posted October 27, 2009 at 15:54 EST in MLB Articles
The Ultimate World Series Preview – Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees
Okay BetUS MLB sports betting fanatics, the 2009 World Series is finally here and diehard baseball lovers everywhere couldn’t have asked for a better matchup that this year’s series which features the two best offenses in the game going at it in what promises to be a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish.
The defending-champion Philadelphia Phillies (100-71 SU, 88-81 RL, 77-84-8 O/U) will have their hands full in trying to retain the World Series title against the New York Yankees (110-61 SU, 95-76 RL, 79-83-9 O/U) but this in-depth look at all of the series matchups, followed by my expert MLB analysis and prediction, will undoubtedly give BetUS MLB sports betting enthusiasts all the insight they need in order to make an excess of wise, winning wagers throughout the series from start to finish.
With the first pitch being thrown out in a mere matter of hours, let me get started.
Phillies fans can look to the fact that Philadelphia won the regular season series 2-1 in a three-game set in New York from May 22-24.
Philadelphia got eight solid innings out of right-hander Brett Myers, who will be back in Philly’s plans for the World Series after sitting out the NLDS and NLCS rounds.
Myers got the win in that series opener despite the fact that he gave up three home runs on the day, (all solo shots) as the Phillies pounded right-hander A.J. Burnett to the tune of five earned runs on eight hits – including three home runs – in six innings, before smacking around Chien Ming-Wang for two more runs in three innings of what turned out to be an emphatic 7-3 win.
New York won the second game in that series 5-4, though Philadelphia also smacked around Andy Pettitte for four earned runs on five hits – including two home runs.
Philadelphia won the rubber-match 4-3 in 10 innings, scoring three runs off of Sabathia in eight innings while Cole Hamels limited the Yankees to two earned runs in six innings.
Phillies Fast Facts
The Phillies are the first team to make consecutive World Series appearances since the New York Yankees played in four straight from in 1998-2001. The Phillies are trying to become the first National League team to win consecutive World Series titles since the famed Cincinnati Reds ‘Big Red Machine’ teams turned the trick back in 1975-76.
Ryan Howard became the only first baseman to win the NLCS MVP since St. Louis' Albert Pujols accomplished the feat back in 2004 – and is also the only player in MLB history to drive in a run in eight consecutive postseason games during the same postseason.
Yankees Fast Facts
Andy Pettitte is baseball's all-time leader with 16th postseason victories. He also set a new record with five series-clinching wins. The Yankees were the last team to win consecutive titles when they captured three in a row from 1998-2000.
Offense
Philly first baseman Ryan Howard is hitting a robust .355 this postseason with a whopping 14 RBI and had drove in at least one run in a whopping eight consecutive games to tie the immortal Lou Gehrig with that special record, though Howard is the only player to do it in the same postseason year.
The Phillies also have three other players batting over .300 this postseason, inducing catcher Carlos Ruiz (.346, 7 RBI), second baseman Chase Utley (.303) and speedy center fielder Shane Victorino (.361, 7 RBI) while right fielder Jayson Werth is hitting a solid .281 and leading the team in postseason home runs with five while driving in 10 runs. Philadelphia is hitting .261 as a team with 14 home runs and 54 RBI this postseason. Veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez is hitting just .226 for the Phillies this postseason but has recorded some clutch hits while picking up nine RBI.
The Yankees have just two players batting over .300, but one of those guys is superstar third baseman Alex Rodriguez who is actually batting over.400 this postseason (.438) while leading the team in home runs (five) and RBI (12). Centerfielder Melky Cabrera is hitting .314 with four runs batted in, but high-priced free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira is hitting just .205 with one home run with five RBI and that could spell trouble for New York. Beloved shortstop Derek Jeter is hitting a solid .297 with three homers and five RBI, but another key hitter, DH, Hideki Matsui is batting just .233 with one home run and five RBI. Overall, the Yankees are hitting .262 this postseason with 14 home runs and 45 RBI.
While this category is about as evenly matched as it can be between two teams, I’ve got to give the edge to Philadelphia with four .300 hitters and five players that have driven at least seven runs, combined with the fact that Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui and even Nick Swisher (.125, 1 RBI) are struggling mightily.
Edge: Philadelphia
Defense
New York allowed 4.7 runs on an average of 8.6 hits per contest this season while allowing an average of 3.5 walks per game and striking out 7.8 patters per nine innings.
Philadelphia allowed an average of 4.4 runs on 9.1 hits per game this season while allowing just 3.0 walks and striking out 7.1 batters per nine innings.
Edge: Philadelphia
Starting Pitching
Philadelphia staff ace lefty, Cliff Lee has made three postseason starts spanning a whopping 24.1 innings, going 2-0 with a microscopic 0.74 ERA while striking out 20 and walking just three batters.
Southpaw Cole Hamels has not looked like the same pitcher that won the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP award as he has gone an uninspiring in three postseason starts with an enormous 6.75 ERA and desperately needs to get back to being the dominant pitcher he can be if the Phillies are to derail the potent Yankees’ offense.
Philadelphia has seen veteran right-hander Pedro Martinez dip his toe into the fountain of youth this postseason. In his only start, Martinez tossed seven shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out three batters and walking none for a perfect 0.00 ERA while allowing opposing batters to hit a measly .100. Martinez is a big-game pitcher that knows how to beat New York despite his now famous, “daddy” quote.
