The Top 25 Philadelphia Sports Moments of the Decade: Number 1

Well, here we are. We've seen 24 other moments go past, with only one to go. There were a lot of great moments in Philadelphia sports over the last ten years, if you think about. Every one of the four major sports teams made it to at least their Conference/League Championship, and the Phillies, Sixers and Eagles all made it to their respective championship games/series. There were amazing catches, 14 second scrambles, no hitters, five overtime games, tremendous clutch shots, great individual efforts and great showings by teams. However, nothing, and I mean nothing, can top what was, quite possibly, the greatest moment in Philadelphia sports ever. Twenty five years of waiting had finally come to an end with one pitch.

Moment #1: The Phillies win the 2008 World Series-October 27 & 29, 2008

For 25 years, the city of Philadelphia had been waiting for a championship. All four teams had come close, but none had been able to duplicate what the 1983 Sixers had done. Each and every time, something had gotten in the way and stopped them from reaching their ultimate goal, leaving Philadelphia fans high and dry, and even more bitter than before. Throughout the 25 year drought, each team had a chance to pick up their banner and run to the front of the fanbase. The Eagles under Buddy Ryan were always just a player or two away, and Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid actually got to the Super Bowl. The Sixers had Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley in the primes of their careers. The Flyers had Eric Lindros in the 90s, Peter Forsberg and Keith Primeau this decade and a cast of characters in the 80s. Meanwhile, the Phillies had the 1993 team, which, if history and the Mitchell Report is any indication, was even more dirty than a lot of people thought they were.

Realistically, if you were to ask anyone which team they expected to win a championship before 2007, you would have more than likely heard the Eagles, then the Flyers, then the Sixers and then the Phillies. The Phillies had gone 14 years without making it to the playoffs, and each time they got close, they found a way to miss out on the postseason. Then, something happened. In 2007, the Phillies put everything together and made the playoffs. Even though they were swept by Colorado, the seed had been planted. Brad Lidge, who had worn out his welcome and his mental state of mind in Houston, was brought in to be the closer. No one expected him to have a perfect season in saves, but he did. The Phillies made a living in 2008 out of picking up scraps. J.C. Romero was let go by the Red Sox, Scott Eyre was brought in from Chicago and Chad Durbin was a free agent pickup from Detroit. All of these players helped form a bullpen that was the missing piece to the puzzle in 2008.

After getting a taste in 2007, things were different in the playoffs in 2008. The Phillies took out the Brewers, with C.C. Sabathia getting to know Shane Victorino. Then, the Dodgers came in with Manny Ramirez. Matt Stairs quieted those fans with a single moonshot, and Cole Hamels shut the door with a dominating Game 5 showing. After that, the Phillies were set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays, who had become baseball's Cinderella in 2008. The Rays had never had a winning season, and now, all of their young talent had come together at once. Most people in the national media picked the Rays to win the World Series, but the Phillies would have none of it.

Game 1 belonged to Cole Hamels, and after losing Game 2, Jamie Moyer and Carlos Ruiz had their moments in Game 3. Joe Blanton and Ryan Howard showed their muscle at the plate in Game 4, and suddenly, you could feel something in the air. The Phillies were just a single win away from the World Series, and Cole Hamels was going to be on the mound. Finally, the 25 years of misery were going to end. Then, Game 5 started, and the rain came with it. For five innings, Hamels battled the rain and the Rays as the Phillies somehow managed to take a 2-1 lead in the sloppiest coniditions anyone had ever seen for a baseball game. In the sixth inning, the Rays managed to tie the game when B.J. Upton found enough footing to steal second base after reaching on an infield single. Suddenly, Bud Selig decided to suspend the game indefinitely. All the work that the Phillies had put in, all the effort, the come from behind wins, the great pitching, all of it was about to go down the drain, all because of some rain.

Two days later, Game 5 finally started again, with the Phillies at bat. Geoff Jenkins did the one good thing he ever did in a Phillies uniform by rocking a double into right field that missed being a home run by about 15 feet. He scored on a bloop hit by Jayson Werth, and just like that, the Phillies were back in business. Ryan Madson would pitch two innings, and Brad Lidge would shut the door, it would be that simple.

Again, when has it ever been that simple in Philadelphia? The second batter that Madson faced hit a home run into left field, tying the game once again. After Jason Bartlett singled, Madson was done, and J.C. Romero came in. Akinori Iwamura hit a groundball to Chase Utley, who made the play of the series by faking a throw to first, and then turning and gunning down Bartlett at home plate. Somehow, the Phillies still had life. Then, the back of the order got things done. Pat Burrell's last at bat as a Phillie was his first hit of the World Series; a double into left-center. Eric Bruntlett pinch hit, and Pedro Feliz drove him home. Romero retired the side in order in the eighth, and again, you could feel it. Unless you've been three outs, or two minutes away from a championship, you don't know what I mean, but for those that have experienced the feeling, it's like nothing else. Brad Lidge, who was 47 for 47 in saves on the season, was coming in. There was no way this could go wrong.

It started out just fine, as Evan Longoria, who had been hounded by Phillies fans during all three games, popped out. Then, Dioner Navarro singled and was pinch run for. The Rays had life again, and their pulse got even stronger when Fernando Perez, the pinch runner that came in for Navarro, stole second. Everyone's heart stopped for a second when Ben Zobrist made solid contact with a pitch and drove it into right field. In any other season, the ball finds a gap, Lidge blows his first save of the year, and the game is tied. Not in 2008. Jayson Werth played it perfectly, the ball stayed up just long enough, and there were two men out. Up to the plate stepped Eric Hinske. He swung at the first pitch and dribbled a ball down the first base line. That was too easy for Philadelphia, so it went foul. A check swing on the next pitch was called a strike, and there was just one strike left. Brad Lidge got the sign, rocked back and threw, which led to this:




And this:



And then this:



Twenty five years of frustration, twenty five years of being losers and choke artists and everything under the sun...and it was all gone. Wiped away with one swing and miss from Eric Hinske. To quote the late, great Harry Kalas, "the Philadelphia Phillies are World Champions of baseball!"

I wouldn't trade that moment for anything. I was at the parade, sitting in Lincoln Financial Field on Halloween, and I will never forget seeing all the smiling people that day. Two million people, all wearing smiles and red crowded into Philadelphia to see a champion. It had been far, far too long for most of us. In my case, I had never even seen a championship in my lifetime. I was born in 1984, the year after the Sixers won their last title. I had gone through the highs and lows. I cried when I heard Joe Carter had beaten the Phillies, I still hold a grudge against the Detroit Red Wings for sweeping the Flyers in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, and you already know how I feel about Los Angeles and Boston. Needless to say, this was the greatest moment not only of the decade for me, but of my entire life as a Philadelphia fan. Now that I've seen a winner, I know what it feels like to be on top. The last decade was the golden age of Philadelphia sports, if you look at it. It was only fitting that the Phillies, the least likely team to do so, would be the ones to finally end 25 years of misery. Hopefully, it doesn't take that long for it to happen again.

Well, that's it. Twenty five moments over a ten year span. I had a lot of fun actually going back and researching all of these, and finding the videos may have been the best part. When I do this again in another ten years, I'm hoping that there will be more championships at the top of the list, and maybe, just maybe, I can be collecting a paycheck for what I'm writing. I'm not going away any time soon, but the list is. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

The Top 25 Philadelphia Sports Moments of the Decade: Number 8

The 2008 Phillies have already been featured a few times on this list, and they're going to be seen a few more times as we climb closer to the top. Today's moment comes from one of the wildest World Series games that I can remember watching, as it didn't start until 10:06 PM, and ended just before two in the morning on the shortest walk-off hit in World Series history.

