2009 World Series: Yankees Win, THE YANKEES WIN

For all of us who sighed, “The Yankees just bought themselves a championship!” last winter after signing C.C. Sabathia, A.J Burnett and Mark Teixeira for more millions than the GNP of half the countries in the world, we can sure feel like prophets now that the Yankees convincingly put away the Philadelphia Phillies, the defending champions, to win the 2009 World Series. Hidecki Matsui, the Japanese power hitter, whose RBI’s clinched the win tonight but contributed to other wins as well, was named series MVP. This goes with three championships from his career in Japan.

Besides Matsui’s fireworks, the 2009 World Series will be remembered for Alex Rodriguez’s controversial “television camera” homerun, Johnny Damon steeling 2nd and dashing off to an unguarded third base, and the dominant pitching from Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, two veterans of the great run of championships, four out five from 1996-2000. Naturally, Derek Jeter, the team’s captain, was right in the middle of much of the good stuff going on while Jorge Posada is another member of the team remaining from the championship run. Also noteworthy is this postseason provides Alex Rodriguez his first World Series Ring.

Clearly every measure shows the Yankees as the best team in baseball and they won the games they needed to that proved so en route to yet another title this time in their new home across the street from the hallowed grounds where Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Reggie, and even Derek Jeter racked up more championships that any other franchise could imagine.

After a rough start, once Alex Rodriguez joined the team in late May, the Yankees made short work of all competition leading to a tough fought battle against a very good Phillies’ team, but clearly the Yanks were a notch better.

Despite their triumph, it’s hard to imagine the Yankees will not be active in this winter’s wheeling and dealing looking for some upgrades in the outfield and bullpen. Surely, if there’s a first class starting pitcher available, he’ll go in the Yankee’s shopping cart too.

From Boston to Los Angeles to every baseball city in between, there must be a chilling sense of futility when they compare their resources to the mighty Yankees. While small market teams like Minnesota can make the post season from time to time, nobody can secure their fortunes like the Yankees. As tough as the Angels were in 2009, they will struggle to keep their best players on their roster while trying to upgrade in select places.

Once again, in Yankee fashion, history repeated itself. In 1923, the original Yankee stadium opened across the streets. The Yankees won the championship. In 2009, different address, same results, the Yankees win the championship in their new home.

Congratulations, New York. You paid for it. You got it.

The World Series Starts Tonight

Weather at game time, 50^ and cloudy.

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The Yankees host the Philadelphia Phillies to start the 2009 World Series promising two of the most exciting teams coming face to face that baseball has had to offer. For those who were hoping for an all Los Angeles World Series, get over it! If you wanted to see Joe Torre get a shot of redemption against the Yankees, the team that let him drift away after all he had accomplished for them, forget about it! You got the two big bad north east cities with the big attitudes to match. You got a problem with that?

Hey, if you can’t appreciate a Philly cheese steak or a New York strip steak, there’s something wrong with yah! It’s that kind of series, big, beefy, and full of attitude.

Look no further than the starters for game one, just two seasons ago, they were buddies on the Cleveland Indians. CC Sabathia starts for the Bronx Bombers while Cliff Lee takes the mound for the Phils. They represent the team with the most World Series appearances and victories against the team that’s the defending champ from 2008. New York and Philadelphia were major cities before Felipe de Neve first put LA-LA land on the map.

Who’s on first? Try Mark Texeira for the Yankees or Ryan Howard for the Phillies. They had 84 homers combined during the regular season, Texeira 39 and Howard 45. At second, the Yanks field Robinson Cano versus Chase Utley for the Phils. These guys are stable, dependable double trouble.

The Yankees start Derek Jeter at shortstop. His accomplishments in post season are legendary. Surely, the Phillies can’t offer much except their shortstop is Jimmy Rollins who hit 43 doubles and 21 homers with 31 stolen bases en route to scoring 100 runs.

At third base, doesn’t it seem weird that this will be Alex Rodriguez’s first World Series? For a fellow who has been snake-bitten in past post season appearances with the Yankees, he’s sure turned that around in 2009. Pedro Felix might find his work cut out for him to measure up to the well-known Yanks star.

The Yankees staff the outfield with Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Nick Swisher, all better than average hitters though Swisher has struggled so far in this post season and Damon struggles in the field. The Phillies counter with Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, and Jayson Werth. Victorino’s the Phils second best hitter for average with above average speed allowing him to stretch out 39 doubles with 25 stolen bases. Werth hits for power with 36 homers while Ibanez hit 34. If the Phils have a clear edge on offense, it’s from their outfield.

Behind the plate, the Yankees deploy Jorge Posada, their regular catcher since 1998 returning to career form after missing much of 2008 with injuries. Carlos Ruiz is a dependable stopper for Philadelphia.

Games played in the Bronx will feature DH’s with Hideki Matsui, still a major power threat ready to hit. The Phillies have a fine bench of hitters ready to add a 9th hitter to the lineup. Ben Francisco will be the likely Philadelphia DH unless he starts in left field and Raul Ibanez serves as a batter only.

A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte are likely game two and three starters for New York with Pedro Martinez, perhaps looking for post-season redemption from his last encounter with the Yankees and Cole Hamels who has not lived up to his 2008 performance countering for Philadelphia.

The Yankees would appear to have the deeper and more versatile bench. The Yankees would also appear to have the superior bullpen though the Phillies pen has been very effective in the post season so far.

Sum it all up, this writer would rather have a steak dinner than a steak sandwich, so it looks like the New York Yankees should win the 2009 World Series. They won ten more regular season games than their National League counterparts in a tougher division. While Philadelphia did beat the Yankees 2-1 games in interleague play, the Yankees were still getting their 2009 act pulled together before becoming the beast of the east during the long stretch of the season.

One sad note for Philadelphia, last year the aged wonder, Jaime Moyer, at 46 years old played a major roll in their 2009 championship. He started 12-10 for the Phils this year before suffering a career ending groin injury. For all the aging population, who would not have loved to have seen Moyer possibly take on the Bronx Boys at age 47. No one will be surprised, though, if he reports ready to play for Spring Training in 2010.

Play ball, and see who might be Mr. November when the series is over.

The 2009 World Series: The Bronx Cheer versus the Fans Who Booed Santa Claus

Two teams separated by 100 miles and New Jersey, the Philadelphia Phillies play the New York Yankees for the 2009 World Series, the 105th playing of the great fall classic. This will be the New York Yankees 40th appearance in the World Series while the Phillies, last year’s champs, return for their 7th attempt. The American League has won 61 of the 104 series so far with the Yankees accounting for 26 of those wins, one out of four World Series! Their closest rival is the St. Louis Cardinals with 17 appearances and 10 wins. The Dodgers have 18 appearances but only six wins. It’s pretty nasty on the other side. Eight teams have never won a World Series and three have never made the trip at all.

The 2009 World Series should be an exciting event with two teams having relentless offensive power and tough starting pitching. We’ll highlight how the two teams compare later, but at first blush, the Yankees would appear to have a decided advantage even though the Phils beat the Yanks 2-1 in Interleague play earlier this year.

Look for the standout player to get the nickname “Mr. November!”