Posted by Brian Joseph on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 6:57 pm

The Phillies and Yankees have met in the World Series before… 59 years ago! Philadelphia’s Whiz Kids ran into a Yankees team in the midst of a dynasty and were dispatched in four straight. That Yankees team won five consecutive World Series (‘49-’53), 18 American League Pennants and 10 World Series in a 21 year span.

Historically, meeting in the World Series before doesn’t mean much, especially when there’s a 59 year gap between encounters. With the Yankees, it means even less since they have met almost every National League team in the World Series. The Yankees own 40 Pennants and 26 World Championships, don’t you know?

Consider the Phillies and their seven Pennants and two World Championships and, well, there’s no comparison, really. Especially since the Yankees are the winningest franchise in the American League and the Phillies are the only franchise in Major League history to lose 10,000 games.

Okay, there is one comparison. The Phillies are the defending champions with an opportunity to repeat as World Series champs. A feat uncommon… unless you are the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have done what the Fightin’ Phils hope to do a remarkable 12 times in their history.

This isn’t ancient history, either. Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera were all part of the ‘00 Yankees, the last team to go back-to-back in the Majors. That team went back-to-back-to-back, actually.

There’s such a difference between these two teams historically, a comparison to Rocky might fit better than anything that has occurred between the Yankees and Phillies in their past.

But which Rocky? Almost any of them could fit. Let’s get back to that later. Before that, here’s a look at how the two teams compare position by position:

CATCHER
It’s World Series #6 for Jorge Posada. The last two ended in defeat and Posada’s lifetime World Series batting line of .208/.337/.338 is even less impressive than his .238/.353/.388 and well below his lifetime .277/.379/.480 batting line. After 15 years in the Majors, it’s probably not a case of nerves that’s keeping Posada’s playoff performance well below his lifetime numbers and more of a combination of smaller sample size and better pitching.

Then there’s Carlos Ruiz. Despite a mediocre career batting line of .246/.337/.379 in four seasons with the Phillies, Ruiz has been Senor Octobre in Philadelphia. In last year’s World Series, Chooch was 6-for-16 with a home run, three RBI and six runs scored. If it weren’t for a dominant pitching performance from Cole Hamels, the Phillies catcher may have nabbed World Series MVP honors. Ruiz’s excellent postseason performance isn’t isolated to the World Series. In 26 playoff games, Ruiz owns a .296/.406/.432 batting line. So much for that better pitching theory, eh?

EDGE: YANKEES
Even with a little consideration given to their postseason numbers, Posada has to get the edge here. Don’t overlook the impact Ruiz has behind the plate defensively, though… or his uncanny knack of delivering in the playoffs, so far.

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FIRST BASEMAN
For Mark Teixeira in the postseason, it’s been quality not quantity. He’s only 8-for-39 but had a huge walk-off home run in Game 2 of the ALDS and notched four RBI in the ALCS. In addition, the off-season free agent acquisition owns a three game hitting streak coming into his first World Series. Phillies fans hope that doesn’t mean he’s heating up.

On the other side, Ryan Howard has been on fire since the beginning of the second half including the postseason. The NLCS MVP is 11-for-31 with two home runs and 14 RBI in nine postseason games this year. The Dodgers did their best to pitch around him — he walked six times in 21 plate appearances — but that didn’t stop the Phillies slugger from doing the damage necessary to knock off the Dodgers for a second straight year.

EDGE: PUSH
Even though Ryan Howard’s defense improved this year, Mark Teixeira is often recognized for his glove. But Howard’s offense and sustained hot streak evens things up at first. Some penalty for the Yankees overloading the rotation with lefties keeps Ryan from pulling ahead.

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SECOND BASEMAN
After three straight early exits and a year missing the playoffs completely, Robinson Cano gets a taste of his first World Series experience in ‘09. A World Series ring would be icing on the cake for Cano who bounced back after a solid but somewhat disappointing year in ‘08. Career highs in homers (25), RBI (85) and runs scored (103) and an improved batting line of .320/.352/.520 showed he was back to the form he showed in his first three years in New York.

If you expected Chase Utley to be slow to bounce back from off-season surgery, baseball’s best second baseman failed to deliver. If the expectation was another MVP-ish offensive display (how’s .282/.397/.508, 31 home runs, 93 RBI and 112 runs scored sound?) and more spectacular defense, then Chase delivered in bunches. Utley’s postseason has received mixed reviews and he escaped scapegoat status in the NLCS after the Phillies bounced back following a key error in Game 2 that led to the Phillies only loss.

