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After way too many months in a row of baseball, we are finally just 7 games and probably 14 days away from seeing a World Champion. Those who like to see the big boys succeed will love this Phillies-Yankees match-up. The defending champs against the highest payroll in the game. Both teams feature homer happy ballparks and homer happy players. Without any question these are the two best teams in baseball this season, no team slipped through the cracks this time around.
Lineups
Without question the two best lineups in baseball from top to bottom. Both teams leadoff with their all-world shortstops Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter. Rollins had a tough season overall, but came up with a big hit in the NLCS and is a threat to break out at anytime. Jeter is regarded by most as the best postseason hitter around, and has been pretty impressive so far in 2009. Shane Victorino hits second for Philly- he brings a surprising amount of power to go with his speed. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jason Werth form a disgustingly good 3-4-5. Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz, and Carlos Ruiz have all had monster postseasons and come up with huge hits. I don't know who will DH for Philly, probably a combination of Ben Franciso (Ibanez would DH, Francisco in left), Matt Stairs, and Greg Dobbs. 1-9 almost no pitcher can survive this lineup over and over again.
Don't think the Yankees aren't at least the Phillies equal though. Jeter is teamed up with Johnny Damon to jump start the offense before giving way to Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Hideki Matsui. The bottom of the order features Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, and Melky Cabrera. Cabrera was the only Yankee starter this season to post an OPS+ of under 120. His 97 in center doesn't look so bad because he plays such a premium position. Much like the NL learned about the Phillies, the AL saw that you can't go through this lineup over and over again without giving up some runs.
The Yankees get a slight advantage simply because the DH really helps them out. In the NL park though I give the Phillies the edge because Matsui is a key piece to that Yankees lineup.
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Starting Pitching
As deep as each team's lineups are they don't have that same depth with starting pitchers. The Yankees plan on riding CC Sabathia until he falls over and dies. He will start games 1,4, and 7. He dominated in his 3 starts so far this postseason, but last year he got beat pretty good by the Phillies in the NLDS. AJ Burnett will get the game 2 and 5 starts bringing with him personal catcher Jose Molina. Andy Pettitte gets the game 3 and 6 starts trying to improve on his unreal postseason resume.
The Phillies have been getting CC like starts out of Cliff Lee (F Your Life Indians fans) and will probably get him as many starts as possible. Personally I would give him the 1,4,7 schedule that CC is on, but I don't think Charlie Manuel will do it. It looks like Pedro Martinez will start game 2, and based on how he looked against the Dodgers it couldn't be a better choice. Cole Hamels will try to fix his postseason struggles and a Joe Blanton/JA Happ combo will probably start game 4.
The Yankees have the better rotation if Pettitte and Hamels keep pitching like they have been. If Hamels turns it around then perhaps Philly is better, but probably not since CC will start three games.
Relief Pitching
This is probably the worst part of both of these teams. It isn't for lack of talent or ability, in fact the Yankees could potentially have a 7-8-9 inning shutdown trio expect that Phil Hughes and Joba have been awful this postseason. The good news is Mariano Rivera has been his typically stellar self, and nobody should expect to score off him anytime soon. Joe Girardi has overused this bunch and had a quick trigger finger, meaning that if the Phillies can be patient they might be able to score off the non-Marino pitchers.
The Phillies really don't have much of anything when it comes to a bullpen. Chad Durbin, JA Happ, and Joe Blanton have been mediocre at best, Chan Ho Park hit or miss, and Ryan Madsen is the worst pitcher on either team. The good news is Brad Lidge has looked better, not 2008 good, but better. He sure looks capable of getting 3 outs in the ninth inning more often than not.
The Yankees have the closer that will finish the game, the Phillies really need seven or eight innings each start or they risk the bullpen blowing every game.
I gave the Yankees the advantage in each category, and I think they will win the World Series 4-3. The Phillies will be able to keep each game close, but A-Rod, Sabathia, and Rivera are just too good right now.
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