Philadelphia may also want to hand the ball to right-hander Chad Durbin who has gone a perfect 2-0 in five relief appearances while not allowing a single run – or hit - in four innings.
Young left-hander, J.A. Happ is gifted but has struggled a bit this postseason, making five appearances and one start without recording a win or loss, but giving up three earned runs in 32. innings for a 7.36 ERA while allowing opposing hitters to bat a robust .353.
As a team, Philadelphia has tossed 80.0 total innings, with a 3.04 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a .242 batting average while allowing eight home runs.
Yankee’s staff ace CC Sabathia has gone a perfect 3-0 in three postseason starts with a stellar 1.19 ERA while allowing four earned runs over 22.2 total innings and limiting opposing hitters to a .205 batting average while No.2 starter A.J. Burnett has made three postseason starts, but has failed to record a victory while posting a high 4.42 ERA after allowing nine earned runs in just 18.1 innings pitched, but limiting opposing hitters to a .209 batting average.
Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte apparently has some gas left in the tank, going a spotless 2-0 in three postseason starts spanning 19.0 total innings with a 2.37 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a respectable .246 batting average.
No other Yankees pitcher outside of their ‘Big Three’ has made a postseason start, which could turn out to spell trouble for New York if this series goes the distance.
Right-hander Joba Chamberlain has been demoted to the bullpen where he has allowed opposing hitters to bat an incendiary .438 in just 3.1 innings of relief while another of the team’s effective pitchers during the regular season, right-hander Alfredo Aceves has also been pounded to the tune of a 7.71 ERA while allowing opposing hitters to bat a robust .444 while another starter during the regular season, right-hander Phil Hughes is also in the same boat,, making six relief appearances and getting lit up while compiling a high 5.79 ERA and allowing opposing hitters to bat a blistering .391.
As a team, New York has pitched 87.2 total innings with a 2.46 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .242 batting average while allowing just three home runs.
With Lee and Sabathia canceling each other out in the starting pitching department, New York’s Burnett and Pettitte get the nod over a shaky Cole Hamels and solid Pedro Martinez, giving the slight edge here to the Yankees.
Edge: New York
Bullpen
Philadelphia has gotten 25.0 innings pitched out of its bullpen this postseason and those hurlers have allowed nine earned runs while posting a 3.24 ERA.
Closer Brad Lidge has appeared in five games, going 3-for-3 in save opportunities with a 0.00 ERA in four total innings pitched while limiting opposing hitters to a 0.83 batting average.
New York’s relief pitchers have tossed a total of 27.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs while compiling a 2.27 ERA.
Closer Mariano Rivera has made eight postseason appearances, going a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities in 10.2 total innings pitched with a microscopic 0.84 ERA while limiting opposing batters to a .179 batting average.
Looking at the aforementioned bullpen statistics, one would thin the Yankees have the better bullpen, which is certainly not the case entering this series as all of New York’s relief pitchers outside of right-hander Dave Robertson and closer Mariano Rivera, have been absolutely atrocious while Philadelphia’s have been pretty solid despite their oft-mentioned regular season struggles.
I know Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is a sure-fire Hall of Famer that is unmatched in the closing department, but Brad Lidge went totally perfect in 40 save opportunities last season and looks to be back to his old self as his postseason numbers this year, (which are actually better than Rivera’s) indicate.
Believe it or not baseball, betting enthusiasts, Philly has the edge in the bullpen department.
Edge: Philadelphia
Managers
I don’t think it’s a big secret that Yankees manager Joe Girardi is about as dumb as a box of rocks MLB sports betting fanatics. Fortunately for Yankees fans and backers, the Yankees have a boatload of talent that has prevented them from losing most of the time in spite of Girardi’s often perplexing managerial moves.
While it’s true that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was also thought to be a ‘country bumpkin’ that couldn’t manage his way out of a paper, Manuel has proven his managerial acumen to be superior to almost any manager in the game.
Not only that, but the Phillies feel about Manuel the same way the Yankees used to feel about former manager Joe Torre. They’ll literally run through a brick wall for the beloved Manuel who more often than not, makes the right decisions whenever necessary – without looking at some stupid scouting book half the time as Girardi has done this postseason.
This matchup’s not even close baseball, Manuel wins in a landslide.
Edge: Philadelphia
Analysis: With two teams that are so evenly matched, this pick may simply boil down to which of the two teams bettors like more.
However, even with that said, I like the Philadelphia Phillies to win this series in six games. First and foremost, the Phillies will not go down nearly as feebly against CC Sabathia as the Twins and Angels did this postseason, having already experienced some excellent success off the big left-hander in each of the last two seasons – and the same applies to New York’s A.J. Burnett for that matter.
While I will admit that it’s going to be tough for Philly to win with Cole Hamels mired in a stretch of mediocrity this season, I think the gifted southpaw is going to turn it up a notch and compliment Cliff Lee and Game 2 starter Pedro Martinez nicely.
Last but not least, Philadelphia actually wanted to play the Yankees in this series. The Phillies are certainly not intimidated by anyone and know full well what it takes to win a World Series title.
Despite not having home-field advantage in this series, I like Philadelphia to close out the Yankees in six games and retain the World Series championship they won last season.
Prediction: Phillies in Six
