For most of my life I hated baseball. It seemed too boring, too slow, too blah. Shortly after college when a few of my friends were fanatics for the Red Sox I decided I should at least start to see what was doing and, as a suggestion from Best Man, started rooting for the joke-of-the-MLB Detroit Tigers. I can't say that I actually watched a single game during this time but at least now when these Sawx fans were going on and on about baseball I could talk about my favorite player, Juan Gonzalez. Wow, look at me!
Shortly thereafter I started dating uber-Yanks fan Hot Mary and she got me watching the Evil Empire on a regular basis. This was a new thing for me. For my entire sports fan life I have had to deal with only being able to see my Redskins on teevee on those rare instances when local coverage had them playing a NY team. But with the Yankees I could watch them every day all day. It just about blew my mind. Couple that with how I started to play some fantasy baseball and I was officially hooked.
Unfortunately, I had come on to Yankee fever just around the time that they lost total sense in building an effective roster. It was all to similar to my Redskins fandom in that they just picked some aged has-been, threw a sweaty fist full of dolla bills at them, and expected success. Much like the Underpants Gnomes business model, except where the Gnomes used this formula"
1. Collect Underpants
2. ????
3. Profit!
The Redskins/ Yankees do this:
1. Throw money at old men
2. ????
3. Profit!
Anywho, the point is that this is an exciting year for me because it is the first time I will be able to watch a World Series and have a sincere interest (excluding the times I hope the Red Sox crash and burn).
Enter the Phillies. If ever there was a team in the NL equipped to handle the Yankees, Philadelphia would have to be worthy of that distinction. They play excellent defense, they can hammer the ball, they have some fantastic baserunners, and they have adequate pitching.
So please indulge me in my position by position analysis:
Catcher
Excuse me but this is a decided no-brainer. Yes, Ruiz has been raking so far this postseason with an OPS of 1.000, but I would have to be stupid to think that he was in any way shape or form a better catcher than Jorge Posada. Posada will go down as one of the better offensive catchers in MLB history. He has the resume, and he has the experience. The only thing that bites the Yanks in the ass is that Girardi decided that Jose Molina should catch for Burnett. Girardi has had a habit of over managing this ballclub. Burnett is such an erratic pitcher that the difference the catcher makes is borderline negligible. Hopefully, he comes to his senses and starts Posada.
Winner-Yanks
First Base
This is great matchup: Teixeira vs Ryan Howard. Both are big time sluggers, and Howard has been on fire so far. If this was to be based on current postseason performance so far I'd have to give the edge to him, but this isn't fantasy baseball, and defense does count. Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of the Yankees this year has been the effect Teixeira's glove has made on the team. It is an immense relief to look at first and not see Giambi looking like lost retard at the mall. Call me crazy, but I think Teixeira's bat is bound to wake up this week.
Winner-Even
Second Base
Another good one with Chase Utley and Robinson Cano. Both are batting great this year, and both play sound defense. These may be the two best second basemen in the league, although Pedroia and Roberts both deserve consideration. However, where Utley has the clear advantage is the fact that the dude is a great base runner having stolen over 20 bags this year.
Winner-Phils
Third Base
This isn't even close. Alex Rodriguez vs Pedro Feliz. One has an OBP of 548, the other is 212. One has 12 RBIs, the other has 2. One of them is currently leading the team is just about every offensive category, the other, well, the other is Pedro Feliz. It's amazing the turnaround A-Rod has gone through. I hated this guy for his first couple years in NY. As soon as he stopped complaining about Jeter and how no one loved him he just turned on fire. So, you're telling me that when you stop worrying about stupid shit and just start playing ball you might be a little better at the game? Who knew?
Winner-Yanks
Shortstop
Rollins vs Jeter. The move to the leadoff spot has worked wonders for Jeters game. This year has seen a resurgence in both his hitting and defensive work. He still has a tendency to hit in to double plays too much, but the leadoff spot has helped to cut down on that problem. Rollins, on the other hand has seen a big drop off in his performance. The guy is supposedly a multi-talented threat as a 20 homer/20 stolen base kind of guy, but so far this postseason he has neither. The talent is there, but he is definitely underachieving.
Winner-Yanks
Outfield
Here you have Damon-Melky-Swisher vs Francisco/Ibanez-Victorino-Werth. This is a position in which the Phillies have a clear cut advantage. Francisco and Ibanez will probably be juggled at the DH spot depending on who the Yankees are pitching but both are solid players. Francisco is definitely the superior outfielder but Ibanez swings a mean bat. Victorino is the spark plug of the offense and base stealing threat. Werth has had a breakthrough season in which he mashed over 30 homers. For the Yankees, Damon has found that hitting in new Yankee stadium has definitely agreed with him, but his weak arm has been well documented. Cabrera is having a career year after initially losing the center fielder job to Brett Gardner. Swisher carried this damn team on his back in the early season, but this postseason has not been kind to him.
Winner-Phils, by a mile
DH
This is probably going to come down to Matsui vs Ibanez/Stairs. Given what Ibanez is capable of doing as seen in the early season, it looks like he could carry the advantage, but he has definitely not been hitting the ball well. Stairs is hard to get a good idea on as he has only had 4 plate appearances so far. Matsui has found some success in the DH spot now that his legs no longer enable him to play in the field. He's only hitting about 240 but he's also been walked 8 times.
Winner-even
Rotation
Sabathia vs Lee-This should be a great matchup. I wonder what Cleveland thinks about seeing two of their former Cy Young winners going head to head in game 1.
Pedro vs Pettitte-Two postseason veterans. Sounds like fun to me. Pedro has lost alot but he's a compensated and, so far, has been pitching well this year. Pettitte is postseason warrior and has been throwing the ball very well.
Hamels vs Burnett-These are two fellas who are capable of shutting down the opposition at any given moment. However, they're also capable of having a complete blowup. It's hard to believe that Hamels was the hero of World Series last year for Philadelphia. What the hell happened to that guy?
Blanton vs Gaudin-These two might not get a turn in the rotation if either team gets what they want. If they do, Blanton would probably have the advantage. He had himself a comeback year
while Gaudin is adjusting from leaving the spacious confines of PETCO park to the homer fest known as Yankee Stadium
Winner-Even
Bullpen
What was one the strength of the Yankees in the Hughes-Rivera combo is now looking quite suspect with Phil's recent troubles. Girardi is also mismanaging the relief arms and seems to have a problem with letting Robertson get it done. Philly on the other hand is suddenly seeing Lidge throw the ball with authority after a miserable regular season. However, they have a number of struggling arms in Madon, Happ, and Park.
Winner-Yanks
Management
Girardi is managing like an asshole.
Winner-Phils
All told, the matchup looks great. I think it will be close and I think it will be dramatic.
Prediction- Yankees in 7
Let's go Yanks!!!
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