Many critics are stating that the series is starting too late and that it won't work if teams in the northeast made it, weather would become a big factor and the series could drag on longer with rain outs and other delays. It should be a ratings boost over last year's Phillies/ Rays matchup. The power of the Yankees returning to the stage for the first time since 2003 should help.
Matchup
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees is the best matchup Major League Baseball could have hoped for because they were the two best teams in their respective leagues this past season. A strong postseason has the defending champion Phillies expecting to repeat behind starting pitcher Cliff Lee and their explosive offense.
Philadelphia's lineup is anchored by slugging firstbaseman Ryan Howard, but it's the deepest lineup in the National League. Secondbaseman Chase Utley provieds a solid two hitter and cleanup left fielder Raul Ibanez started the season hot, but suffered an injury. He rebounded late in the year, enough to finish the season with .272 batting average and 34 home runs.
The speed in the Phillies lineup comes from shortstop Jimmie Rollins and centerfielder Shane Victorino. Both players get on base a lot and have the ability to go from first to third on a simple single when starting to run early.
Every baseball fan knows that the Yankees are led by the four members of their team that have 16 World Series championships. Captain Derek Jeter returned to form this season, batting .334 with .406 on base percentage. He also passed Lou Gehrig as the all time hits leader in franchise history.
Statistics don't mean much to Jeter though, he won four titles in the first five years in the major leagues and he wants to get ring number five. The other position player that's been with the team since the last title is catcher Jorge Posada. Posada brings a solid bat into the lineup and has gotten better behind the plate since Tony Pena was added to the coaching staff.
The pitchers that were with the team are Andy Pettitte, the lefthander that has tied for the most wins in postseason history and Mariano Rivera. Rivera is the most trusted pitcher in postseason and provides a lot of comfort to Yankees fans when he enters the game.
The Yankees linup includes sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. Teixeira doesn't have the eye-popping numbers that he put up in the regular season, but he's done well delivering when necessary, including a game-winning home run against the Twins in the division series. Rodriguez provides the bigger intrigue heading into his first World Series.
This playoffs, everything's changed. Rodriguez is hitting .429 with eight walks for a .567 on base percentage. He's also hit three home runs this playoffs.
Many writers are pointing to the bullpens as the most important element of winning this series. The Yankees have trouble trusting their two young arms, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, after giving up the lead late in game five against the Angels. They'll rebound, and along with lefties Phil Coke and Demaso Marte shut down the left handed bats of the Phillies.
The Phillies have had struggles with their bullpen as well. Closer Brad Lidge has performed well and it should be interesting to see how manager Charlie Manuel pieces together the late innings against the deep Yankees lineup, especially in Yankee Stadium.
The pitching matchup in game one should be a good duel between two former Cleveland Indians pitchers in C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Lee has yet to give up an earned run in eight innings pitched this postseason for the Phillies. Sabthia has been just as good, winning three games, including two against the Angels and winning the Most Valuable Player in the American League Championship Series. The pitching matchups should be good. The Phillies boast Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Pedro Martinez. They're set to start games later in the series.
Prediction
It should be a good series. The Phillies were here last season and shouldn't be shook by the stage, but the Yankees are a deep team with solid pitching from Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Pettitte. It should go six games with the Yankees ultimately bringing home championship ring number 27.
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