Let me preface this 2009 World Series preview by saying that my playoff predictions were way off the mark this year. I watched the Cardinals squander several chances to win against the Dodgers, and on Sunday, October 11, I witnessed the demise of the Red Sox at Fenway Park (this was also the first playoff game I had ever attended; in retrospect, it was not a good experience). With my two World Series picks out of the playoffs within twenty-four hours of each other, I wondered how both of these teams could have performed so badly.
In the end, it wasn’t their year, and now I will present my thoughts on this year’s World Series.
By the time you read this, the Series itself may be over, but know that I am writing this preview on the eve of Game 1 in New York. Speaking of which, the pitching matchup in this game is an ideal one: It will be the Yankees’ CC Sabathia against the Phillies’ Cliff Lee. These aces were teammates on the Cleveland Indians not quite two years ago, and now they’re facing each other on the big stage. I expect this game to be a pitchers’ duel of course, since both of these guys are capable of pitching well into the late innings.
High-intensity matchups like this one are what the Fall Classic is all about. It’s about two high-powered offenses going at each other. It’s about the return of former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez to Yankee Stadium to start Game 2 for the Phillies. It’s about Rollins vs. Jeter, Howard vs. Teixeira, and Lidge vs. Rivera.
These two teams proved that they are the best in the MLB this year, but now only one question remains: Which team will be able to say that they are the best team when all is said and done? It pains me to say this, but I believe that, after almost a decade of disappointing finishes (read: championship-less finishes) for the Yankees and their fans, 2009 will be their year to celebrate championship number 27.
If there were any team from the National League that could give this Yankee team a run for its money, it would be the Phillies (a month ago I would have included the Cardinals as well, but they certainly showed me that they were not ready for postseason play at all this year). I certainly hope the Phillies bring their A-game during this series; if they do, the World Series will go seven games, and it won’t be over once this article goes to press. But if they don’t, the Yankees will win easily.
Chances are slim that this Yankees team, full of All Stars, is going to suddenly be terrible during the Fall Classic. They have had less rest since winning their League Championship Series than the Phillies, but I think that this makes little difference. I’m pretty sure that every player on this team was expecting to make it to this point, and I think they will all play the best baseball of their careers in this series.
So Conn Yankee fans, enjoy your day in the sun; your team’s $208 million payroll certainly seems to have paid off this year! Prediction: Yankees in 7
