See You At The Show

For the past few years, many baseball fans have complained that the World Series has not been entertaining or memorable.

Last year’s Series between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay had the infamous suspended Game 5, memorable for all the wrong reasons.

In 2004 the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years, certainly memorable for Boston fans, but the series was awful, with the Sox sweeping easily. The ALCS was much more entertaining than the World Series.

The last really good World Series? I would say 2001, New York Yankees against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Seven games, a walk off win to bring home the trophy, and all the emotion, especially emanating from New York, following the biggest tragedy in the country since Pearl Harbor.

There is no need to fear this year, however, baseball fans.

The saying is that to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that holds true here. The Yankees, with the best record in Major League Baseball this year at 103-59 (the only team in the majors to win 100 games) square off against the Philadelphia Phillies, the defending World Series champions.

Philadelphia versus New York has all the elements to make this year’s World Series truly exciting and memorable.

Geography

No, it’s not the Subway World Series of 2000 between the Yankees and Mets, but it’s still close.

American League East champion against National League East champion. Both cities separated by the New Jersey Turnpike. A rich sports history between the two cities (NFL’s Giants-Eagles anyone?).

The geographic tension alone gives this matchup a boost in intensity.

Ballparks

If you’re going to any of the games, either at Yankee Stadium or Citizen’s Bank Park, make sure to bring your glove because there are sure to be a ton of souvenirs.
Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia allowed the 207 home runs, the most in the National League, while the new Yankee Stadium surrendered 237 home runs, the most in the American League.

Both teams led their respective leagues in runs scored.

Chicks dig the long ball, and so will everyone else that watches this series.

Star Power

Combined, the two teams have: nearly a $315,000,000 payroll, 75 total All-Star appearances, 5 Cy Young awards, 5 MVP awards, and 3 World Series MVP awards.

I could also just list names: Derek Jeter, Ryan Howard, Alex Rodriguez, Chase Utley, Mark Teixeira, Jimmy Rollins, C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Mariano Rivera, Pedro Martinez, and Andy Pettite.

These two teams are like their very own All-Star teams, assembling the best talent in all of baseball. Now they will all be on one field in the sport’s biggest showcase.

Late Inning Heroics

Both these teams have a taste for dramatic wins.

The Yankees led all of major league baseball with 15 walk-off wins and 51 comeback victories in 2009. It wasn’t always the big boppers that got key hits either; Melky Cabrera, Hideki Matsui, and Robinson Cano all got chances to play the hero for New York.

The Phillies also provide their fair share of walk-offs, especially in big games. In last year’s World Series, Carlos Ruiz won Game 3 with a walk off infield single, giving the Phillies a 2-1 series lead that they would not relinquish. Just last week in the NLCS Game 4 Jimmy Rollins came through with a walk-off two run double with two outs, putting the Phillies ahead in the series 3-1 and demoralizing Jonathan Broxton and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

These two teams are very confident in their abilities and those of their teammates. No deficit is too insurmountable and it’s never too late. Their penchant for coming from behind and making it interesting up until the final out will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.



Familiarity

Many fans wanted to see a Yankees-Dodgers matchup to see Joe Torre back in the Bronx as well as the chance to boo Manny Ramirez one more time.

However, these two teams are more familiar with each other than people realize.

For starters, Phillies reserve infielder Miguel Cairo played for the Yankees from 2004-2007.

In 2006, Yankees manager Joe Girardi got his start as manager of Philadelphia’s NL East foes the Florida Marlins, where he was named National League Manager of the Year. The team went 6-13 against the Phillies that season.

Wednesday’s Game 1 starters C.C. Sabathia (New York) and Cliff Lee (Philadelphia) were teammates with the Cleveland Indians from 2002 to 2008.

Sabathia’s manager his first year and a half in the big leagues was Philadelphia’s current manager Charlie Manuel.

Probably the biggest tie between C.C. and the Phillies is last year’s NLDS, when Sabathia was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. In his one start in Game 2, Sabathia was shelled by the Phillies offensive powerhouse. He lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up six hits, four walks, and five runs. Lowlights included walking pitcher Brett Myers and giving up a grand slam to Shane Victorino.

While Manny Ramirez was certainly a popular nemesis to the Yankees, who was really New York’s number one villain? That would be Pedro Martinez of course.

When asked about his history with the Yankees recently, Martinez replied, “Really? They have a long history with me.”

Pedro has a career record of 10-11 against the Yankees, and is 1-2 in the playoffs against them, but the memories Pedro and the Yankees have created have been juicy, perfect to elevate the entertainment of the series.

There was the time, in a bench clearing brawl, that Pedro pushed aside then-Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground, the time Pedro was asked about the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry and he replied, “I don't believe in rivalries. I don't believe in curses. Wake up the damn Bambino, maybe I'll drill him in the ass,” and of course, after a late-season loss to the Yankees Pedro aid in a post-game interview, “I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddies.”

Pedro against the Yankees is first class theatre. Pedro in the playoffs is domination; he is a career 6-2 in the postseason, including a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in the World Series.

How much more drama can fans ask for?



History

Finally, there is the prospect of both clubs making history.

For the Yankees, a win would give them their 27th title, extending their stranglehold on the MLB record. It would also be their first championship since their victory in the 2000 series.

The Phillies have an opportunity to be the first team to repeat as champions since the Yankees did it in 1998, 1999, and 2000. They would also be the first National League team to win consecutive titles since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.


Both these teams are deserving of playing for the championship. They both have become teams that live to play for huge moments like those that await them in the series. The teams are fearless and confident. They will not back down to the other squad; rather they will answer every challenge that is brought up.