EDGE: PHILLIES
Utley is better than Cano in every aspect of the game. Where Cano’s output has been above average, Utley’s has been elite. Then there’s baserunning where Chase blows Robinson out of the water. Not only is Cano a below average base stealer (5-for-12), Utley was perfect in ‘09 (23-for-23), 46-for-49 over the past three seasons and 5-for-6 in his postseason career. Utley’s NLCS fielding yips have some concerned but since this is baseball, not golf, there’s no need to panic or overreact.

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THIRD BASEMAN
In case there were a few naysayers still around, Alex Rodriguez put on a display in the ALCS. A-Rod blasted three home runs in an impressive 9-for-21 performance when he wasn’t getting walked (Eight times), of course! Like Utley, Rodriguez is the best player at his position in baseball and, like Utley, there’s no debate. Rodriguez has been a catalyst for the Yankees this season. After a rough Spring Training following an admission to PEDs use, A-Rod missed the start of the regular season due to hip surgery. Since his return, the Yankees have been on fire and borderline unstoppable.

While A-Rod is a superstar, Pedro Feliz is serviceable. He flashes some decent leather and rarely makes an off-target throw. However, his offense is nothing more than ordinary and even Feliz’s penchant for delivering with runners in scoring position has all but disappeared in the playoffs (5-for-31, one home run, two RBI for the entire playoffs). Don’t count out Feliz completely, he helped the Phillies to a few regular season wins with his bat but there’s a huge difference between counting out and counting on.
EDGE: YANKEES

Even the “non-clutch” A-Rod of postseason’s past would edge Feliz.

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SHORTSTOP
For Derek Jeter, a seventh World Series appearance won’t be satisfying without one for the thumb. The most tenured Yankee already owns four World Series rings and was Captain Clutch was the World Series MVP in ‘00. He even earned the nickname “Mr. November” after delivering a walk-off home run in Game 4 of the ‘01 World Series minutes after the clock struck midnight on a game that started on October 31st. The well decorated Jeter mantle (10 time All-Star, 3 time Gold Glover, World Series MVP, All-Star MVP, AL Rookie of the Year) has his critics crying New York bias and the more objective amazed by his accomplishments.

A year ago, Jimmy Rollins predicted the Phillies would win 100 games. It took until the World Series for his prediction to come true. The outspoken Rollins doesn’t mind getting in the thick of things and has often verbally sparred with that other team from New York. However, things have been different in ‘09. J-Roll struggled most of the year and had many concerned Jimmy was no longer the right man for the lead-off spot. No matter how poorly Rollins played in the regular season, he’s delivered in some key spots in the playoffs. In the NLDS, Rollins scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of Game 3 and started a ninth inning rally in the Phillies’ miraculous come-from-behind win over the Rockies in Game 4. In the NLCS, Rollins scored five times and smashed a Jonathan Broxton fastball for a two-out walk-off double in Game 4 to send the Dodgers reeling.

EDGE: YANKEES
Both team leaders have a way of sparking their clubs and Rollins might actually do it more effectively (he was only the second player in baseball history to score 100 runs with an on-base percentage below .300) but Jeter has done it more often in ‘09.

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OUTFIELDERS

All three Yankee outfielders are solid offensively with a little bit of power and, in the case of Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera, a little bit of speed. Off-season addition Nick Swisher was their most productive outfielder during the regular season, according to EqA, but hasn’t shown up in the postseason. There was even a rumor Joe Girardi would replace Swish in the lineup in Game 6 (that never happened, of course!).

Technically, the Phillies’ outfield will have Ben Francisco in left field against left-handed pitching in Yankee Stadium since they can move Raul Ibanez to the DH role and minimize his role on defense. All three Phillies outfielders are ahead of their counterparts counting Ibanez as the left fielder since it’s a guarantee he’ll be in the lineup every day. Both Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth present problems for the opposing team on the bases and both Ibanez and Werth have shown impressive power this year.

EDGE: PHILLIES

Victorino is not as bad defensively in center field as his -24 would indicate and in many people’s evaluation, he’s a very good fielder. Even if the defense favors the Yankees, the offense the three Phillies outfielders put out outweighs the efforts of the Yankees trio.

