Then there were two, and it has all the makings of a heavyweight title fight. In one corner, you have the legendary fighter who has been down and almost out but has a pedigree and swagger that they have been on the big stage. In the other corner you have the defending champ, the bruising comer who has their own swagger of being the champ and that they have rightly earned and deserve. This has all the makings of a real fall classic.

The 104th World Series
National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies vs American League Champion New York Yankees
Best of 7 All Games on Fox start at 7:57 PM except game 4 which starts at 8:20 PM
Game 1 Wednesday at New York
Game 2 Thursday at New York
Game 3 Saturday at Philadelphia
Game 4 Sunday at Philadelphia
(If Necessary)
Game 5 Monday at Philadelphia
Game 6 11/4 at New York
Game 7 11/5 at New York

Team Capsules

The Phillie File
6 National League Pennants, 2 World Series Titles

How They Got Here
93-69 NL East Champions
Defeated NL Wild Card Winner Colorado Rockies in 4 Games
Defeated NL West Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 Games


Manager: Charlie Manuel
447-363 in 4 seasons, 667-554 in 8+ seasons in Philadelphia & Cleveland.
2 National League Pennants, 1 World Series Title

Team Leaders
Ryan Howard 45 Home Runs, 141 RBI’s
Shane Victorino .292 Avg
J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton 12 Wins
Cole Hamels 196 Strikeouts

Far from a one hit wonder the Phils have been the most consistent teams in the National League over the past three years. A multitalented team, they can beat you with timely hitting and speed or club you to death. The pitching looked a bit weak in the early going, but acquiring Cliff Lee at the trading deadline and signing wily vet Pedro Martinez down the stretch bolstered a strong team. Closer Brad Lidge looked to have a nasty case of the yips going down the stretch but found his form in the postseason and is getting close to his lockdown state of last year.
Fast Fact: Phils Manager Charlie Manuel is the 2nd Phils manager to have guided the team to 3 straight division titles, Danny Ozark winning 3 NL East flags from 76-78, but Manuel has 2 NL Pennants where Ozark only won 2 games total in the postseason.

The Yankee Dossier
40th American League Pennant, 26 World Series Titles

How They Got Here
103-59 East Champions
Defeated AL Central Champion Minnesota Twins in 3 Games
Defeated AL West Champion Los Angeles Angels in 6 Games

Manager: Joe Giradi
192-132 in 2 seasons, 270-216 in 3 seasons in New York & Florida.
1 American League Pennant

Team Leaders
Mark Teixeira 39 Home Runs, 122 RBI’s
Derek Jeter .334 Avg
C.C. Sabathia 19 Wins, 197 Strikeouts
Phil Hughes 3.09 ERA

The Bombers are back and how. The Yankees took a minute to get used to their new palatial digs then methodically took apart the American League with their fancy new toys. CC Sabathia was a workhorse and a dependable starter, Mark Teixeira has been the potent bat and took much of the pressure off of the enigmatic Alex Rodriguez who after weathering a steroids controversy and missing the first month with a bum hip still hit 30 homers. But this team is still built on the 4 blocks of granite, Derek Jeter's smooth hitting and quiet leadership, Jorge Posada's flawless handing of pitchers, Andy Petitte redoubtable pitching and the ageless closer Mariano Rivera.
Fast Fact: The Yankees have played a World Series in their first year in a new home (1921, 1976 and 2009)

Breakdown
If you think that the Phillies are just the brawny slugging of Ryan Howard and the pitching of Cliff Lee, you miss the essence of the defending champs, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino are solid hitters who can hurt you with the long ball and Jimmy Rollins despite a so-so season, has proven time and again to be a clutch hitter. The Yanks just seem to come at you in waves and get the clutch hits. Alex Rodriguez is making his first World Series trip and has played uncharacteristically well in the postseason and CC Sabathia has backed up his regular season ace status with a sparkling postseason. I know the numbers scream the Yanks should be dominant, but the Phils don't seem to follow scripts and always get the timely hit. Im waiting for the ARod meltdown and I think it happens on the big stage of the World Series. Why do I keep seeing a magical performance from either Cliff Lee or Pedro Martinez the surprise game 2 starter? The numbers scream the Yanks, but the Phils are the champs and have been playing like it. One of the vaunted Yankees starters goes mortal, ARod gets stage fright and despite game efforts by Teixeria and Jeter, the Yanks suffer the same fate as what happened when they debuted their last two stadiums, another team celebrating a title on their turf.
Phillies in 6

Humbly submitted from up here in the Cheap Seats your favorite prognasicating scribe, The Bandit.