2009 MLB season discussion*

[fren.]

I can't wait for the "Who's your daddy" chants in game 2, no Cole!

[Cephius]

Yay World Series! First time these teams meet in the Fall Classic since 1950 when the Yankees swept in 4 games.

Bored at work so...some around-the-horn matchups... and my prediction!

New York Yankees (103-59) v. Philadelphia Phillies (93-69)

1st Base: Mark Teixeira v. Ryan Howard: Both players had excellent years. Ryan has been red hot in the postseason, while Tex started off slow but put together a string of hits in his last two games. Both have great power and plate coverage. Defensively, Howard is much improved, but Tex is one of the best defensive first basemen in the game.

Advantage: Push

2nd Base: Robinson Cano v. Chase Utley: Again two similiar players. Left handed hitters that hit for power and average. Utley has more power, Cano has a bit more speed and range because of Utley's hip. Cano's average with RISP has been bad all year, and that continued into the postseason.

Advantage: Slightly to Phillies

Shortstop: Derek Jeter v. Jimmy Rollins: Jimmy had a bit of a down year, though he still hit 21 homers, was still solid and a leader of a championship team. He strugged in the postseason but came up with a big clutch hit that put away the Dodgers. However, Jeter had a career year after many thought he was done and is one of the most consistent clutch postseason players of all time. Derek's range on defense is worse, but he makes up for it with smart positioning.

Advantage: Yankees

3rd Base: Pedro Feliz v. Alex Rodriguez: This one's easy. Feliz is a great defender and a nice player, but Alex Rodriguez is on fire and has been the best player on the field the entire postseason.

Advantage: Yankees

Left Field: Raul Ibanez v. Johnny Damon: Raul had an amazing comeback year in his first year in Philly, slugging 34 homers. He was the early favorite for MVP but got hurt and was never really as dominant in the 2nd half of the year. His defense and arm are average, but he's a big key in the middle of the Philly lineup. Damon had a great contract year and fit well batting 2nd in the Yankee lineup. He's a great table setter and a guy who gets big hits. His defense and arm are awful though, and Raul has been a better all-around player the entire year.

Advantage: Phillies

Center Field: Shane Victorino v. Melky Cabrera: Shane has tons of speed and seems to run down everything in the outfield. He also lead the team in hits and drew 60 walks, so he gets his speed on base a lot. Melky, while having a great outfield arm, is a 4th outfielder on most teams.

Advantage: Phillies

Right Field: Jayson Werth v. Nick Swisher: Swishalicious's biggest impact was probably in the clubhouse, where he helped lighten the attitude. On the field, he plays a below average right field and doesn't hit for average. He did hit 29 home runs and was 2nd in the AL in walks, which makes him valuable at getting on base in the bottom of the order. Werth is probably one of the most unappreciated players in all of baseball. He's a home run machine, and his defense is good. His only downside is the strikeouts - he struck out 156 times.

Advantage: Phillies

Catcher: Carlos Ruiz v. Jorge Posada: I'm going on the assumption that Burnett won't have Molina as his personal catcher in this series. Ruiz is another player whose stats won't scare you, but seems to get big hits every time he comes to the plate. His defense is outstanding. Posada though is one of the best offensive catchers in the game, and whose defense isn't as bad as people make it out to be.

Advantage: Slightly to Yankees

Starting Pitching: CC Sabathia/AJ Burnett/Andy Pettitte v. Cliff Lee/Cole Hamels/Pedro Martinez/Joe Blanton: Since the Yankees took care of the Angels in 6 games, CC will likely pitch Games 1 4 and 7 for the Yankees. Burnett was good twice and bad once this postseason, it's anyone's guess how he does. Pettitte now has the record for most postseason wins, and is one of the best postseason pitchers in the game. Cliff Lee has been everything the Phillies could want and more, but after him there's a huge dropoff. Hamels has not been in his 2008 form, and Pedro/Blanton are 4th starters.

Advantage: Yankees

Bullpens: Supposedly a strength for the Yankees entering this postseason, was very shaky against Anaheim. The Phillies bullpen bent but didn't break (and when they did, it was due to errors not their pitching) in the postseason. Chan Ho Park was probably their best pitcher. There's no doubt the Yankees have better arms in the pen, but how they do is anyone's guess. Both teams make a living punishing bullpens.

Advantage: Push

Closers: Mariano Rivera v. Brad Lidge: Lidge has been perfect in the postseason but hasn't exactly been asked to do too much. Mariano, amazingly, is still as automatic as they come and money in the postseason. He gives the Yankees the ability to make a game 7 innings long.

Advantage: Yankees

Bench/DH: Hideki Matsui v. Matt Stairs: I don't think much of the benches matter outside of these two, who will be the first off the bench in Philly and the DHs in New York. Stairs has had some great clutch hits, but Matsui is a much better hitter and kills lefty pitching.