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DH

Hideki Matsui wasn’t a big factor in the Angels series and now faces the possibility of riding the pine when the action moves to Citizens Bank Park. Matsui didn’t play an inning in the field in ‘09 but did play 23 games in the outfield last year and 112 in left field in ‘08.

The Phillies will take advantage of the World Series rules by moving everyday left fielder Raul Ibanez to DH in road games versus left-handed opponents so they can insert Ben Francisco into the lineup. Manager Charlie Manuel is tight lipped about the hitter who gets the nod if the Phillies face a RHP. Greg Dobbs is a likely choice since he’s hit the Yankees well in his career and Matt Stairs — the other lefty available off the bench — is still a very good pinch hitter even though his ‘09 numbers were dismal.

EDGE: YANKEES

The rules governing DH give the Phillies an opportunity to add more offense in games at Yankee Stadium. No matter the choice — Dobbs, Stairs, Feliz — the advantage won’t equal what Godzilla has done for the Yankees in his career or what he’s capable of doing in this postseason.
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BENCH

EDGE: YANKEES

The Yankees and Phillies both cut back on their depth offensively to add an additional pitcher to their World Series roster. Off the bench, the Yanks are a step ahead of the Phillies with a better defensive outfield sub (Brett Gardner over Ben Francisco), a better backup catcher (Jose Molina over Paul Bako) and a more talented utilityman (Jerry Hairston Jr. over Eric Bruntlett).

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STARTING PITCHERS

EDGE: PUSH

This isn’t a season where it’s simple to pencil in the rotation for each World Series participant. The Phillies shook things up when Pedro Martinez was named Game 2’s starter and the rest of the rotation was left up in the air. The Yankees stuck with the same three that got them there — CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte — but rumors are swirling that Chad Gaudin could be utilized as a starter. On the other hand, no one knows if the Phillies will bring back Cliff Lee on three days rest or when Cole Hamels gets his first start. So far, everything Manuel has touched when it comes to starting pitching has turned to gold and it’s hard to find a weakness in the Yankees rotation, unless they end up using Gaudin. The Sabathia-Lee opener should be one for the ages.

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BULLPEN

EDGE: PHILLIES

If the bullpens were measured from top to bottom, the Yankees would have the edge… but that’s just how much clout Mariano Rivera carries when evaluating the relievers. Without Rivera, the Phillies are slightly ahead of the Yankees thanks to a nice mixture of depth and quality arms. The addition of Brett Myers to the World Series roster means the Phillies have a former closer who is likely finally close to 100% and yet another option to exploit match-ups once the action is turned over to the relievers.

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CLOSER

Mariano Rivera’s one postseason loss actually came in Game 7 of the ‘01 World Series so even greatness isn’t without it’s flaws. It is difficult to find flaws in the greatest postseason reliever in the history of the game. In ‘99, Rivera’s performance out of the bullpen was so good, he was named World Series MVP… that’s not an easy one to pull off.

On the other side is Brad Lidge. The roller coaster season is currently clicking up the tracks but there are still some skeptics waiting for Lidge to plunge down the tracks leaving Phillies’ fans screaming in its wake. Last year, Lidge recorded the final out of the Phillies World Series clinching game but, as an Astro, Lidge took two of the team’s four losses in a World Series defeat at the hands of the White Sox. Will it be the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat for Lidge?

EDGE: YANKEES

If there was a guarantee that Lidge was at the top of his game, Rivera would still be better. That’s how not close the teams are at this position.

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THE PICK

The Phillies are from the same city as Rocky and there are plenty of parallels between the successful movie franchise and this World Series. The Yankees are Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago all rolled into one. There are plenty of people, like Apollo in his first meeting with Balboa, who think the Phillies should just be happy to be there. The Yankee fans have more swagger than Lang and maybe even a more vicious knockout punch. Plus, there’s the obvious Drago links — the pressure of an “evil empire” to succeed and there’s the juicing, too. Then there’s the Phillies. A club often described as a team with big talent and a bigger heart, competing with the memory of an important family member/mentor/guide still fresh. And, like Rocky was at times, the Phillies are the defending champs.

Last year, the Phillies helped finish off a Cinderella story by being the clock that struck midnight as the Rays’ carriage turned into a pumpkin. This year, it’s more cinematic similarity as the Phillies take down a classic Fall Classic in 7. Yo Harry, ‘dis one’s for you!

PHILLIES IN 7!