Moment #8: Carlos Ruiz hits a 45 foot walk-off single-October 25, 2008

The Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays had split the first two games of the 2008 World Series in Tampa Bay, and were now headed to Philadelphia for the first World Series game in Philly since 1993. The only problem was that the weather didn't want to co-operate. What was supposed to be a start time of 8:25 was pushed back an hour and a half by rains, and Game 3 of the World Series became the latest starting World Series game ever.

Jamie Moyer got the start for the Phillies, and despite his struggles in the playoffs up until Game 3, Charlie Manuel was going to stick by his veteran pitcher. It wouldn't come out until during the game, but Moyer had been up with flu like symptoms most of the night, and was nowhere close to 100% while he pitched this game. After being squeezed by umpires in his first two starts of the playoffs, Moyer's first pitch of the night would show whether or not the control oriented pitcher would get the calls he would need to do well in this game. Akinori Iwamura flew out on the first pitch, and the next pitch was on the outside corner to B.J. Upton for a called strike. Moyer was in business.

Meanwhile, the Phillies did their best to get out to an early lead against ALCS MVP Matt Garza. Jimmy Rollins singled and eventually came around to score on an RBI groundout from Chase Utley. The Rays would tie the score in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by Gabe Gross, but Carlos Ruiz gave the Phillies the lead again with a home run into left field in the bottom of the second. The score remained 2-1 until the sixth inning, when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back to back home runs to put the Phils up 4-1. Moyer ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh, and eventually was pulled after allowing two runs and striking out five. It was his best showing of the playoffs, but unfortunately, he would not get the win. The Phillies' bullpen, which had been so reliable during the regular season and the playoffs, came undone in the eighth inning.

Ryan Madson entered the game in the top of the eighth with the Phillies up 4-3. All he had to do was record three outs, and Brad Lidge would come in and do the rest. Of course, with the way that this game had gone, it wasn't easy. He allowed an infield single to B.J. Upton, then struck out Carlos Pena before Upton's speed threw a wrench into the Phillies' plans. Upton stole second on the first pitch to Evan Longoria, then stole third on the next pitch, and came around to score when Carlos Ruiz's throw sailed past Pedro Feliz. The game was tied, and about 46,000 very wet, very tired Phillies fans in Citizens Bank Park began to feel that this was when the other shoe would drop for the Phillies. It had been a great season, but going down 2-1 to the Rays meant more than likely a return trip to Tampa, and very few people saw that ending well.

Madson and J.C. Romero worked out of the rest of the eighth inning, and Jayson Werth walked then stole second to lead off the bottom of the eighth, but Chase Utley and Ryan Howard both struck out, and Werth was picked off of second to end the threat. The heart of the Phillies' lineup had gone down with a whimper in the inning, and Eric Bruntlett, who came into the game as a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell, was due to lead off the bottom of the ninth. It was not a good situation. J.C. Romero did his job in the top of the ninth, sending the game into the bottom of the final inning still tied at four each.

Then, something incredible happened. Eric Bruntlett, who reached base at just a 30% clip in 2008, was hit by a pitch to start off the inning. Bruntlett didn't have much going for him at the plate, but he did have some speed, and he used it when Grant Balfour uncorked a wild pitch to Shane Victorino. Dioner Navarro's throw to second base sailed into center field, and all of a sudden, Bruntlett was standing on third base. The winning run was just 90 feet away, but Tampa manager Joe Maddon had a plan. He intentionally walked Victorino and Pedro Feliz, then called Ben Zobrist in from right field to set up a five man infield. Carlos Ruiz came to the plate, and after the offensive season that he put up in 2008 (.219, 4 HR, 31 RBI), there were only a handful of people that didn't think a double play was in order.

Ruiz took the first pitch from Grant Balfour for a ball, then went down in the count 1-2. With the pitcher's spot up next, Ruiz had to at least keep fighting, and that's what he did. He fouled off the next pitch, then took a ball to even the count. With the crowd fully behind him, Ruiz swung at the next pitch...and dribbled it to the one place in the infield where there wasn't a Tampa Bay Ray standing with a glove. The ball bounced right in front of home plate, and rolled about 45 feet down the third base line. Eric Bruntlett was off with the crack of the bat, forcing Evan Longoria to make a decision. Longoria's choice was to throw the ball about ten feet over Dioner Navarro's head. Bruntlett scored, and the Phillies had won Game 3 of the World Series on the shortest walk-off hit in World Series history. Add in the fact that the game ended at just after 1:45 in the morning, and you have one of the most improbable moments that most fans had ever seen.

You all know how the World Series ended, and I already covered Game 4 a while back on the countdown. Game 5 will be coming up, you just have to wait for that. Carlos' game winning hit only helped propel him along in the World Series. He finished with a .375 batting average and three RBI, not too bad for a guy who only drove in 31 during the regular season.

Where would this moment be without a video of it? Enjoy watching from a fan's perspective.



We're not done with the 2008 Phillies season, not by a long shot. In fact, the next moment on the list takes place just two weeks before this one. Lots of people can look back at a moment when they knew the Phillies would win the World Series last year. Some people knew after Game 4, others say they knew after this moment, and others still went back to the NLCS, when a journeyman from Canada launched a pitch into the California night that still hasn't come down.

The Top 25 Philadelphia Sports Moments of the Decade: Number 14

We head back to the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies for our next moment. The 2008 World Series was full of amazing moments (more of them will be coming later), but this one was just so improbable, so unbelievable, that to not include it on this list would be a mistake. What happens when a pitcher hits his first career home run in the Fall Classic? You get moment number 14.

Moment #14: Joe Blanton goes deep-October 26, 2008

As the end of July in 2008 came around, the Phillies looked like a contending team again. The offense was at the top of the National League, and the pitching wasn't that bad, either, but there was one thing missing. The Phillies, and their fans knew that another starting pitcher had to be brought in to solidify the rotation. Kyle Kendrick had flamed out, and Brett Myers was still down in the minors, trying to work out his issues. On July 17, GM Pat Gillick traded for Oakland starter Joe Blanton, who was 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA with the Athletics. Most people were stumped by the move, as pitchers like Rich Harden and C.C. Sabathia were available, but the Phillies went with the big guy from Oakland instead.

Rather than have the reaction of the fans dictate how he would pitch, Blanton went out and didn't lose a start for the Phils during the regular season, going 4-0 with a 4.20 ERA in 13 starts. His good pitching carried over into the playoffs, where he went 1-0 and allowed just four earned runs in 12 innings during the National League playoffs. His next start would be in Game Four of the World Series. The Phillies had taken a 2-1 lead in the series on a late night, 45 foot single by Carlos Ruiz (more on that later), and with Cole Hamels in the chamber for Game Five, the pressure was on Joe to finish off the Rays and put the Phillies one win away from their second championship.

The game started out well, as Pat Burrell worked a bases loaded walk off of Andy Sonnanstine in the first inning to score a run, and Pedro Feliz plated Chase Utley in the third inning. Joe Blanton was pitching pretty well, allowing just two hits in the first three innings before giving up a home run to Carl Crawford in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to just a single run. Luckily, Ryan Howard launched a three run home run in the bottom of the inning, but the Rays would answer back in the top of the fifth, as Eric Hinske drilled a shot to dead center field off Blanton to make it a 5-2 game. Edwin Jackson replaced Sonnanstine in the bottom of the fifth, and quickly retired Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz before Blanton stepped to the plate.

