he has been rock solid this season and is a steady presence in the club house. Second base has the vastly improved, solid hitting and fielding Robinson Cano. At shortstop is certain Hall of Famer and Yankees all-time hits leader Derek Jeter. He is the captain and he is always dependable at the plate and on the field. At third we have Alex Rodriguez. ARod has not been a dependable hitter in post season's past, but this season he has had a break out and is as hot as a firecracker. The Yanks will most likely live and die by his production in this series. Jorge Posada is one more holdover from the Yanks last Championship season and is as good as they come at calling a game for his pitchers.
The Yankees outfield has been something over this decade that has been a bit of a revolving door. This year has been a lot more solid with the strong play by the always dependable Johnny Damon, newcomer Nick Swisher, who has hit some really big home runs in the home run friendly confines of the new Yankee stadium. Finally there's Melky Cabrera who isn't a big name but has kept the Yankees outfield intact for the entire season. The odd man out is the aging slugger Hideki Matsui who has settled in well as the DH and spot OF starter. I have to give the edge to the Phils in this area though, but with that said, the Yanks are vastly improved.
There's on chief difference in this year's team. Their 200+ million dollar payroll went younger with their starting pitching and it paid off in spades. The acquisition of Cy Young winning C.C. Sabathia and the solid A.J. Burnett was a huge improvement over the older Randy Johnson type pitchers the Yanks have signed toward the end of their careers over the past 8 or so seasons, and with horrendous results. Veteran Andy Pettite, a hold over from the Yanks last Championship team is still pitching very solidly and should be the third starter in the series. The great comeback story of fireballer Phil Hughes leaves the Yanks with a bit stronger 4th starter option.
Hughes seems to thrive on big pressure situations. He has after all pitched a no hitter after coming back from battling cancer.
Now we come to the portion of the post that will most likely be the deciding factor in this year's series. Mariano Rivera. Rivera is so far in a class by himself that there's no comparison. In his career, Mo Rivera has pitched 128 innings of relief for the Yankees in the post season and has a 0.77 ERA. That is astronomical! He has issued only 19 walks, has 104 strikeouts and 37 post season saves. If the Yankees get to Rivera with the lead, you can put him down as automatic. The steely-eyed closer is unflappable and nearly unhittable in the post season. He is well known for pitching 2 innings to close out a game also. If the Yanks can make it through seven innings with their starters and middle relief and hold the lead, it's lights out.
Prediciton
My heart is with the Phillies but my head is with the Yankees. As a former sports writer I would never say that. As a blogger on Open Salon I can tell you I am solidly pulling for the Phillies. I love their manager (old school) Charlie Manuel and I feel he is at this point in time a superior manager to the solid, but young Joe Girardi. Edge goes to the Phillies. As far as hitting goes, it's a toss up. Both teams are solid and it's nearly impossible to predict which sluggers will remain hot or get on a tear. This is a toss up. Starting pitching is also a toss up in my opinion with several Cy Young Winners and potential Cy Young Award winners in the mix. This is also a draw in my opinion.
Where the series will be won is in the two factors I mentioned earlier. The Yankees had the best record in baseball and the American League won the All-Star game, giving the Yankees home field advantage. In baseball, this means a lot. The Angels will attest to this fact. Then you throw in Mariano Rivera as compared to Brad Lidge, who still most likely has some lingering doubt and I see the Yankees winning in 7 games.
Folks all signs point to a 7-game series with this matchup. I could be wrong but both teams are just that experienced and just that good. I'm actually pulling for a 7-game series. We could all use a respite from all the serious issues facing our country. After all, baseball is, was and always will be, America's past time. As hard as it is for me to say, I choose the Yankees in seven games.
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Comments
I agree with that S.D..
Jeff, I hear ya. If the series were home field advantage Philly I might feel like this was possible and the Yanks are much improved in pitching in comparison to the 2004 team I think. One can only hope.
Two thumbs up
Rated.
Jimmy, Red Sox fans love to hate Johnny Damon because he was a big catalyst for that team. He's an old school, hard nosed and intelligent player. Many players wouldn't have done what he did for fear of being chased down. Lidge has a mental lapse not covering third. His confidence is done now and even if they enter the 9th with a lead, he's going to be iffy I fear, especially if they make it back to New York after tonight.
Thoth, I used to be an Editor for sports publication. But, I'm not qualified to be seen on here. :-)