World Series preview

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By Benjamin Holtzman

The World Series this year has turned out as many predicted; a faceoff of this year's best team in the New York Yankees and the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. This will be a matchup of a team that has experienced it before and a team that expects to be here every year but has failed to live up to expectations.

The Phillies clinched their place in the World Series this year in just five games. The Philadelphia offense, led by slugger first baseman Ryan Howard, lived up to their billing as the best offense in the National League Championship Series by dominating the Dodgers.

Additionally, Phillies ace Cliff Lee proved he was worth the team trading for as he provided two quality starts in the series that had many Dodger fans wishing that they had acquired him from the Indians back in July.

The New York Yankees, on the other hand, got off to a 3-1 lead in the series before having to will their way to a series win in six games. The Yankees outpitched the Angels, with C.C. Sabathia looking particularly great, and Alex Rodriguez coming through and getting a big hit in every game in this postseason, perhaps breaking his playoff stigma of choking when it counts.

There should be a good amount of fireworks in this World Series as both teams have stellar offenses and solid pitching. Cole Hamels has pitched better thus far in the playoffs for the Phillies and Cliff Lee looks great. The Yankees do have C.C. Sabathia, but beyond that they are pretty inconsistent. Give the Phillies the edge in the pitching category.

This is the first postseason as a Yankee that A-Rod has hit well, and when that is factored in with Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira playing great baseball, the Yankees may have the most stacked offense of the decade.

This could be a very high scoring series with all of the outstanding hitters present, and success for a starting pitcher may be defined by lasting five to six innings with minimal damage sustained. The Yankees were unquestionably the best team in the Majors this year, and even though the Phillies won the World Series last year, the American League didn't pose a threat nearly as dangerous as this year's Yankees. They have to be the favorites, but don't be surprised if this series goes to six or seven games and is one of the more exciting World Series in a while.

Originally Published: Issue 821 - October 28, 2009

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