Every spring training, each MLB team has a checklist, whether it be literal or figurative. On every team’s checklist is a set of goals for the forthcoming season. These goals consist of things like improve from the last season, make the playoffs, win the division, and win the World Series. And every year, 29 teams go home with their checklist not completely checked off. So far 28 teams have begun to work on their list for next year, while two teams are still waiting by their checklist, ready to mark off that final tally mark and begin to celebrate. Those two teams are the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees. As put by fellow Washington College student Max Finch, this is the series of Dynasty vs. Destiny.
Now that the stage is set for this momentous event, here’s a breakdown of how things might just go down. Baseball games are decided by three major facets of the game: hitting, pitching, and fielding. Usually, the team that is superior in two of these three parts wins overall. Using this extremely basic formula, we shall see If we can get a World Series Champion.
Hitting: Throughout the regular season and post-season, these two teams have been at the top of the MLB in most of the hitting categories. In other words, offense is not a problem for either of these teams. The Yankees come in lead with Alex Rodriguez, who is having one of the most memorable post-seasons of all time. He has hit a .438 with 12 RBI’s and five home runs in just nine games, almost all of which were in the most clutch situations. On the flip side, the Phillies have been equally exciting when at the plate. They may not have anyone putting up the same numbers as Rodriguez, but as a team, they have one of the most feared lineups in the MLB. Their 3-6 hitters in the lineup all have 30+ home runs this past regular season and have combined for 35 RBI’s this post season. Even though the Yankees may have the most dynamic hitter, the Phillies get the nod in hitting due to their all around hitting prowess.
Pitching: From the mound, both the Phillies and the Yankees have a post season stud who seem to cancel out. The Cliff Lee vs. C. C. Sabathia argument is a toss up, and only time will tell who will be more dominant in the coming week. With out those two outliers, the pitching staff of both clubs has a bit of a drop off. With little consistency from the other rotation guys, this section is a little tougher to distinguish the better of the two teams.
What the Yankees do have is the most winningest pitcher in MLB post-season history and one of the most dominant closers of our generation in Mariano Rivera. On the flip side, the Phillies do have the reigning World Series MVP in Cole Hamels, but Cole has fallen into a small rut this post season. Behind Cliff, the biggest contributor is mid season pick-up Pedro Martinez. Martinez is a three time CY Young award winner who has been here before, but even with Pedro, the Yankees get the check mark in pitching for the series.
Fielding: In the final category, both teams have shown some great defense this season. The Phillies have possibly the best outfield in the MLB with three all-stars in Jason Werth, Shane Victorino, and Raul Ibanez. Getting a ball to drop in the outfield is a tough task against the Phillies. In the infield, both teams have two of the great shortstops of the past decade plus. With Jimmy Rollins or Derek Jeter patrolling the infield, they make their teammates better with their work ethic and pure skill at their position.
At catcher, you would automatically think that Jorge Posada would be the better between him and Carlos Ruiz, but after the post season that Ruiz has had, that is no longer a given. Ruiz has been excellent with three pickoffs and zero passed balls this October. On the flipside, Posada has had only one pickoff and allowed two passed balls. All in all, both the Phillies and Yankees defense has been as stout as ever, but the defensive nod goes to the Phillies.
Considering all the matchups in the field, the Phillies seem to have the advantage in the series. I predict a six game series, culminating in a Phillies repeat. Whitle I will not be playing in the field, I will be watching the games closely. Only the players can decide the outcome, and whichever way the series goes, im sure it will be entertaining, and one to remember.
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