Now, not much was expected from Joe Blanton whenever he came to bat. In his time with Oakland and Philadelphia, Blanton had a career total of two hits in 26 at bats, which was good for a .077 batting average. Coming into the game against the Rays that night, he had never had a hit in the playoffs. All of that was about to change. Blanton worked a 2-1 count against Jackson, then tomahawked the next pitch deep and over the left field wall for a solo home run. It was the first home run by a pitcher in the World Series since 1974, and the first of Joe Blanton's career. The crowd at Citizens Bank Park was making more noise than I had ever heard to that point, and most people could feel it after that. There's no way to describe that feeling unless you've actually experienced it. It was at that moment that everyone, no matter how negative you felt about Philadelphia sports, knew that the Phillies were going to win the World Series.

The rest of the game was just an afterthought following Blanton's home run. Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard each homered in the bottom of the eighth inning to finish up the scoring, and when J.C. Romero struck out Rocco Baldelli to end the top of the ninth, the Phillies were just one win away from a World Series championship. Joe Blanton finished the game with a line similar to just about any time he's won a game with the Phillies. He went six innings, allowing two runs while walking two and striking out seven. Of course, he also had the biggest hit by a Phillies pitcher in World Series history, and that's why his amazing long ball makes the list at number 14.

Needless to say, the Phillies did go on to win the World Series in 2008, though I'll get to that moment a little bit later in the countdown. As for Joe Blanton, he pitched again with the Phillies in 2009 and went 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA. He didn't have the same success in the playoffs this year, pitching in four games and not getting a decision in any of them. Though his name has been brought up in trade rumors during the offseason, I for one would love to have the big righty back for another season with the Phils.

Thanks to MLB.com, I've got a nice recap of Game Four of the 2008 World Series, including Joe Blanton's home run.

MLB.com: Joe goes deep

I return to the ice for moment number 13. The season before the NHL Lockout, the Flyers had a chance to add their names to the Stanley Cup, and without this moment, they wouldn't have gotten as close as they did. Plus, it's always fun when the Orange and Black send a team from Canada packing.

The Top 25 Philadelphia Sports Moments of the Decade: Number 16

The 2009 World Series unfortunately ended up as one that Phillies fans would like to forget. However, the first game of that series not only got the attention of the New York Yankees and made most people stand up and realize that the Phillies were for real, but the pitching of one Cliff Lee was enough for it to make the Top 25 list at number 16.

Moment #16: Cliff Lee dominates the Yankees-Game 1, 2009 World Series-October 28, 2009

Coming into the 2009 World Series, most people wrote the Phillies off as just a speed bump to the mighty New York Yankees. While the Phillies had won the World Series just the year before, they hadn't had to face any team the caliber of New York, and it was supposedly just a matter of time until the Yankees made the Phils melt under their gaze.

The main story heading into Game 1 was the pitching matchup. The last two American League Cy Young Award winners would be facing off, as C.C. Sabathia took on Cliff Lee. Sabathia was literally New York's biggest free agent signing of the offseason, and he dominated throughout the regular season, finishing the year with a 19-8 record. He had also appeared to remove the ghosts of his past two playoff trips, posting a 3-0 record with an ERA just above 1.00 in the first two rounds. Meanwhile, Cliff Lee had fallen off a bit after his remarkable 2008 season, but a midseason trade to the Phillies seemed to be just what he needed. He won his first five starts with the Phils, then tapered off at the end of the season, finishing his half season in Philadelphia with a 7-4 mark. Though there were questions about how he would pitch in the playoffs, he quickly answered them all with a complete game victory over the Rockies in Game 1 of the NLDS and a ten strikeout performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Still, most people thought just the mere factor of playing in New Yankee Stadium against C.C. Sabathia would be enough for Lee to revert back to the pitcher he was during the regular season. What they got instead was a pitching performance for the ages. Things started out on the right foot, as Lee struck out Derek Jeter on three pitches. He followed that up with a strikeout of Mark Teixeira to end the inning. The second inning went just as well, as he struck out Alex Rodriguez, then worked around a one out single by Jorge Posada by striking out Hideki Matsui and getting Robinson Cano to ground out. Chase Utley would put the Phillies ahead with a solo home run in the top of the third, and Lee was in cruise control after that. He would strike out seven through the first four innings, including striking out the side in the bottom of the fourth. Utley would homer again in the top of the sixth for the last run Lee would need on this night.

The Yankee fans that paid thousands of dollars to see their team run over the Phillies instead watched one of the newest Phillies dominate the best lineup in baseball during the regular season. Lee wouldn't strike out another batter until the eighth inning, but still managed two amazing plays in between strike outs. First, he made the most nonchalant catch ever on a pop-up by Johnny Damon in the bottom of the sixth inning, then he made an incredible behind the back play on a ground ball by Robinson Cano in the bottom of the eighth, and he followed that up with his eighth strikeout of the night on the next batter. The Phillies would add insurance runs in both the eighth and ninth innings, and though Lee lost the shutout in the bottom of the ninth, thanks to a Jimmy Rollins throwing error, he simply reached back and struck out Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada to end the game. Yankee Stadium was stunned, and though it wouldn't hold, the Phillies had taken a 1-0 lead in the World Series.

Even though this game is less than two months old, I still can't believe how well Cliff Lee pitched that night. He took a New York team that hit .283 as a team during the regular season and was hitting over .250 in the postseason, and held them to just six hits and one run. Alex Rodriguez had dominated pitchers during the playoffs up to that game, he went 0-4 with three strikeouts. In total, Lee struck out 10, didn't walk a batter, and didn't even allow a baserunner to get to third base until the ninth inning. Not only that, but he cleared out most of Yankee Stadium by the bottom of the eighth inning, and there were more Phillies fans than Yankee fans left by the time the last out was recorded.

Unfortunately, the great effort that Lee had during Game 1 wouldn't carry over through the rest of the World Series. The Yankees would take the next three games, coming from behind in two of them, before the Phils were able to take Game 5 behind another solid effort from Cliff Lee. However, the Yankees would close out the series in Game 6, denying the Phillies back to back championships, and leaving most of us with just the memories of that one night in late October, when a pitcher from Benton, Arkansas, silenced just about everyone in Yankee Stadium during the World Series. It was a performance that I'd never seen before on a stage very few people ever get to perform on, which is why it finished so high on this list, even if the Phillies did end up losing the World Series.

The best part about this moment? Cliff Lee is still under contract for next season, meaning that this could happen again.

We return to the lovely Eagles vs. Cowboys rivalry for moment #15 tomorrow. Amazingly enough, it's Freddie Mitchell's second showing on this list, as his only catches seemed to be important ones.

World Series Game Six Recap: Yankees-7, Phillies-3

Game Recap:
The Yankees jumped on Pedro Martinez for four runs in the first three innings, and cruised to a 7-3 victory last night to claim the World Series over the Phillies.

What went right?

Not much I can say here, really. The Phillies lost the World Series. I mean, Ryan Howard hit a home run, but that's about it.

What went wrong?

Chase Utley went 0-3 with a walk.

Pedro Feliz was 0-4.

Pedro Martinez didn't make it through five innings, allowing four runs on three hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Chad Durbin was horrible, allowing three more runs to score in just one third of an inning. He allowed two hits and walked a batter.

Oh, and the Phillies lost the World Series. Did I mention that yet?

Game Analysis:

Just like that, it's over. The 2009 baseball season has come to a close, and this year, the Philadelphia Phillies had to watch as the New York Yankees claimed another championship to add to their collection. I'm not going to take anything away from the way the Yankees played during this series. They were the better team through these six games, and their starting pitching and bullpen held up much better than the Phillies' did. So, congrats to them. Us Philadelphia fans wanted the Yankees, and we got the Yankees. Sometimes, you need to be careful what you wish for.