It is sure to be an exhilarating series. Just you watch.

Photo Credits.
Top and C.C. Sabathia: AP Photo/ Kathy Willens
Pedro Martinez: AP Photo/ Julie Jacobson

Who should you watch in the 2009 MLB season?

The 2009 Major League Baseball season is just days away, when the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies begin their defense of the title against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, April 5. Which players are going to stand out this year, and which are going to underperform? It would be easy for me, or anyone else, to tell you that I like Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, or Johan Santana to have great years. It also wouldn’t take much to convince you not to expect huge numbers from Nick Punto or Adam Eaton. So here are some less familiar names that are in position for big years, and some really popular guys who won’t live up to expectations.

Guys to watch:




Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco. His record does not jump out at you, going 30-43 in his four professional years with the Giants. However, the Giants have been miserable the past few years, and haven’t helped their pitchers much, minus Tim Lincecum, of course. Cain’s lifetime ERA is 3.74, and last year he was on par to that, notching a 3.76 ERA. He has improved on his innings pitched each year, reaching 217.2 last year. His strikeouts also jumped from 163 to 186. In the offseason, the Giants infused their offense with some younger talent, so expect better run support and more wins. The Giants now have a surprisingly good pitching staff, and at 24-years-old, Cain will form a very good one-two punch with Tim Lincecum.




Jayson Werth, OF, Philadelphia. Werth began the ’08 season as a fourth outfielder/platoon player. He went on to earn the every day job with his gritty performance at the plate, in the field, and on the base paths. At the plate he hit a respectable .273, but really impressed with his 24 home runs. On the bases, he surprised with decent speed and base running skills, swiping 20 bases and only getting caught once. He also flashed the leather, committing only 2 errors, earning 9 assists, and just making some great defensive plays to save runs. Look for Werth to hit in the five-hole spot in the Phillies lineup to break up the Phillies’ lefty triumvirate of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez. Werth will be a part of a high octane offense in a hitter-friendly park, and as the everyday starter in right field, especially with the recent release of Geoff Jenkins. Some analysts say he has the potential to be a 30 homeruns-30 stolen base guy this year, and I like those chances.




Jorge Cantu, 1B, Florida. Talk about coming out of nowhere. Cantu was signed to a minor-league deal by the Marlins in January of ’08. Out of camp he won the starting third baseman job. He showed some major pop at the plate, hitting 29 home runs and driving in 95 runs, while still hitting a respectable .277. He had a solid showing in the ’09 World Baseball Classic this spring; .360 batting average, two home runs, and six RBIs. This season he moves to first base, a position he played in 66 games last year, to accommodate rookie Emilio Bonifacio. While the Marlins can be a frugal team with their post-World Series fire sales, they do a great job of restocking their squad, and someone in the organization should be getting a raise for finding Cantu.




Gavin Floyd, SP, Chicago White Sox. Last year, Floyd finally showed why he was a top five draft pick by the Phillies in ’01. He was an electric pitcher in the minor leagues, including tossing a no-hitter in his first professional season in ’02. However, he began to struggle once he reached the majors. The Phillies grew impatient and shipped him to the White Sox. It took him some time to get his footing, but he finally broke out in ’08. He won 17 games and had a 3.84 ERA, as well as pitching a career high 206.1 innings. He’ll open up ’09 as the staff’s number two pitcher. Expect his added experience, success, and confidence to help him grow as a pitcher this season.


Guys to ignore:




C.C. Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees. I know this won’t win me over with Yanks fans back home. But what’s the last vision we have of him on the baseball field? He was getting shelled by the Phillies in game 2 of the NLDS, lasting only 3.2 innings and giving up 5 runs, including walking pitcher Brett Myers, who only had four hits all season, after going ahead 1-2 in the count in the second inning and being worked for another ten pitches in his second at-bat. While he was dominating down the stretch for Milwaukee, he wasn’t as great before he was traded from Cleveland, where he went 6-8 and a 3.83 ERA while giving up 117 hits and 34 walks in 122.1 innings, compared to 106 hits and 25 walks in 130.2 innings as a Brewer. Then he signed a huge $161 million contract with the Yankees over the summer. The Yankees don’t have a very good track record signing starting pitchers. Do the names Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, and Randy Johnson ring a bell? All were signed to large contracts, all were supposed to greatly improve the starting rotation, and all pitched miserably for New York. Sabathia may not be able to live up to the astronomical expectations the city has for him.




J.D. Drew, OF, Boston. Drew’s production as a Red Sox player, or for any other team for that matter, in no way merits the 5-year, $70 million contract he signed in ’07. Going back to his first full season in the majors in 1999 only twice has he hit for over 25 home runs and 90 RBI. His best year was in 2004 with the Atlanta Braves, where he hit .305, 31 home runs, and 93 RBI. Since then he’s only hit 20 home runs once. In two seasons in Boston, he has only played in 249 games out of a potential 324 because of numerous stints on the disabled list. His numbers don’t match his contract, he is an injury waiting to happen, and at 33, he isn’t getting any younger.




Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This is a tough one. It’s not that his numbers are terrible. Vladdy can still hit for power and average. His numbers are immensely better than the aforementioned Drew. It’s the fact that Guerrero’s numbers are on a steady decline. His 2002 season was probably his best year, hitting .336, 39 home runs, and even stealing 40 bases. Since then, his average has lowered to .303. He’s down to 25 home runs last year, and hasn’t stolen more than 5 bases since 2002. Last year was also the first time he didn’t reach 100 RBI since 2003, knocking in 91. It looks like he has less and less left in the tank every year, and at 34-years-old, expect his numbers to continue to dip.

All photos from ESPN.com