With Major League Baseball down to the final four teams of the Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, and Phillies it seems the Vegas bookmakers have the most faith in the manager with the least experience. The VegasInsider.com has the New York Yankees as an even money bet to win the 2009 World Series despite the Yankees having a skipper who has never managed in the World Series. The odds for the final four teams are the following: Yankees (Even), Angels (3/1), Dodgers (3/1), and the defending champs Phillies are (5/1).
Mike Scioscia (Angels) - Lead the Angels to a World Series victory in 2002 and tends to play against the Yankees very well. In 2009 the Angels were 5-5 against the Bombers and 18-11 over the past 3 seasons against the Yankees. Scioscia is a manager who likes to put runners in play either with a hit and run or a flat out stolen base to keep pressure on the defense. The Angels have a lineup as deep and as patient as the Yankees but may lack the depth in the bullpen so Scioscia will have to do some major button pushing. I am sure Mike has the Angels believing that they can be the team to get rid of the Yankees.
Joe Torre (Dodgers) - Joe has four World Series rings, all with the Yankees, and is looking to get his first with the Dodgers this year. The only issue is the defending world champion Phillies stand in his way. These are the same Phillies who knocked out the Dodgers in five games last year and are looking for a repeat. He has the experience and the team has a different feel this year over last year and some of his younger guys have gained the ever important postseason seasoning. Has Torre figured out a way to beat the Phillies and get to the World Series as a Dodger?
Charlie Manuel (Phillies) - Charlie has gotten the Phillies back to the dance after a slow start and they seem to be on a roll. Has Charlie and his staff gotten Brad Lidge back to form for the post season run? With the late comebacks against the Rockies does the team feel they can win against all odds and at any time? They did look cool in Colorado but that could of been the near freezing temperatures they had to play in. The Phillie are still the World Champs and it’s interesting to see them labeled as the underdog of the remaining teams.
Joe Girardi (Yankees) – Girardi many not have the World Series bling as a manager like the other field generals but that does not seem to worry Yankee fans. The Black Sheep Alex Rodriguez is hitting and becoming clutch and well you still have Jeter, Rivera, and Posada. The looser shaving-cream-in-the-face 2009 Yankees have a different outlook then the great teams of the late 90’s but can they get the same result. Can the Yankees match pitching with the Angels like they did against the Twins? Will they be the team on the wrong side of a clutch hit? It does not feel that way just watching them play since the All Star Break. You are not a real Yankee until you do it in October, so maybe Joe Girardi will win his 1st World Series as the skipper and become a real Yankees manager.
Major League Baseball may not have regular season parody amongst the teams but they sure have it in the postseason. I think all the matchups have been tight and entertaining regardless of the sweeps or short series. The series all have come down to a play or just a crazy inning that gave one team the advantage. I expect this to continue and look forward to an exciting round of Championship series and World Series.
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