The game never really started out well yesterday. Pedro Martinez struggled from the first inning, as he never really seemed to be able to get his velocity above 86 miles an hour. He just didn't have his best stuff last night, and he was leaving pitches over the plate during all four innings he was in the game. To be honest, the score could have been much, much worse last night if the Yankees had come out swinging better in the first inning. That's how badly I thought he pitched last night. He couldn't get Hideki Matsui out...hell, no one could last night. Matsui killed the Phillies during the games that he played, and his .615 batting average, three home runs and eight RBI were more than deserving of the MVP award for the series.

The offense didn't help Pedro out last night with run support, either. Andy Pettitte didn't have his best stuff yesterday, but when the Phils did get runners on base, the batters at the plate became impatient and swung at bad pitches, which set Pettitte up to be able to get them out. Pettitte walked five batters in 5.2 innings last night and allowed four hits, but only gave up three runs. The Phillies left eight men on base, and just couldn't get anything going when they needed to. Once the Yankees went up 7-1 in the fifth inning, you just had the feeling that this game was not going to end the way that Phillies fans wanted it to.

This team does have some questions going into next year, but I'm not going to dive into those quite yet. For now, I just want to reflect on this team. Yes, they didn't win the World Series this year, but to even get back to back National League Championships is a rare feat. The Phillies were the first team to do it since the Atlanta Braves did it twice back in the 1990s, and before that, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 1977 and 78, so it doesn't happen that often. If you look at the number of setbacks this team had to go through to even get back to the World Series, it's amazing. Three of the five starters in their opening day rotation didn't finish the year there. J.C. Romero, the key left-handed setup man last season, missed 90% of the year. Brad Lidge fell apart, blowing 11 saves. Cole Hamels never got on track. Jimmy Rollins was horrible for almost two-thirds of the season. Raul Ibanez couldn't hit anything after his injury...and yet they still won 93 games and a second straight National League pennant. For that, I can't be any prouder of this group of players.

The silver lining in all of this is that the Phillies are going to compete again next year. The core group of players on this team is locked up for the next two to three seasons, and most of them should be here longer than that. This is not a Florida Marlins type team that has to sell off all of its talent now that they've made it this far. This team isn't that old yet, and they should be back into the playoffs for years to come. For all the crap that I've said about this team this year on this blog when they lost, I'm still more proud of them than I even was last year. The 2008 Phillies let us know what it's like to be a winner, and that is a damn good feeling. This year, save for four games in late October and early November, we got to feel that way again. It's not very often that a team comes around that has the chance to be this good for this long. They've already won three straight National League East pennants, and they're going to add more to that, let me tell you.

So...that's it for baseball this year, which means this blog is more than likely going to slow down a little bit more, since I don't have something to write about every night. I'm not going anywhere, though. I'll be here from now until the end of sports in Philadelphia, as far as I'm concerned.

Oh, and one more thing: this team did Harry Kalas proud. I'm sure he loved watching these guys play and honor his memory like they did this year. They may have come up a bit short, but Harry wouldn't have cared. This year was for him.

See all you baseball fans in 2010. We've only got 97 days until spring training.

World Series Game Five Recap: Phillies-8, Yankees-6

Game Recap:
The Yankees made it interesting in the late innings, but the Phillies held on for a win in Game Five that sends the World Series back to New York for hopefully two more games.

What went right?

Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with a run scored.

Chase Utley went 2-3 with a three run home run and a solo home run. He tied Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in a single World Series, with five.

Jayson Werth was 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Raul Ibanez went 2-4 with a home run.

Carlos Ruiz was 1-4 with an RBI.

Cliff Lee pitched well, but was probably left in for one inning too long. He allowed five runs on seven hits in seven innings. He walked three and struck out three, and also went 1-3 at the plate.

What went wrong?

Ryan Howard was 0-2 with two walks and two strikeouts, which tied Willie Wilson for the most strikeouts in a single World Series.

Pedro Feliz went 0-4.

Ryan Madson gave everyone in the Philadelphia area a heart attack, allowing a run on three hits in the ninth inning. He didn't walk a batter, and struck out one.

Game Analysis:

Boy, that was a fun one, wasn't it? After having their hearts ripped out last night, the Phillies came out tonight and at least looked like they would be able to take the World Series back to New York, as they jumped on A.J. Burnett for six runs in three innings. After that, some questionable choices by Charlie Manuel and some timely hitting by the Yankees brought New York back into the game, but the Phils had just enough to push this series to a sixth game on Wednesday night.

I honestly can't say enough about Chase Utley right now. The man is playing lights out at the best time of the year, and his three run home run in the bottom of the first inning gave the Phillies the jolt that they needed after the Yankees scored in the top of the first. Utley would strike again in the seventh inning, providing an insurance run that the Phils would eventually need. The offense in general seemed to be more in tune tonight, and A.J. Burnett didn't make it out of the third inning. The command that Burnett had in Game Two wasn't there tonight, and the Phillies took advantage of that while he was in the game. The Yankee bullpen did a solid job after he left, holding the Phils to two more runs, but the damage was done in the early innings. The Phillies showed it against Vicente Padilla in the NLCS: regular power pitchers don't do well the second time around against this team.

Cliff Lee was shaky tonight, but he still pitched well through seven innings. I'm not going to fault him for the three runs in the eighth, because Charlie Manuel should have taken him out at that point. He had already thrown seven innings, and was over 100 pitches. Does Charlie really not trust the bullpen to get six more outs? In the end, they had to anyway, and the Yankees tagged Lee for three more runs. I hope he's available to pitch out of the bullpen if this goes to a Game Seven, but at this point, I just want to win one game at a time. Lee didn't have his best stuff, and his command was off tonight, but he was still able to work through it, as he got the Yankees to ground out and pop up most of the night. It wasn't the prettiest job in the world, but right now, he's the only Phillies starter in the World Series with a win, so he's doing something right.

Then the bullpen came into the game, and things got interesting. Chan Ho Park set the Yankees down with relative ease in the top of the eighth inning, but was lifted for Matt Stairs in the bottom of the eighth. For what reason, I'm not sure, but Charlie was dead set on having one of his back of the bullpen guys come in for the ninth, despite the fact that Park was pitching very well, and easily could have gone a second inning. To be fair, Matt Stairs hit one of the most monumental home runs in Phillies history, but he doesn't seem to have the same swing this year, and he showed that tonight by grounding into a double play. Luckily, the Phils won this game, but that was a choice that could have come back to bite Charlie in the ass in a big, big way.

I don't know what has to be done about the closer situation by the time Game Six comes around, but something has to happen. Brad Lidge fell apart last night in the ninth inning, and Ryan Madson almost did the same tonight, allowing a run to cross the plate, and then allowing the tying run to get on for Mark Teixeira. Madson worked out of the inning with a strikeout, but it could have been the end of the series right there. The last two nights, the back end of the Phillies' bullpen has been anything but solid, and that has to be fixed, somehow, in the next 36 hours.

The offense tried to make it easy tonight, but the bullpen certainly made this game more interesting than it had any right to be. Either way, the Phillies have sent the World Series back to New York for at least one game. The one thing the Phils have going for them right now is that the Yankees are going to send Andy Pettitte and C.C. Sabathia (if necessary) out to start on three days rest. Tonight, A.J. Burnett was shelled on three days rest. I can't say that's going to happen two more times, but it's something to think about. Either way, at least there's still another game to be played.

Game Six will be Wednesday night in New York. All signs are pointing towards Pedro Martinez (0-1, 2.08 ERA) going for the Phillies, while Andy Pettitte (3-0, 3.24 ERA) is going for New York. For the Phils, it's just a matter of taking it one game at a time now.

