The stage has nearly been set for the 2009 World Series. The defending champion Philadelphia Phillies will face either the Los Angeles Angels or the star-studded New York Yankees.
The Phillies defeated the LA Dodgers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) by a margin of 4-1, and the Yankees are heavily favored and already have a strong lead in the series. Nearly everyone is prepared for the Yankees to match up with the Phillies.
Both clubs have great starting pitching and are regarded as having the best pitchers through eight lineups in their respective leagues, which is no surprise for the Yankees considering their payroll.
According to ESPN.com, the Yankees have a league high $208,097,414 payroll. Last offseason alone, amid a struggling economy, the Yankees spent $423.5 million on three of baseball’s top free agents, pitchers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Sabathia has lived up to the hopes of the Yankees. During the regular season, Sabathia was 19-7 with 197 strikeouts and put up an ERA of 3.37 despite pitching many of his games in the new hitter friendly Yankees Stadium.
However, Sabathia has truly earned his money this postseason winning all three of his starts and having given up only four runs in more than 22 innings.
After the first game, he has pitched on only three days rest with no drop off in efficiency, although many have expressed doubt that Sabathia can continue at this pace for the remainder of the postseason.
“I don’t think CC can hold up through the World Series,” senior management major Julius Trimble said. Trimble predicted Sabathia will lose at least one game in the series.
Teixeira has been equally impressive throughout the year and appears to be the missing piece of the Yankees lineup, relieving pressure from longtime Yankees Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is having his long awaited playoff coming out party. In the division series, A-Rod hit two homers and had six RBIs against the Minnesota Twins. He has been just as successful against the Angels hitting .375 with three homers and five RBIs.
Burnett has not been perfect this season going 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA, but he has been strong in the playoffs with a 2.19 ERA despite not yet earning a decision.
“I really hate the Yankees, but they look really strong right now,” senior finance major Peter Wright said.
The Phillies starting pitching has been equally as strong. The 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels hasn’t been as good as last year, but midseason acquisition Cliff Lee has been dominant.
However, the questions coming into the postseason were about the bullpen and closer Brad Lidge. So far, Lidge, despite a horrible regular season, has garnered one save in 2.2 innings pitched with no runs scored. Moving regular season starters Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ into the bullpen has also bolstered their rotation.
The Phillies have been dominant this postseason and they have a chance to be the first team to win consecutive World Series since their likely opponent, the 1998-2000 Yankees.
In the NLCS, they hit a combined 10 homers and scored 31 runs. First baseman Ryan Howard has led the way with a .333 batting average and eight RBIs, enough to earn him the NLCS MVP award.
Despite winning the World Series last year, some still regard the Phillies as underdogs because the Yankees expensive lineup has finally come together. The defending champions are still favored by some.
“I think they have to win one in New York, but they did win it last year with the same team and I know they’ll win in Philly,” senior accounting major Ashley Gant-Madison said.
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