It’s been a decade since the team with the best record in baseball has met the defending champion in the World Series, and, dare we say, the past few years haven’t produced the best Fall Classics. Three of the past five have ended in sweeps. The other two lasted only five games.
Which brings us to Wednesday night’s throwdown between the Yankees and Phillies at “The House that George Built.” These teams are so alike it’s spooky, but Cheers & Jeers went inside the clubhouse and found a few underlying factors:
1. Starting pitching » It plays similar at face value, but the big guy in the room (both literally and figuratively) is CC Sabathia. Should the Yankees choose to go with a three-man rotation, he’d be set up to throw Games 1,4 and 7. Cole Hamels–A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte–Pedro Martinez are push matchups at this point.
Edge » Yankees
2. Bullpen » Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson have been very ordinary for the Phillies. But Chad Durbin hasn’t allowed a hit this postseason and Brad Lidge seems to have found his groove. Meanwhile, the Yanks are having issues with Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain after both were roughed up in the ALCS. Mariano Rivera can’t get six outs every night, can he?
Edge » Push
3. Offense » The Phillies have better power in the middle, especially with Ryan Howard hitting cleanup. The Yankees have more pop from top to bottom. New York’s No. 7 and 8 hitters combined for 54 home runs. Philadelphia’s hit just 21. A big factor will be how the Yankees deal with the middle three games, where they likely will sit DH Hideki Matsui.
Edge » Yankees
4. Defense » In the past, teams like the Angels tried to make New York first basemen field the ball. That’s no longer the case thanks to Mark Teixeira. The Phillies, meanwhile, are stronger at shortstop and catcher, where Carlos Ruiz allowed just one passed ball in 882 regular season innings. The New York outfield is suspect and Joe Girardi often inserts Brett Gardner in late innings.
Edge » Phillies
