Hump Day Report: Repeat
Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or my on-going battle to lose weight in our fast food world. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly
Fox Television is happy. They have the Yankees in the World Series, which means ratings will be up. The Phillies franchise and their fans are happy. They get to go head to head with the most storied and successful franchise in the history of the game.
There are so many storylines in this series. The last times the two teams met on this stage, in the 1950 World Series, the Phillies Whiz Kids with Whitey Ashburn and Robin Roberts were swept in four close games by a Joe DiMaggio-Yogi Berra-led Yankees team.
Ryan Howard
Once they were the Whiz Kids; this Phillies club features the Wallop Kids vs. the Bronx Bombers. We have two offensive juggernauts led by two RBI-producing machines, Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez. These teams led their respective leagues in home runs and runs scored, and they both play in cozy, hitter friendly parks, the new Yankee Stadium and Citizens Bank Park.
Still, pitching wins in the World Series, and tonight’s opening night showdown should be a low scoring game that will make Cleveland Indian fans tear their hair out in frustration. Cliff Lee for the Phillies, and C.C. Sabathia for the Yanks are both Cy Young Award winners and former members of the Indians.
Vegas has listed the Yankees as 2 to 1 favorites, a bit high considering the Phils are the defending champs. Between those Vegas odds and the Victorino-in-a-skirt picture on the cover of the New York Post, the Phils have plenty of blackboard material. Meanwhile the Yankees can ponder the confidence of Jimmy Rollins predicting the Phillies in five on The Jay Leno Show.
Here is how the series shapes up.
Starting Lineup
The Yanks have a great lineup, but the Phillies lineup is a little bit better and has been hitting more consistently throughout the playoffs. Howard (.355, 14 RBIs) has been a monster, and it’s hard to pitch around him when Jayson Werth (5 homers, 10 RBIs) has been producing so many key hits. Rollins isn’t hitting for average but has delivered two game-winning hits. Señor Octubre, Carlos Ruiz (.346) is having another great post-season, as is Shane Victorino (.361). Raul Ibanez is only batting only .226 in the post-season but has 9 RBIs. Chase Utley (.303, 2 RBIs) has been quiet this post-season and needs to knock in a few more runs.
The Yanks counter with the only hitter matching Howard in post-season excellence, A-Rod, who is batting .438 with five homers and 12 RBIs. Derek Jeter is also a tough out (.297, 5 RBIs). Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, DH Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano are all hitting under .240 in the post-season.
Edge: Phillies
Starting Pitching
The Yankees’ Sabathia has been fabulous in the post-season, (3-0; 1.19 ERA) and has proven he can pitch effectively with three days rest. Andy Pettitte is one of the best post-season pitchers in history and is 2-0 this post-season with a 2.37 ERA. A.J. Burnett can be tough but doesn’t have a decision so far in the post-season and carries a 4.42 ERA. Chad Gaudin is the emergency fourth starter, but if needed, Sabathia is ready to start three times.
The Phillies counter with Lee, who is 2-0, with a .74 ERA, giving up only two earned runs in 24 innings. He is willing to pitch on short rest, but has never done so in his career. Cole Hamels is the big question mark. He has been as inconsistent in the post-season, 1-1, with a 6.75 ERA, as he was in the regular season with a 10-11 record. Pedro Martinez, who starts game two, pitched great in his one post-season start against the Dodgers, delivering seven scoreless innings. If Lee isn’t asked to pitch on short rest, depending on how the series goes, the Phils have righty Joe Blanton and rookie lefty J.A. Happ as backups. Blanton won his only World Series start last year.
Edge: Yankees
The Bullpen
Mario Rivera is the best closer in the game and even though he is approaching 40 years old, he is still bringing it, with a career .077 ERA. This post-season in eight appearances, he has three saves and a .084 ERA. However, the bridge to Rivera has been shaky. Phil Hughes (5.59 ERA) and Alfredo Aceves (7.71) have been inconsistent. Starter Joba Chamberlain is also in the ’pen.
Brad Lidge was the worst closer in the game (11 blown saves) this year after being perfect in 2008. However, he has looked better in the post-season, matching Rivera as the only closers who did not blow saves in the post-season so far. He has three saves and hasn’t given up a run. Ryan Madsen, “The Bridge to Lidge” has been inconsistent. Chan Ho Park had one bad outing but as been excellent otherwise, and Scott Eyre has been a good situational lefty. Chad Durbin has been quietly brilliant in middle relief, and Brett Myers has been added as an extra arm in the ’pen.
Edge: Yankees
Other Elements
The Phillies have a better defense, especially in the outfield where Ben Francisco will join Victorino and Werth, now that Ibanez will be the DH at Yankee Stadium. Jimmy Rollins has more range than Jeter, and Chase Utley appears to have overcome his earlier throwing problems. The Yankees has the best defensive first basemen in the game in Teixeira, and A-Rod and second baseman Robinson Cano are also solid defenders. Both teams can run the bases, and rarely make base running errors.
Edge: Philles
Prediction: Phillies in six.
P.S. I hope we get to see Victorino face Sabathia with the bases loaded.
P.S.S.: The Sixers open their season tonight against Orlando.
