Spring Break
Column: World Series predictions show strong teams facing off
Joe Rea
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Sports
10/28/09 - The 2009 World Series will have the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies facing the 103-win New York Yankees beginning tonight in the Bronx.
In past years, a "Cinderella"-type team has made a run to the World Series (the 2008 Rays, 2007 Rockies, 2006 Tigers are some examples), but this year the big boys have squashed the feel-good stories.
New York gets the home-field advantage for games one, two, six and seven because the American League won the All-Star game. The Yankees and Phillies have proven to be the two best teams in all of baseball.
Yes, with a few different breaks maybe the Rockies could have beaten the Phillies or the Minnesota Twins could have defeated the Yankees, but "what-ifs" can be said about anything. The two teams left standing have been more resilient than everyone else, and this installment of the Fall Classic will certainly not be short of star-power.
Game one will feature C.C. Sabathia for New York and Cliff Lee of Philadelphia on the mound. During the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Sabathia posted two wins along with a 1.13 earned run average while earning the ALCS Most Valuable Player award.
Lee has arguably never been better, posting a 0.74 ERA in three postseason starts so far.
Game two will showcase former Boston pitcher and Yankee-foe Pedro Martinez for Philly against a struggling A.J. Burnett of New York. Martinez makes his return to the Bronx in postseason play for the first time since 2004.
The two teams will make the trip to Pennsylvania for games three, four and if necessary, game five. In game three, Phillies' pitcher Cole Hamels, 2008 World Series MVP, will faceoff with veteran Andy Pettite of the Yankees. Pettite will be appearing in an unheard of eighth World Series (seventh with the Yanks) for his career. The starters of the final four games will depend on how the series plays out.
Starting pitching is always a factor in any postseason. If the Yanks' starting rotation and bullpen can do their jobs, the Bronx Bomber should have no problem hoisting their 27th trophy. However, if Lee and Martinez continue to pitch as well as they have been this postseason, then Philadelphia should host its second straight parade in the second week of November.
In past years, a "Cinderella"-type team has made a run to the World Series (the 2008 Rays, 2007 Rockies, 2006 Tigers are some examples), but this year the big boys have squashed the feel-good stories.
New York gets the home-field advantage for games one, two, six and seven because the American League won the All-Star game. The Yankees and Phillies have proven to be the two best teams in all of baseball.
Yes, with a few different breaks maybe the Rockies could have beaten the Phillies or the Minnesota Twins could have defeated the Yankees, but "what-ifs" can be said about anything. The two teams left standing have been more resilient than everyone else, and this installment of the Fall Classic will certainly not be short of star-power.
Game one will feature C.C. Sabathia for New York and Cliff Lee of Philadelphia on the mound. During the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Sabathia posted two wins along with a 1.13 earned run average while earning the ALCS Most Valuable Player award.
Lee has arguably never been better, posting a 0.74 ERA in three postseason starts so far.
Game two will showcase former Boston pitcher and Yankee-foe Pedro Martinez for Philly against a struggling A.J. Burnett of New York. Martinez makes his return to the Bronx in postseason play for the first time since 2004.
The two teams will make the trip to Pennsylvania for games three, four and if necessary, game five. In game three, Phillies' pitcher Cole Hamels, 2008 World Series MVP, will faceoff with veteran Andy Pettite of the Yankees. Pettite will be appearing in an unheard of eighth World Series (seventh with the Yanks) for his career. The starters of the final four games will depend on how the series plays out.
Starting pitching is always a factor in any postseason. If the Yanks' starting rotation and bullpen can do their jobs, the Bronx Bomber should have no problem hoisting their 27th trophy. However, if Lee and Martinez continue to pitch as well as they have been this postseason, then Philadelphia should host its second straight parade in the second week of November.
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