WORLD SERIES Game 1

So the World Series is finally upon us, and I for one could not be more ecstatic. The Yankees and the Phillies, two teams with outstanding pitching, and extremely potent lineups. Should be a fun filled series... so lets look at the match up in depth.

Game 1 features two of the best pitchers in the game, CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. My scouting report on CC shows that he has a explosive fastball. He is able to fire it up in the mid to high 90's. He also has a devastating slider, which he will use to dominate left handers. It is his out pitch. He also has an above average change up that is only getting better. A weakness of his is that when he tires, he tends to elevate his fastball. So if the Phillies can get him deep into his pitch count, it might be a problem considering how explosive this offense can be. CC dominates left handers, who are only hitting a measly .198 against him, with a .310 slugging percentage. The Phillies have a bunch of left handers, so this matchup favors CC. He is posting a 1.16 ERA in the postseason, so lets see if he can keep up his dominance against a good Phillies team.

Cliff Lee is the reigning CY Young winner, and is paying dividends for the Phillies who acquired him late in the season. He is boasting an out-of-this-universe ERA in the post season. 0.74. This is just absolutely ridiculous. He dominated the Rockies and the Dodgers, so he is def. on a hot streak. He is an outstanding pitcher, who isnt necessarily a power pitcher. He has an above avg fastball that tops off in the low 90's. He has a very good cut fastball that he will run up into the hands of right handers, jamming them. He has very good breaking balls. He uses his slider as an out pitch, and has a very good curveball with a big 1-7 break. He might want to use this more as an out pitch, something he has not done in the past. His changeup is good, and almost always sets it up with his cut fastball. He has outstanding control as well, meaning he wont walk alot of hitter. He has dominated hitters this postseason, and I expect him to have a good world series.

The Yankees lineup maybe the most potent in baseball. Top to bottom is a threat to burn you. Obviously everyone talks about A-Rod, and Tex, but the key maybe at the bottom, with Melky, Jorge Posada, and Robinson Cano. Posada has come up clutch this post season, and if he gets it going, along with Cano, the Phillies might be in trouble. A-Rod has been ON FIRE this post season, batting an astounding .438 with 5 HR's and 12 RBI's. He is most certainly locked in, which is great news for the Yanks.

The Phillies also have a very good offense, and might be able to match the Yanks for runs. Ryan Howard is the big story. He is batting .375 with 14 RBI's this post season. Like A-Rod he is locked and loaded, however the layoff between series might interrupt his rhythm, and the Phills cant afford that. Jayson Werth is also on a bit of a hot post season, having 10 RBIs. Jimmy Rollins hasnt done too much, but big time players always step up in big time games. Look for him, like Tex to break out of his "slump"..

The bullpen is the big question mark with the Phillies. Brad Lidge is way to inconsistent, as are the rest of their relief pitchers. Charlie Manuel might have to leave his starters in the games longer, just to avoid going to the bullpen, which may cause them to tire, and Yankee hitters will jump all over them. This is unlikely, but if we see a melt down in game 1, look for this to take effect in the coming games. The yanks also have a bit of a question mark with their setup man, Phil Hughes. He has lost command of his fastball, and they need him to be on his game, because he is the bridge to the Sandman, Mariano Rivera. Joba Chamberlain has also been inconsistent, and the Yanks need him to step up as well. Nothing needs to be said about maybe the best closer in the game. He will always show up, and may even be called upon in the 8th innings of games. He is used to it, so i dont expect any problems with this, especially if Hughes is struggling.


This series features outstanding lineups and offenses. The bullpen for the Phillies is shaky, and this is what worries me. The Yankees need to jump all over starting pitchers early to get to the bullpen. This might be the key to the series. But as for this game, CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee should be locked into a pitching duel, and this game might be won in the later innings. Having a big layoff, playing on the road, and having a question mark of a bullpen, i expect the Yanks to take game one. It will be a low scoring game, but in the end the Bronx Bombers will prevail.

Hope everyone enjoys the games....we are in for an exciting series.

Z$