It's a rare occurrence in championship games that the two best teams meet to decide the league winner. Often, its the clubs that are hot at the right time that make the push to the season finale. But baseball's fans can't be disappointed in the matchup of last year's World Series Champs the Philadelphia Phillies against 2009's best team, the New York Yankees.
To examine each position player by player would be superfluous, as these teams are so close in playing style. You could give the edge to A-Rod at 3rd over Feliz, Jeter over Rollins, Utley over Cano, Ruiz over Posada, and the Phillies' outfield over the Yanks...but the idea is that there are few advantages each team holds over the other. Phillies are younger and faster, but the Yankees aren't exactly slow. Mariano Rivera is brilliant, but overall, both teams have bullpen issues to say the least.
Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, who along with Shane Victorino, provide a lot of power at the plate for the 2008 World Series champs.
Here's the biggest advantage: home field. Yankees have yet to lose a game at home this postseason, and that extra game in the Bronx will prove mighty. In fact, the Yankees have been dominant at home since the break. Yes, the Phillies have the momentum going into the Fall Classic. But the Yankees have looked hungrier as a franchise, ever since going out and snatching CC, AJ, and Teixera.
Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon, who experienced a playoff resurgence in the ALCS against the Angels.
This series will become more polarizing than the healthcare debate. The Phillies do it right--winning with pitching, speed, power, and defense. The Yankees, because of their business model-drawing 4 million fans a year, owning the most popular regional network, and of course becoming a machine that feeds itself. This will be the most important World Series of the decade. Some can argue the same could be said for Yankees/Marlins in '03 where opposing sides of the spending spectrum met in late October. But the climax was a let down for the Yankees, as the team was unable to overcome the emotions from the shot off Aaron Boones' bat. This year, both teams are undeniably the best in baseball and the Series should be close. The Yankees caught a lot of breaks the postseason, especially against how the Twins and Angels played sloppy. They won't get the same breaks against the Champs.
Both teams have an awesome "core." Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera. Rollins, Howard, Utley, Victorino, Hamels. As the series is being chiseled down to Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia, I believe it will come down to the battle between the core players, the constants of each team. The sum of the cores will equal a trophy for either the Yanks or Phils. This is going to be one hell of a week for the Philly/New York rivalry with the Giants and Eagles looming Sunday.
Yankees in seven games.
And if they lose, Joe Mauer will certainly help in 2011.
Original Story:
http://dagreatwhitehype.blogspot.com/...
To examine each position player by player would be superfluous, as these teams are so close in playing style. You could give the edge to A-Rod at 3rd over Feliz, Jeter over Rollins, Utley over Cano, Ruiz over Posada, and the Phillies' outfield over the Yanks...but the idea is that there are few advantages each team holds over the other. Phillies are younger and faster, but the Yankees aren't exactly slow. Mariano Rivera is brilliant, but overall, both teams have bullpen issues to say the least.
Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, who along with Shane Victorino, provide a lot of power at the plate for the 2008 World Series champs.
Here's the biggest advantage: home field. Yankees have yet to lose a game at home this postseason, and that extra game in the Bronx will prove mighty. In fact, the Yankees have been dominant at home since the break. Yes, the Phillies have the momentum going into the Fall Classic. But the Yankees have looked hungrier as a franchise, ever since going out and snatching CC, AJ, and Teixera.
Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon, who experienced a playoff resurgence in the ALCS against the Angels.
This series will become more polarizing than the healthcare debate. The Phillies do it right--winning with pitching, speed, power, and defense. The Yankees, because of their business model-drawing 4 million fans a year, owning the most popular regional network, and of course becoming a machine that feeds itself. This will be the most important World Series of the decade. Some can argue the same could be said for Yankees/Marlins in '03 where opposing sides of the spending spectrum met in late October. But the climax was a let down for the Yankees, as the team was unable to overcome the emotions from the shot off Aaron Boones' bat. This year, both teams are undeniably the best in baseball and the Series should be close. The Yankees caught a lot of breaks the postseason, especially against how the Twins and Angels played sloppy. They won't get the same breaks against the Champs.
Both teams have an awesome "core." Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera. Rollins, Howard, Utley, Victorino, Hamels. As the series is being chiseled down to Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia, I believe it will come down to the battle between the core players, the constants of each team. The sum of the cores will equal a trophy for either the Yanks or Phils. This is going to be one hell of a week for the Philly/New York rivalry with the Giants and Eagles looming Sunday.
Yankees in seven games.
And if they lose, Joe Mauer will certainly help in 2011.
Original Story:
http://dagreatwhitehype.blogspot.com/...
