The Champs vs The Evil Empire.  Philadelphia vs New York.  A team with over 10,000 losses vs a team with 26 Championships.  There are many subplots to the 2009 World Series that make this an intriguing matchup.  This has all the makings of an “instant classic” World Series that can attract just about any baseball fan, unless of course you are a Mets fan.

In Game 1, taking place in the Bronx, the Phillies will start Cliff Lee and the Yankees will counter with CC Sabathia.  Two former teammates with the Cleveland Indians and two former Cy Young Award Winners will face off Wednesday night.  Both pitchers have been the absolute aces of their staffs and have been very impactful.

Intangibles

Yankees have home field advantage, will host Game 1,2,6,7

Phillies have the league’s best road record (48-33)

Phillies have a slight edge in team defense

Phillies are better base runners

Phillies have had a slight layoff, where the Yankees will have had 3 days rest

Once again, the Phillies are labeled the “underdog” and the last 4 series they were labeled the “underdog” they won

The Phils/Yanks played a 3 game series in the Bronx this summer, the Phils won 2-1 and the 1 win for the Yanks was a come from behind win over Brad Lidge

Reasons Why the Phillies Could Win

1. CC doesn’t scare the Phillies like most teams - Including last year’s playoff vs the Brewers, the Phillies are batting .278 vs CC and rocked him last year which included a grand slam from Shane Victorino. 

2. Regular Season doesn’t equate to Post season - The Yankees undoubtedly have a serious lineup 1-9, however, besides Jeter and A-Rod the Yankees haven’t truly slugged their way to wins each game.  Swisher is struggling and will the bright lights affect players like Melky and Texiera?

3. Fundamentals - Let’s face it, the Yankees received  a lot of breaks in their previous series vs the Twins and Angels.  The umpiring in these series sparked a change in the World Series crew to a more “seasoned staff”.  They won’t receive the same breaks in the Big series.

4. Right Handed Relief - Joba and Phil Hughes are two hard throwing righty’s who have shown a tendency to lose control.  Both have the possibility of getting rattled by opposing crowds and Philly is one of the toughest.  The Phils power hitting lefty’s vs hard throwing righty’s could be an intriguing matchup in the 7 and 8th innings.

Reasons Why the Yankees Could Win

1. Very Seasoned Team - The majority of the Yankees have been to the World Series before, many times.  A hot streak by one hitter could open the flood gates for 1-9 in the batting order.

2. Mariano Rivera - The best closer in the history of MLB will have a big impact in the World Series.  The Phillies have proven they are capable of making 9th inning comebacks (see Rockies & Dodgers series).  Rivera is looked at as a machine and there is NO ONE that is better in the save position than Mariano Rivera.

3. Home Field Advantage - This worked in their favor against the LA Angels.  If the Yankees are able to take Games 1 and 2, the Phillies will have an uphill battle to fight.

4. 8th & 9th Innings - Last year Phillies squad had a set bullpen with Madson coming out in the 8th and Lidge to save in the 9th.  This year has been a little different with no real set bullpen positions and mostly using who ever is available and pitching well.  Lidge has proven recently he may have his old form back but the concerns come in the late innings with the Phillies bullpen.

The Phillies will be the best team the Yankees have played in the playoffs and are the defending champs.  The Yankees are always hyped up by their millions of fans world wide and the media.  Believe it or not, the pressure falls on the Yankees with their $210 million dollar payroll and home field advantage.  With many situations that could play out we should all be in for a treat. 

Game 1 World Series Odds - NY Yankees -165 from Bodog with the Over/Under set at 8.

Prediction: It would be hard not to follow the hype of the Yankees and convince myself the Yankees have the better pitching staff and bullpen.  However, there is something about the Phillies that show a quiet confidence and ability to come together in big situations and big games.  They are a team, and I am hesitant to say this about any team that has A-Rod in their dugout.  The Yankees have a lot of “I” players were the Phillies show there is no “I” in team.  If the Phillies are able to get outstanding starting pitching from Lee, Pedro and Hamels their offense will surely click.  I like the defending Champs as underdogs in this series and take the 2009 World Series in 7.

Tags: 2009 MLB Playoffs, AL, NL, Odds, Phillies, World Series, Yankees

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 1:14 pm and is filed under MLB Baseball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.