It was midway through the season when I said on Bleacher Report that I wanted a Phillies-Yankees World Series. At that point, I stated that the Yankees would win in six games.
Now that I am here, I want it all.
Sabathia, Pettitte, Rivera, Rodriguez, Jeter, Damon, and Posada.
Lee, Hamels, Martinez, Howard, Utley, Ibanez, and Werth.
There is more name power in the Yankees lineup. But let’s look at some numbers.
Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, and Jose Posada’s combined average is .299, buoyed by Jeter’s .344 regular season batting average.
Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth’s combined average is .275.
Advantage, Yankees.
Power numbers? The four Yankees have 94 home runs and 329 RBI. Phillies' four have 146 home runs and 426 RBI.
Not even close. The power numbers favor the Phillies.
C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee are consecutive AL Cy Young Award winners with the Indians. Sabathia was traded late last season to the Millwaukee Brewers and then signed a huge contract to come to the Yankees. Lee, the 2008 Cy Young Award winner, was traded to the Phillies for four prospects in the middle of the 2009 season.
Andy Pettitte came up huge in Game Six of the ALCS, while Pedro Martinez pitched seven shutout innings for the Phillies against the Dodgers and got a no-decision in the Dodgers' only NLCS victory, 2-1.
New York won 31 of its last 39 regular season home games and finished with the best home record in the majors at 57-24.
Philadelphia was 48-33 on the road this season, tied for the best mark in the majors.
New York fans must believe that the tough ALCS was the real World Series for the Yankees and, if necessary, Sabathia will pitch in Game One, and on three days' rest for Games Four and Seven.
They must also believe they have dominion over Pedro Martinez, as they are still his "daddy." Um, 2004, Yankees fans?
The Los Angeles Dodgers improved their bullpen and shored up their starting rotation in 2009, and the Phillies hit all they threw at them, save Game One of the NLCS. The Phillies are 18-5 in playoff games in the past two postseasons.
Numbers, stats, home and away records, can all be juggled to favor either side. The Yankees have history on their side, with 26 World Series championships, while the Phillies are trying to become the first National League team since the Cincinnati Reds to win back-to-back World Series titles (1975-76).
So to be fair, the only way I can predict this World Series is to go game by game.
Game One: C.C. Sabathia pitches seven shutout innings, while Phil Hughes and Mariano Riveria close things out for a 3-0 Yankees victory. Series: 1-0 Yankees.
Game Two: Pedro Martinez gives up one run in seven innings as the game breaks open late for the Phillies with home runs from Howard and Werth in an 8-4 Phillies victory. Series: tied 1-1.
Game Three: Joe Blanton gives up four runs in a 7-3 Yankees victory. Series: 2-1 Yankees.
Game Four: The Phillies finally get to Sabathia, and Cliff Lee picks up the victory, 5-1 Phillies. Series: tied 2-2.
Game Five: The Phillies' offense explodes again as Pedro Feliz’s three-run home run leads the attack in a 10-8 Phillies victory. Series: Phillies 3-2.
Game Six: Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez spark a 3-1 Yankees victory. Series: tied 3-3.
Game Seven: Rodriguez hits a walk-off home run to give the Yankees a 5-4 win and their 27th World Championship.
I was going to put a question mark in Game Seven, but Rodriguez can’t be held down forever, and I had to make a pick.
Who will be the hero? Will one team find the momentum and produce a sweep or five-game victory?
I think it will be a great series and hopefully no games are influenced by an absolute bar of soap like the one Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir threw in Game Six of the ALCS in the 5-2 Yankees win Sunday night.
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