A Little Something for Tonight

Sure, that ad that got put out in the papers today may have made last night sting even more, but the Phillies are still the defending champions until someone else wins a fourth game in the World Series. This is not over yet...and while I'm thinking like that, here's a little something to get you ready for tonight.



This is NOT OVER YET. Let's go Phils!!

World Series Game Four Recap: Yankees-7, Phillies-4

Game Recap:
Alex Rodriguez hit a go ahead single in the ninth inning, and Jorge Posada followed it up with a two run double as the Yankees took Game Four, and with it a three games to one series lead.

What went right?

Chase Utley was 2-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.

Pedro Feliz was 3-4 with a home run and two RBI.

What went wrong?

Jayson Werth went 0-3.

Raul Ibanez went 0-4 with three strikeouts.

Carlos Ruiz went 0-3.

Brad Lidge picked up the loss, his first in the playoffs as a Phillie. He allowed three runs on three hits in the ninth inning, and all of that happened after he recorded two easy outs.

Game Analysis:

Baseball is a game of inches. With two outs in the ninth inning, Brad Lidge threw a nasty 1-2 pitch to Johnny Damon that he literally just got a piece of. From there, Damon worked a full count, and ended his nine pitch at bat with a single into left. Four batters later, three runs had crossed the plate and the Yankees were on their way to taking a stranglehold on this World Series.

I'm not pinning this loss on Brad Lidge. He went out there, and yes, he threw some meatballs to Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, but to be honest with you, he shouldn't have even been in the game at that point. I lay the blame for this loss at the feet of Charlie Manuel. After Lidge hit Mark Teixeira, he should have been taken out of the game and Scott Eyre or someone else should have come in and pitched to Rodriguez. Lidge wasn't taken out, and the rest is now, unfortunately, history. The Yankees are up 3-1, and it looks like, barring a miracle of epic proportions, that the Phillies' run as world champions is about to come to a sudden, and violent, end.

I do have to give credit to Joe Blanton for going out there and pitching like he did tonight. Not many people thought he would even make it out of the third inning, and instead, he pitched four great innings, with two not so great ones in there as well. He struck out seven and walked two in what was a typical "Joe Blanton" start. Blanton was the most consistent pitcher the Phillies had over the course of the season, and these are the types of numbers that he put up then. The Phillies know that when he pitches, they're usually going to have to score more than four runs, but he hardly even has one of those games where he "blows up." Tonight was a perfect example of that. He got into trouble in the first inning, but settled down and kept the Phillies in the game against C.C. Sabathia. He didn't pitch like an All Star, but he pitched well. I have nothing bad to say about his performance.

The offense, however, is another story. Right now, the only person that has been showing up on a consistent basis in this series is Jayson Werth, and even he laid an egg tonight. The Phillies had chances to get to C.C. Sabathia and force him out of the game, but they couldn't get anything done. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino reached base with no one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Werth couldn't even advance Rollins to third. The big bats are not hitting when they need to, especially Howard, who is now 3-17 with ten strikeouts in the World Series this year. That's not going to get it done, not when the team the Phils are facing is the New York Yankees. Raul Ibanez isn't doing much better, as he's now 3-16 with nine strikeouts in the series. Without those bats hitting, the Phillies aren't going to win very many games, and that's what happened in the last four games.

Tonight though, it all comes down to the ninth inning. After Pedro Feliz launched a Joba Chamberlain pitch into the left field stands to tie the game, momentum was clearly on the side of the Phillies. I don't have a problem with bringing in Brad Lidge to pitch the ninth in a tie game. After all, he hadn't pitched since Game Five of the NLCS. Like I said before though, after he hit Mark Teixeira, Charlie had to come out and bring in someone else. It's bad enough that the shift they had on allowed Johnny Damon to steal second and third because Carlos Ruiz decided to even throw the ball to second to begin with, but with Alex Rodriguez stepping to the plate, there had to be a better option out in the bullpen. Rodriguez was 2-3 with a home run and three RBI in his career off of Lidge, so the matchup wasn't a good one to begin with. Instead, Charlie Manuel left Lidge in the game. Two pitches later, the Yankees had their game winning hit. Charlie's made a few odd managing moves in this series, like the one tonight, not double switching when Ben Francsico pinch hit in the six inning tonight and leaving Pedro Martinez in one inning too long in Game Two. I don't know what he's thinking right now, but it's not working.

I'm not throwing in the towel yet, even after this loss. Cliff Lee is pitching tomorrow night, so all hope is not lost. At the very least, Lee should be able to keep the Yankees from celebrating at Citizens Bank Park. At the most, Lee can jump start this team to some sort of miracle run. Either way, I'm going to be watching. I've stuck with this team through worse times than this, hell, I have ticket stubs from the late 90s, when you could get them for free in the back of hot dog packages. This series isn't over until someone wins four games, so everyone keep your chins up, it ain't over yet.

Tomorrow night, Cliff Lee (3-0, 0.54 ERA) looks to keep the season alive as he goes against A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.55 ERA). I'm still rooting for you guys, now go get it done.

World Series Game Three Recap: Yankees-8, Phillies-5

Game Recap:
Cole Hamels couldn't make it out of the fifth inning, and the bullpen gave up three additional runs as the Phillies dropped Game Three of the World Series last night to fall behind 2-1 to New York.

What went right?

Jayson Werth was 2-4 with two solo home runs.

Carlos Ruiz went 1-2 with a home run, two walks and two runs scored.

Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with an RBI on a bases loaded walk.

What went wrong?

Chase Utley went 0-4.

Ryan Howard was 0-4 with three strikeouts, making him 2-13 with nine strikeouts in the World Series.

Raul Ibanez went 0-4.

Cole Hamels was ineffective...again. He lasted only 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out three.

The bullpen wasn't much better, as they allowed the Yankees to score an additional run in the next three innings, making a comeback that much harder.

Game Analysis:

For three innings, everything was going perfectly. The Phillies had Andy Pettitte on the ropes, tagging him for three runs in the second inning, and Cole Hamels was cruising through the Yankee lineup like the 2008 version of Cole, not allowing a hit. Then, the fourth inning got here, and it all fell apart. Cole walked Mark Teixeira on a close 3-2 pitch and followed that up with a two run shot from Alex Rodriguez. The homer was first called a double, because it hit off of a horribly placed camera down the right field line, but the correct call was eventually made. Cole seemed like he could bounce back after that, as he retired the next two batters to get out of the inning, but the fifth was his undoing.

Cole would only record one more out before surrendering a base hit to Andy Pettitte that clearly shook him up. After a single by Derek Jeter, a two run double by Johnny Damon and a walk to Mark Teixeira, Hamels was finished for the game, and possibly the season. Of course, the bullpen wasn't much better, as they allowed a run in each of the next three innings, which made home runs by Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz meaningless. Game Two was defined by the lack of offense the Phillies gave Pedro Martinez, but last night was all about the failure of the pitching staff, namely Cole Hamels.

Does anyone else feel warm and fuzzy inside if the Phillies do force a Game Seven and Cole is on the mound, at Yankee Stadium? I know I don't. Having him pitch at least a little bit like the World Series MVP from last year was a key to the series, and once again, he was not up to the task. This year in the playoffs, Cole is 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA, a far cry from the pitcher who dominated Milwaukee, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay last year in the playoffs. Last night, he decided to go back to his shaky curveball, and the Yankees ate it up. Alex Rodriuez's home run? Curveball. Andy Pettitte's base hit. Curveball. Right now, Cole has no control over that pitch, and if he does get another chance to step on the mound during this World Series, I don't want to see any damn curveballs.

