With their backs against the wall, the Fightins will fight to play another day

The final game of the 2009 MLB season could come to an end tonight, but not if the Philadelphia Phillies have anything to say about it.  Sitting one game away from elimination, down 3-2 in the best of 7 series, the Phillies will try to send this Fall Classic back to a decisive Game 7.

The Phillies will send Pedro Martinez to the hill in game 6 at Yankee Stadium.  The Yankees will counter with Andy Pettitte, who will be going on short rest.  Pedro was good for much of the game in Game 2, but AJ Burnett was simply better.  Martinez has a lot of experience against the Bronx Bombers, and the Phillies will be banking on him being able to use that experience to even this series at 3 games each.

Chase Utley, who has been amazingly hot, will probably see very few pitches to hit.  Utley has 5 homeruns in as many games this series, tying “Mr. October” himself, Reggie Jackson, for the World Series record.  The key to Game 6 will be the bats of Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Ryan Howard.  If Rollins and Victorino can consistently reach base, the Yankees will be forced to pitch to Utley more often.  Also, if Ryan Howard can get some good swings and start hitting the ball like he did in the NLDS and NLCS, the Yankees will have to think twice about putting an extra runner on base ahead of “The Big Piece.”

A lot of talk has been about the pitching for this game, but I think it’s going to come down more to the bats.  Pedro and Pettitte will likely both be good, but hittable, and it will be up to a few key players.  Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira have to start getting on base and getting good swings consistently for the Yankees.  Likewise, Rollins and Victorino must get on base in order to force New York to pitch to the big boys in the middle of the Philly lineup.

This should be a good game, and I’m really hoping the Phils can send this to Game 7 because I don’t think I can quite handle watching the $200 million team celebrate tomorrow.

Jimmy Rollins’ Prediction for the Series *Updated with Video*

Tonight, on Jay Leno, Jimmy Rollins was a guest for the “10 at 10” segment. Basically, it’s just a short couple minute long thing where Jay asks 10 questions. Anyway, the final question for Young James was for his prediction on the series. His answer went something like this:

“Well, of course, we’re gonna win. If we’re nice, we’ll let it go 6, but I’m thinking 5, close it out at home.”

Hopefully, I can come up with a video of this at some point, from somewhere, because I’m certainly not computer savvy enough to know how to do that stuff.

Keep reading for a video of Young James, making his predictions…

World Series Preview, Predictions

The Fall Classic will get under way on Wednesday night on Fox, and will likely cause you to be late to work, or at the very least, tired on Thursday, thanks to start times that will be after 8 pm eastern. Of course, I could write a whole post about how much of an ass clown Bud Selig is, but I won’t (for now, at least.)

Let’s take a look at it, position by position:

Lee has been dominant this postseason

• Starting Pitching- Both teams have legitimate ace’s at the top of their rotation, with the past 2 AL Cy Young winners and former teammates, set to square off in Game 1. Cliff Lee will, of course, start for the Fightins. He has been dazzling this postseason, with a 0.74 ERA through 24 1/3 innings pitched with a 0.699 WHIP. That’s an incredible run, and he has given no reason not to think that he can’t keep it up against the Yankees. Charlie Manuel has said he will be willing to use Lee on 3 days rest, if needed. For the Yankees, C.C. Sabathia has been nearly as good…but not quite. Also, there’s no need to have to remind any Phillies fan of exactly what happened to Sabathia, who at the time, was unbeatable, when he faced our beloved Fightins in the 2008 NLDS as a Brewer. Sabathia lasted just 3 2/3 innings, while giving up 5 earned runs thanks to an amazing at bat by Brett Myers who worked a walk. Eventually, The Flyin Hawaiian himself, Shane Victorino came to the plate with the bases drunk. And boy, did he deliver. A crushing blow to Sabathia, and it was all over. Beyond the aces, I feel that the Phillies have the better rotation. Pettitte isn’t on the juice any more, and I’m not concerned with him. Burnett, come on. Frankly, no starter in this series worries me. Good starting pitching, but not GREAT. It will come down to our ’08 hero, Cole Hamels. If the Hamels of ’08 shows up, the Phillies will win this thing in 5 games. Yes, you heard me. But, if the 2009 Hollywood Hamels shows up, it won’t be quite as easy. Hopefully, Hamels starts in Game 3, and Pedro Martinez gets the nod in Game 2. That’ll look familiar, won’t it? Pedro against the Yanks, big game…I like it.

See the rest, after the jump…