The Yankees and the Phillies best-of-seven series starts tonight, but who has the edge? We take a look at the major catagories, and some you might not have thought of, to give you a complete look at the two best teams in the league from two guys who have spent their lives cheering them on.
Starting Pitching
Going with a three-man rotation is easily the right decision for the Yankees. When you’re paying your top two pitchers
$242 million, you’re allowed to have great expectations for them. Oh, and Andy Pettitte has a little bit of postseason experience.
Bullpen
The Yankees’ bullpen is one of the best in the league. The only question regarding their relief pitchers is whether or not manager Joe Girardi knows how to use them correctly.
Closer
Mariano Rivera is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Even legendary hitters fear the Sandman. You know what’s coming, but you’re helpless against the cutter.
Defense
This is the Yankees’ best defensive team in more than a decade. They led the league in outfield assists, have four legitimate gold glove candidates in their infield, and they’ve allowed less than one stolen base per every two games.
Offense
Every hitter in this lineup can go off at any moment. They hit 244 home runs over the course of the season, and the
short porch/jet stream combination in right field can only help their abundance of lefty batters.
Best Hitter
If the past two series were any indication, it’s apparent that third baseman Alex Rodriguez is clearly this team’s best hitter. Mark Teixeira, however, is the club’s most lethal offensive weapon, as he stands on both sides of the plate, and sees great pitches with A-Rod behind him.
Player That Will Surprise People
Center fielder Melky Cabrera has been underappreciated by Yankees fans for years. Though he’s often overshadowed by bigger names such as Jeter, Rodriguez, and Damon, Cabrera played a large part in the team getting this far. In his first World Series appearance, he’ll show everyone why he belongs in such a prominent position with such a prestigious club.
Why They’ll Win
Hitting is nice, but pitching wins championships. Any time your team takes the field with Carsten Charles Sabathia on the hill, the opponent is in a heap of trouble. Remember the other names on the Yankees’ pitching staff, and you’ll soon realize that this team is destined for their twenty-seventh world championship.
– Matt Shanley
Starting Pitching
Cliff Lee has been outstanding this year so look for him to keep up the good work and go late in the game. Cole Hamels needs to settle down if he wants to be as dominant as last year. Pedro is the wildcard, he has the experience and ability
it’s all a matter of how late in a game he can go.
Bullpen
The Pen was relatively solid throughout the NLCS with the exception of Game 2. They need to continue holding together. Look for guys like J.A. Happ and Chan ho Park to play bigger roles this coming series.
Closer
So far Brad Lidge has been the closer. He seems to be back to last year’s form going 3-3 in save opportunities and has 1 win. Look for Brad to remain lights out in the postseason.
Defense
The Phils need to focus and be error-free in the World Series. Watch for Chase Utley and see how his hip is doing. Something tells me it could be part of his two error postseason.
Offense
The Phillies have been getting runs using small ball which is a big part of the postseason. Look for them to jump on their opponents early and remember that they are a .800 ballclub when scoring at least 4 runs. As a side note, don’t
pitch to Ryan Howard, he’s on fire and you will get burned.
Best Hitter
Hands down the best hitter has been Ryan Howard. He has some competition though including Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz. The Phils need to keep the power going if they want to win.
Player that Will Surprise People
For this series, I think people need to watch for Pedro Feliz. He was the best hitter with runners in scoring position this year and while he hasn’t gotten off to a great start he ended with a homer in Game 5 of the NLCS.
Why They’ll Win
43 regular season come from behind wins and three in the postseason. They’re a team that has proven they can win late in games and they have the best overall record in the NL. Oh, and let’s not forget that they are the defending World Champs.
– Zach Speers
