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…
Defend Broad Street 