The 2009 World Series
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 20:33
Ah, the Fall Classic is finally upon us. It seems like baseball’s premiere showcase runs later in the year every season. In my very first post on DeepIntoSports.com (October 29, 2008), I commented on the rare situation of all four major sports leagues playing meaningful games at the same time. This year trumps last–in 2008, the NBA started its regular season during the World Series. In 2009, basketball’s opening night is taking place right now, the day before that of the Fall Classic.
The Philadelphia Phillies versus New York Yankees. Two long-lived franchises with decidedly different histories. The Yankees, of course, have more titles than any other team in North American professional sports (26). The Phillies, on the other hand, have the most losses (10,167) of any franchise in American pro sports and were the last pre-expansion team to win a World Series, in 1980. They remained stuck at one until last year’s victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
All that is ancient history, of course. This is 2009.
I’ll admit it–I picked against the Phillies in both the League Division Series and the League Championship Series. In the LDS I thought Colorado, although not as talented as Philadelphia, would ride their hot hand into the next round. I was wrong. In the LCS I thought the Dodgers’ home field advantage and the shakiness of the Phils’ bullpen this year would do the home of the Phanatic in.
Wrong again. The LA bullpen imploded and Philadelphia’s was rock solid.
As for the Yankees… I had them over both the Twins and the Angels. Can’t say I liked to pick them–my heart was definitely against it–but the brain knew better.
I believe that Philadelphia, however, matches up with New York much better than either Minnesota or Los Angeles-Anaheim (whichever you want to consider the place the Angels call home). Better hitting, better starting pitching, and, now that the relief corps has solidified, a better bullpen than either of those two squads, and at a talent level comparable to the Bronx Bombers. Don’t get me wrong, the Yanks are strong–super strong–but the Phils aren’t that far behind. Although New York had the best record in baseball this year and has home field advantage in the Series, Philadelphia has the more recent experience (with mostly the same ball club) and took two out of three in the Big Apple during Interleague Play this year. And the Phillies offense should enjoy the homer-happy new Yankees Stadium just as much as the Bombers do.
So, while I do think the Yankees are better on paper, I’m not picking against the Phillies again. Just got a hunch it’s going to be a repeat for a club long deserving of one. Philadelphia in 6.
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