The other thing that's concerning me right now is just the production of Ryan Howard. The big man tore through the National League in the playoffs, but against the Yankees, he has just two hits and nine strikeouts. He looks lost at the plate again, and the bat that guided the Phillies back to the World Series has gone ice cold. Jayson Werth hit two home runs last night, and both were with no one on base. That has to change for this team to win. The Phillies live and die by the home run, and right now, they're dying by it. They had Andy Pettitte at 50 pitches through two innings last night, and he threw just 54 pitches in the next four innings. The Phillies got impatient at the plate and stopped making him work. They are going to have to get that turned around, starting tonight.

I know this series is not over yet, but it's the first time since 2007 that the Phils have trailed in a playoff series. This team does well with their backs against the wall, so I haven't given up yet. They just have to take it one game at a time, starting tonight. Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66 ERA) is taking on C.C. Sabathia (3-1, 1.52 ERA). Sabathia's pitching on short rest, so hopefully the Phillies can get to him. If not, then Monday night is going to be their last stand.

World Series Game Two Recap: Yankees-3, Phillies-1

Game Recap:
The Phillie bats went silent tonight as A.J. Burnett and Mariano Rivera combined to shut down the Phillies and tie up the World Series at a game a piece.

What went right?

Raul Ibanez was 2-4 with a run scored.

Matt Stairs struck out to end the game, but he also had the only RBI for the Phillies on a base hit in the second inning.

Pedro Martinez was solid, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out eight.

What went wrong?

Ryan Howard was 0-4 with four strikeouts.

Pedro Feliz was 0-3 and saw all of nine pitches the entire night.

Chase Utley was 0-3 and hit into a double play in the eighth inning.

Game Analysis:

That's why winning yesterday's game was so important for the Phillies. After taking down C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees had their backs against the wall tonight, and they came out swinging. A.J. Burnett struck out nine in seven innings, and despite allowing baserunners in both innings he worked, Mariano Rivera got out of trouble in the eighth and ninth for a two inning save. Overall, it wasn't a pretty game for either side, but it goes down as a win for the Yankees, and the World Series is tied at a game a piece heading to Philadelphia.

You can't fault Pedro Martinez for his showing tonight. For a 38 year old to go out and throw six innings, strike out eight and only allow three runs, it's quite impressive. He was on from the moment he stepped onto the mound tonight, and aside from two bad pitches to Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui, he was on point all night long. I think Charlie Manuel made a mistake by having him even start the seventh inning, and that came back to bite the Phils in the form of an insurance run for the Yankees in that frame. Again, I can't praise Pedro enough, but, much like C.C. Sabathia last night, the offense let him down.

Yesterday, the Phillies were able to work deep counts against C.C. Sabathia because he was throwing first pitch balls. Tonight, A.J. Burnett never let the Phils get comfortable, throwing first pitch strikes to 22 of the 26 batters he faced. Once he got ahead in the count, he was able to work the corners and use his breaking ball to keep the Phillies off balance for the seven innings he was in the game. Burnett struck out nine and only walked two, and one of those was an intentional walk to Chase Utley after he started out with a 3-0 count. Simply put, Burnett had all the pressure in the world on his shoulders tonight, and he came through it looking like the man the Yankees paid an $82 million contract for in the offseason.

Last night, the Yankees couldn't get their offense going, and they wasted a solid start by C.C. Sabathia, while tonight, the Phillies let a great outing by Pedro Martinez slip by the wayside because of the pitching of A.J. Burnett. Now, the World Series becomes a best of five affair, with the next three games in Philadelphia. That's why the win last night meant so much. While it would be awesome to be up 2-0 on New York, I said in the preview that a split was imperative for the Phillies in the first two games. They have home field advantage, and they've lost just one game in Philadelphia during the last two postseasons. Also, the Phillies lost Game Two of the 2008 World Series, 2009 NLDS and 2009 NLCS, and those all turned out fine. Saturday's game is still very important though, because the Phillies want to try and keep this series from going back to New York, no matter what.

Game Three is Saturday night, making it possibly the best Halloween ever in the New York/New Jersey area. Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.75 ERA) will hopefully get his mojo back against Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37 ERA).

Cliff Lee's Forecast? Cloudy, With a Chance of Pop-Ups

Seriously, it looked like he was sticking his hand out to check if it was raining. I love this guy right now.

World Series Game One Recap: Phillies-6, Yankees-1

Game Recap:
Cliff Lee pitched a complete game as the Phillies took a one game to none lead over the Yankees in the World Series.

What went right?

Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored. His throwing error in the ninth inning was the only thing that kept Cliff Lee from a shutout, however. That's bad.

Shane Victorino was 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Chase Utley was 2-4 with two solo home runs. He reached base for the 26th straight playoff game, setting a new major league record.

Ryan Howard went 2-5 with an RBI.

Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with two RBI.

Cliff Lee pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run on six hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out ten.

What went wrong?

Pedro Feliz was 0-4. Honestly, that's about all.

Game Analysis:

So, after all the talk, all the picks and all the warmup, it was time to play some baseball. One team showed up tonight, and the other (and their fans) seemed to have one foot out the door when they got to Yankee Stadium tonight. For nine innings tonight, Cliff Lee dominated the Yankees with his best pitching performance of the playoffs. For a man who has gone 3-0 with 30 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.54, that is saying something. It was a great sign tonight when he struck out Derek Jeter on three pitches to start the game, and he was in a groove all night. Alex Rodriguez struck out three times, Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada each went down twice and Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher both had a strikeout as well. The only time he got into trouble was the ninth inning, when Jeter and Johnny Damon led off the inning with singles. Lee then retired Damon on a fielders choice that allowed Jeter to score and struck out Rodriguez and Posada to end the game. That's what kind of a night it was for Cliff Lee.

The offense worked well against C.C. Sabathia in the early innings, making him throw pitches and allowing the Yankee bullpen to come into play. The Phils only scored two runs off of Sabathia, but they had him at 113 pitches through seven innings, and he walked three batters as well. Chase Utley did the big damage off of Sabathia, taking two pitches into the right field seats for the only runs the Phils would need tonight. Even though the Phillies only managed those two runs, they were patient at the plate for the most part and showed that they are not going swing at bad pitches. When the Yankee bullpen came into play, it was even more obvious, as the Phils worked another three walks and four runs out of New York in two innings.

Look, this series isn't even close to over yet. It's far from it. All that tonight really boils down to was that it was a statement to everyone who thought the Phillies were going to roll over and die and the feet of the Yankees, just because they're the Yankees. Cliff Lee came out and pitched the best game I've seen him pitch, the offense worked C.C. Sabathia just like I wanted them to, and then they got to the New York bullpen, which, aside from Mariano Rivera, doesn't look as good as anyone, myself included, thought. Hopefully, this keeps the Yankee fans quiet for just one night. There's still three more wins to be had, then the Phillies get to celebrate again.

Tomorrow night is Game Two. Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is pitching for the Phillies against A.J. Burnett (0-0, 4.42 ERA). All the pressure is on New York now, so this one should be real fun.

The Big Man Gets His Cover Time

You knew that either a Phillie or a Yankee would be on the cover of next week's Sports Illustrated, but I'm willing to bet most people would have said it would be Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter. Instead, behold the wonder that is Ryan Howard.

I know about the SI curse, but come on now. Ryan Howard's killed everything so far in the playoffs. He can take care of that, too. Oh, apparently Andre Agassi hates tennis. Good to know.

(Thanks to these guys and this guy)

So yeah...about that New York Post Article...