Advantage: Yankees

Prediction: Yankees in 7

Two very evenly matched teams, and I'm looking forward to it.

[Penthesilea]

I don't get why everyone assumes Charlie is going to use matt Stairs as the DH.

I think it's going to be Ben Francisco in LF with Raul as the DH.

[Cephius]

I assumed so because Stairs is a lefty with power, where Fransisco is righty who doesn't hit the ball the other way. You would think you'd want Stairs taking aim at the short porch in right, no?

[Penthesilea]

Stairs also is hitting sub 200 while Fransisco is around 260. Plus the yankees are having 2 lefties go, so I see BF getting those games.

[Orph]

I assumed so because Stairs is a lefty with power, where Fransisco is righty who doesn't hit the ball the other way. You would think you'd want Stairs taking aim at the short porch in right, no?

Fransisco actually hits righties better than lefties, and there is absolutely no way Charlie uses Stairs against CC. Stairs is more of a guy you want having 1 ab a game, not a guy batting the whole game

[Abraxas]

in Stairs contract it clearly states he is required to run no more than the bare minimum

[Cephius]

Fransisco actually hits righties better than lefties, and there is absolutely no way Charlie uses Stairs against CC. Stairs is more of a guy you want having 1 ab a game, not a guy batting the whole game

Yeah, I can see that. Either way, Matsui is a better hitter than anyone the Phillies can plug in at DH or bring off the bench.

[Bregor]

Phillies in 7, with Raul Ibanez playing the part of Luis Gonzalez.

Are the Yanks sticking with the 3-man rotation? I haven't heard about them stretching anybody out, and the travel days should make it work. Wouldn't Philadelphia be able to throw Lee three times too? Should be a great series either way.

[Pringles]

CC is probably salavating at the chance to bat in game 4. 5 bucks he's more productive at bat that game then Swisher or Posada.

[Kyo]

Yankee's in 6.

[Cephius]

I actually wouldn't be against seeing CC get some pinch at-bats if they need him to. After Matsui and Hinske, who else do you go to?

[Pringles]

The one thing you didn't mention in your match up though is the manager aspect. Girardi had been making some pretty dumb choices this series so that's going to be a interesting aspect for the series too.

[Cephius]

Yeah, still... as much as I bitch about Girardi, managers don't win or lose games.. the players do.

[Pringles]

That's true to an extent. Doing things like taking out Robertson for Aceves with two outs when Robertson is only at what 14 pitches isn't the best thing. Also letting your starter go out after an extended long half inning didn't make much sense either when the bullpen could have handled the situation. Over managing can lose a game just as much as players can by not stepping up to the plate.

[Cephius]

Yeah, still, it was Aceves who couldn't get the .212 hitter out (not that any Yankee pitcher could) and threw soft breaking stuff to Kendrick.

Anyway, Manuel just came out and said he's going with Lee in Game 1/4/7 to match up with CC, Pedro going game 2 and Hamels going game 3. Games 5/6 TBA depending on how people throw. That's a lot of balls, if Pedro and Hamels get rocked they could be down 2-1 and looking at CC in game 4. Girardi saying he's likely to stick with 3 starters and pitch CC and Burnett on short rest. Of course, he could just be hoping for a rainout one of these days to give his guys extra rest.

[Pringles]

Yeah Aceves couldn't do his job, but I still feel Robertson was on a roll with how he was pitching and could have gotten out of the inning unscathed. It's just the use of his bullpen has been so odd even for a playoff series. Having Jobs pitch like 4 pitches and 1 batter for the last out of an inning and bringing in someone new the next inning when Joba still has gas
in the tank. The whole pitching set ups for game 2 still irk me a bit in how that many pitchers where used.

Pedro going game 2

Whose your daddy chants going to encompass him on the mound in Yankee Stadium on that one. Although not too worried about CC on short rest, but the way Burnett can be, I'm worried on how he'll be able to pitch on short rest. I almost would trust Pettitte on short rest even with his shoulder/elbow fatigue he could get. Best case scenerio, only need CC on short rest and go for the 4 game sweep. But the way Phillies have been playing, there's almost no chance of that happening, unless they seriously blunder their games. CC and Lee is going to be an epic pitchers duel I'm hoping.

[Trichocyst]

I think Pedro is dying to pitch game 2 in Yankee Stadium. He wants the heat. He wants that big moment. Joba versus Matt Stairs is going to be a showdown that gets brought up I'm betting.

[Bozo]

I think Pedro is dying to pitch game 2 in Yankee Stadium. He wants the heat. He wants that big moment. Joba versus Matt Stairs is going to be a showdown that gets brought up I'm betting.

Pedro can handle it. He's one of the best pitchers in all of baseball history for crying out loud regardless of how he has aged. He made the Dodger's look pathetic and I'm sure he wants to, and is capable of doing the same to the Yankees.

Is there history between Joba and Matt?

[Trichocyst]

Nah. Just a young flamethrower versus the professional hitter.