All Treat, No Tricks

World Series Preview

What a treat. The two best teams in baseball meet in late October and into November to determine it all. The defending champs roll in with stars like Rollins, Utley, Ibanez, Victorino, Werth, and Howard. The “Evil Empire” returns with its’ star-studded lineup of Jeter, Rodriguez, Texeira, Matsui, and Posada. With these two insane lineups and great ball clubs, baseball fans can only pray this thing goes seven.

I have not been this excited about baseball since 2001 when Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens faced each other in game 7 of the World Series with Randy Johnson out-dueling Mariano Rivera the last few innings to get the win for the D’Backs. For the first time since 2001, the two best teams are actually in the fall classic. The best part about the entire situation though is the fact that we could see a match-up of Cliff Lee vs. C.C. Sabathia three times throughout this series in games 1,4, and (cross your fingers) 7.

The two former teammates reunite again on the game’s biggest stage to face some of the best hitters in baseball. The two former Cy Young winners will likely face each other three times this series and I have a good feeling that whoever can win two of those, will be champion.

In four appearances this postseason, Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA and has recorded 20 strikeouts. Lee has been just as brilliant if not better going 2-0 in his four starts with 24 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.68. There will be a lot of runs in this series, but not in these games. When these two square off, it will probably be a fight between the two clubs to see who can manufacture and squeeze out one more run than the other.

I would love to sit here and go on about Sabathia and Lee all day, but there will be other games with other pitchers. For instance, game 2, for me at least, will be the most intriguing game to watch. I am just dying to see Pedro back in the Bronx, pitching in front of a crowd that hates and respects him at the same time. The last time we saw Pedro at Yankee Stadium was when he was taken out of Game 7 after being left in one inning too long by manager Grady Little, only to go the bench and watch Aaron “bleepin” Boone take Tim Wakefield yard in extra innings and send the Yankees to the Series. Pedro will be out for revenge and it will be great to see one of the biggest competitors in sports history on this stage once again.

This series figures to be half slugfest half pitcher's duel. What more could you ask for? Every other night we get too see two Cy Young winners battle it out. Better yet, in between those pitching gems, we get to see the best hitters in baseball tee off at what may now be the best hitters park in baseball in Yankee Stadium. My prediction is that this one will come down to the bullpens. Lee and Sabathia will go deep into games so look for closers Brad Lidge and Mariano Rivera to be the difference makers. I like Rivera and the Yankees though when it is all said and done. Rivera’s cut fastball, which is still the best pitch in the game, will be extra deadly against a left-handed heavy Phillies lineup who has never seen it before.

This series just flat out has it all. 4 MVP’s (likely 5 if Tex wins this year), 3 Cy Young’s, the best closer in baseball, the shakiest closer in baseball, and most importantly of all, the New York Yankees. The Fall Classic is classic once again and baseball and  general sports fans alike are in for a real treat over the next ten days.

-scf