You know what amuses me? When I wake up in the morning, ready to go about my day, and I see this all over the internet:

I'll save you the trouble of reading the article, because it seems like the three (yes, it took three of them to write it) writers are about 12 years old. It's your typical Philadelphia bash-fest, with New Yorkers questioning cheesesteaks and Rocky, and having at least one fan that apparently thinks Veterans Stadium is still around. Personally, I don't mind it. New York is confident because their Yankees are back in the World Series. Go ahead, talk all you want. If your paper is so bad that you need to put a photoshopped image of Shane Victorino on your back cover, then you need all the help you can get. Besides, the last time Shane saw C.C. Sabathia in the playoffs, he launched a grand slam over the left field wall. I wonder if Sabathia remembers that?

Et tu, Jayson Stark?

So, ESPN's experts have made their picks for the World Series, and while I expected the Yankees to get the majority of the picks, there's one man that stands out.

Really, Jayson Stark...really? After every article you write about the Phillies, and one of the best books I've ever read about the 2008 Phils, you go and pick the Yankees to win this year? That cuts deep man. I don't think we can be friends anymore. I am glad that most of these people see this series as a long one, except for Rob Neyer. I think he hates the Phillies at this point. He picked the Dodgers to win the NLCS in five, and now he's picking the Yankees in five, too. Neyer also picked the Rays to win in five games last year, so he might be on to something. Just keep picking against the Phils, Rob.

Of course, if you had listened to the group of ESPN "experts," you would be flat out of luck in the National League. Looking at their initial playoff picks, only Howard Bryant, Jerry Crasnick, Eric Karabell, Eric Neel and Gene Wojciechowski picked a Phillies/Yankees World Series, and none of them picked the Phillies to win. This seems to have changed now, as Eric Karabell has switched his pick. Mr. Karabell, you shall be rewarded when the Phillies win. You were the only one on ESPN to stand up. We will remember this.

World Series Preview: Phillies vs. Yankees: This should be fun.

It took the American League a little bit longer to crown a champion, but now everything is signed, sealed, delivered and ready to go. After 162 regular season games and two rounds of playoff baseball, the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies will be taking on the New York Yankees for the World Series championship.

I wish I could say this series is going to be easy for the Phillies, I really do. I can't say that, though. Last year, I knew that the Phils were going to win. All you had to do was look at how Tampa Bay celebrated beating Boston in the ALCS. That was their World Series. This year, the Yankees know that they're not done until they get to the top. It's the same attitude the Phillies have had the last two postseasons, and it's going to make this series one of the best in the last decade.

You can throw out the matchup between the Phillies and the Yankees in late May, too. Yes, the Phillies took two out of three that weekend, but so much has changed since then. Alex Rodriguez had been back for all of two weeks, and was still struggling with his hip injury, C.C. Sabathia wasn't the same pitcher he has been since the All Star break, and Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez weren't playing for the Phillies yet. Truth be told, that series might as well be looked at as one that happened last year. It's good that the Phils managed to take two out of three from the Yankees, but all that relates to now is the overall standings. Either way, the World Series starts Wednesday night, so let me break it down for you.

Offense:
For the Phillies, their offense is, and seems it always will be, based around their power game. Ryan Howard was the hottest hitter for either team in the NCLS, and his MVP award tells that story. Aside from a certain third baseman for the Yankees, no one has been as hot during the playoffs as the big man. Howard is hitting .355 with two home runs and 14 RBI in the nine games that the Phillies have played so far, but he's not alone. Shane Victorino leads the team in postseason batting, hitting .361 with three home runs and seven RBI of his own, while Carlos Ruiz isn't exactly a Philadelphia secret anymore. Carlos is batting .346 with a home run and seven RBI, and killed Los Angeles pitching during the NLCS. The Yankees can't ignore his bat out of the eight hole, or he'll continue to rake, just like he did against the Dodgers. Chase Utley hasn't had many RBI chances, but he has been getting on base, and while Jayson Werth only had four hits in the NLCS, three of them were home runs. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz have struggled a bit during the playoffs, but even they have all come through with at least one clutch hit so far.

The Phillies are going to have to use their speed more than they have so far in the playoffs, as well. The Yankees did a good job keeping the Angels in check on the basepaths, though most of that had to do with the fact that Bobby Abreu and Chone Figgins were next to useless at the plate. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino are going to have to do a better job than those two did if the Phillies want to have a shot in this series. So far, the Phils have only stolen six bases, and that's going to have to change against the Yankees. C.C. Sabathia has a good move to the plate, and Andy Pettitte is pretty much the best pickoff artist in baseball, but they still have to take their chances when they get them.

As for the Yankees, their offense pretty much revolves around one person right now. Alex Rodriguez has found a new gear so far in these playoffs, hitting .438 with five home runs and 12 RBI in nine games. It seems like the playoff Rodriguez of old is gone, and that might have something to do with him missing the first month and a half of the season this year. If you look at the last three times the Yankees made the playoffs with Rodriguez, he averaged almost 700 plate appearances in those three years. This year, he only had 535 plate appearances. It's fairly obvious that his body is still fresher than it has been in recent trips to the playoffs. In fact, this is the first time he's played in less than 130 games in the regular season since 1999, so it could just be that he needed a little extra rest. He's not as young as he used to be, and he was coming off of major hip surgery, so perhaps the time off has his body still in September, rather than October. As for the rest of the Yankees, the usual suspects are still there, though the offense has really struggled so far in the playoffs. Of course, Derek Jeter is still leading the way, hitting .297 with three home runs and five RBI, and Melky Cabrera has been a surprise out of the nine spot, batting .314 with four RBI. The rest of the Yankee lineup hasn't been up to their regular season talent, especially Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira, who are hitting a combined .165 with one home run and six RBI. However, this is a Yankee lineup that can break out at any time. Eight of their nine starters had 20 or more home runs during the regular season, and that short porch they have in right field is very inviting for any hitter. All it could take is a few good swings, and all of a sudden, that offense is up and running again.

The Yankees also have some speed on the basepaths that they're going to want to use to their advantage as well. Derek Jeter led the team with 30 steals, and Brett Gardner swiped 26 bags of his own. While New York doesn't have as many 20+ basestealers as the Phillies, they did manage to steal 111 bases while only being caught 28 times on the season. That comes out to a success rate of 80%, which is just one percent behind Philadelphia's 81% success rate. Needless to say, the battle on the basepaths could be something that sets the tone for the series.

For the overall offense, while the Yankees were kings in the regular season, they haven't had the same pop in the playoffs. Right now, it comes down to Alex Rodriguez against Ryan Howard, and both of them have been pretty damn even. The same is pretty much true with the rest of the lineups. The most positive thing for the Phillies is the fact that this year, they won't have to start Eric Bruntlett in Yankee Stadium when the lineup includes a DH. That job now falls on Ben Francisco. Even with Francisco, these are the two best lineups in baseball, and they're too close to call.

Advantage: Push

Starting Rotation:
Both of these teams need to send thank you cards to Cleveland for their pitchers in Game One. Both C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee were teammates in Cleveland last season. The Indians traded Sabathia to the Brewers at the trade deadline last year, and he made his way to New York in the offseason. This year, the Indians dealt Cliff Lee to the Phillies at the trade deadline, and both have been excellent so far in the playoffs. In three starts for the Phillies, Lee has been lights out, going 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work. He's been everything that the Phillies have needed him to be, and more. Behind Lee, the rotation hasn't been as strong, but it's gotten the job done. Pedro Martinez, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton will likely make up the rest of the rotation, with the only question being who will start Games Two and Three. If I had a choice, I would put Pedro on the mound for Game Two. Not only has he pitched better than Cole so far during the playoffs, but he has experience pitching against the Yankees in big games. He's done it as a member of the Red Sox, and his seven shutout innings against the Dodgers make me believe that he can do it again. Cole hasn't been the same pitcher he was last year during the playoffs. He doesn't have the same zip on his fastball, and he's leaving pitches up in the zone, which is making them easy targets for talented hitters. If he does that against the Yankees, they will eat him alive. The Phillies know what they are going to get out of Joe Blanton, and that's about it. He's a solid fourth starter who can sometimes pull a gem out of his hat. Usually, he's going to give the Phillies six strong innings with three or four runs coming across the plate. If he can do that against New York, I think most Phillies fans, myself included, would be happy.

With the Yankees closing out the Angels last night and avoiding a Game Seven, they now have the luxury of starting C.C. Sabathia three times during the World Series. Personally, I don't blame them if they do. So far in the playoffs, Sabathia has been the ace the Yankees needed, winning three games and striking out 20 in 22.2 innings of work. His 1.19 ERA is a tiny bit higher than Cliff Lee's, but is nothing to be worried about. The Yankees were careful with Sabathia down the stretch this year, as they didn't want to burn him out like the Brewers had to do last season. His 230 regular season innings are his lowest in the last three years, and it's showed so far in the playoffs, as he's been able to remove the demons of the last two postseasons. Behind Sabathia, the Yankees have a decent set of starting pitchers. A.J. Burnett is solid, but his 4.42 ERA is one of the highest on New York's playoff roster. He has talent, but can be wild at times, and it's come through a little bit this postseason with four hit batters in the playoffs so far. The Phillies have seen Burnett plenty of times, both with Florida and Toronto, so it's not like they don't know what he's going to throw at them. Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte is the most experienced starter left in the playoffs, and he has done everything the Yankees have needed him to do during this postseason. His 2.37 ERA ranks just behind Sabathia and Lee in terms of starters, and he's struck out 15 batters against only three walks. When you think of the Yankees in the playoffs, you think of Pettitte on the mound in a big game, and that's what he gives that team. He didn't have the best regular season, but regular season stats don't matter when you get to the playoffs. Since New York won last night, it's likely these are the only three starters that the Phillies are going to see.

Both these teams are familiar with the opposing ace. Cliff Lee spent all of his career in the American League before he was traded to the Phillies, and C.C. Sabathia faced the Phils in the NLDS last season, with less than stellar results. The Yankees have hit Lee around a little bit in his starts against them, but the way these two are pitching, it's going to come down to who is pitching behind them. When you stack it up, Pedro/Hamels/Blanton vs. Burnett/Pettitte, there isn't much to set them apart. All five of those pitchers have playoff experience, and you don't get much more big game than Pedro Martinez and Andy Pettitte. Much like the offenses, the starting rotations are damn close.

Advantage: Push

Bullpens:
Like I just said a few minutes ago about the starting pitchers: regular season stats don't mean a thing in the playoffs. Brad Lidge couldn't have saved a Little League game at the end of the regular season, and blew two saves against the Yankees during the regular season, but is three for three with a win and an ERA of 0.00 during the playoffs. He's gotten out of some tough situations, and has done exactly what has been asked of him so far in the playoffs. He's not the Brad Lidge of 2008. I don't think that's ever going to happen again, but he does look better than the Brad Lidge of the 2009 regular season. He's gotten some of his confidence back, and it's showing now. If only he could give some of that to Ryan Madson. The "Bridge to Lidge" has been less than stellar, and his 4.50 ERA is the third worst in the bullpen. He's given up eight hits and four walks in six innings of work, and is going to have to get better, or else the Yankees are going to eat him alive. New York is a team that plays until the last out, much like the Phillies, so the bullpen is going to have to be on top of its game during this series. J.A. Happ has also struggled in the short time he's pitched during the playoffs, with a 7.36 ERA and five walks so far. Luckily, Scott Eyre and Chad Durbin have been lights out, allowing just one earned run in 6.1 combined innings. While Lidge certainly has some of his swagger back, if the moment comes, I'm sure Charlie Manuel will turn to Eyre, Happ or Durbin to start the ninth inning, if need be.

For the Yankees, there is only one name that you need to know in their bullpen: Mariano Rivera. The man has been closing games in New York since 1997, and is the name that you think of when you mention closers in the playoffs. So far this year, it's been more of the same for Rivera, who has allowed just one run and struck out 11 in 10.2 innings of work. He's saved all three games that he has been called in to finish, including a two out save against the Angels last night. Joe Girardi isn't going to be afraid to bring him in if the Phillies have a scoring chance late in the game, and he can pitch just as well to lefties as he can to righties. Basically, the Yankee bullpen begins and ends with him, but getting there has been a little bit of a challenge for New York. The way to Rivera usually goes through Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, but the two of them haven't had their best stuff so far in the playoffs. Joba's given up seven hits in 3.1 innings, while Hughes has been hit so much, he wasn't even used last night against Los Angeles. The Yankees are more than likely expecting at least six innings out of each one of their starters, so if it comes down to it, the pressure is going to be on Hughes and Joba to get to Rivera. Mariano is 39 years old, I'm not sure how many more two inning saves he has left in him.

When you stack up the bullpens, they also look very even, with the one exception. Even if the Yankees have trouble getting to him, they still have Rivera sitting there, waiting to close out games in the eighth or ninth innings. He's only blown two saves in his entire postseason career, and while the Phillies have made a habit this postseason of getting to the opposing closer, Mariano is a different creature. Even at age 39, he's the edge that the Yankees need.

Edge: Yankees

Managers:
Charlie Manuel has gotten the Phillies back to the World Series for the second straight year. Not only is he the first Phillies manager to ever do that, but he's the first Major League manager to accomplish that feat since Joe Torre did it with the Yankees at the end of the last decade. Charlie has this team in a business like state of mind. Just like last year, the Phils know that their job isn't done until they're holding the World Series trophy high above their heads, and there's a parade down Broad Street. He's going to have to manage his pitching staff a little bit, with the big choice being who starts Game Two in New York. He hasn't been wrong much with the Phils, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point.

Meanwhile, this is Joe Girardi's first taste of the playoffs, and while the Yankees have made it to the World Series, he has made some questionable decisions. He seems to overmanage when it comes to the bullpen, and though his bench is thin, the fact that he keeps sticking with Nick Swisher in right field is an odd one. Aside from C.C. Sabathia's starts, Girardi has gone to his bullpen an awful lot, and has made some interesting choices once he's gone there. Of course, having a $200 million payroll helps win games, but sometimes, strategy gets it done as well. I'm not sure how well Girardi can strategize.

Edge: Phillies

Prediction: Here we are, the World Series. For the second straight year, the Phillies are attempting to reach the top of the mountain. So far, the Yankees haven't had to deal with much on their way here, if I can be honest. The Twins were just happy to make the playoffs after catching the Tigers, and the Angels couldn't get out of their own way in a few of the games. The Phillies have been here before, and aren't going to make stupid base running mistakes, or bow to the "Yankee mystique." In the last two years, the Phillies are 18-5 in the playoffs, and have only lost one game at home. This time, I see it coming down to the first two games of this series. The Phillies have to at least split the first two games with New York if they want a chance to win. The first game against C.C. Sabathia is going to be key, but Game Two against A.J. Burnett is going to be just as, if not even more, important. If the Phillies can keep their mistakes down and get to the Yankee bullpen before Rivera, they have a great shot to win this thing. If they don't, and Brad Lidge slips back into his regular season version, this could get ugly in a hurry. Honestly, I think we're all in for one of the best World Series matchups of the decade. This one is going seven games, and in the end, I think the winner is going to be...

Phillies in 7