Fitting and Proper

This is not supposed to be the way it happens in MLB. The two best teams win their respective pennants? Their power hitters perform admirably in outrageously clutch situations? Their top starters pitch brilliantly and their relievers function as they should? Well, now that sanity has returned to the White House, maybe it also has to the National Pastime.

[Sidebar observation--since 1958, that's over 50 years, the Yankees have only won their World Series titles when Democrats have been in the Oval Office.]

The League Championship series were not the barn burners they promised to be, largely because of poor pitching from the Dodgers and appalling fielding/baserunning by the otherwise well-coached Angels. I'd like to give the Yankees credit for their wins, but aside from Arod's series -turning game-tying wallop in the second contest, the Pinstripers were not all that great at the plate. Swisher and Tex and Cano and Posada left a lot of guys on base. And Philadelphia would have been in deep water had not Jonathon Broxton grooved one to Jimmy Rollins that enabled the Phils to take a 3-1 series lead when a tie seemed imminent.

Those were the only two memorable moments from the LCS's, though, despite the close NY-LA games. This is why I have strong hopes for a very exciting World Series, for a change. These two ball clubs are wonderfully well-matched, practically mirror images of each other. Each have three strong starters and line-ups full of big swatters. The Phils have four batters who hit 30 or more HRs; the Yanks have seven who hit over 20, and that doesn't include Derek Jeter. Both teams can mix in a little speed, though with Rollins, Victorino and Utley, the Phils trump the Yanks there. Meanwhile the Yanks have Mariano River, who trumps practically everything the Phils can throw at the Yanks.

There are a few interesting storylines, but none as intrigiung as Joe Torre/Manny Ramirez in Yankee Stadium, which would have provided some compelling emotional moments for the Yankee fans. As it is they can hoot at Pedro Martinez, though they'd better watch out. He was awfully good against the Dodgers. The all-Cleveland pairing of Sabathia vs. Lee will rile all the baseball fans back at the Mistake By the Lake (Erie). But after what may be a low-scoring opener, start looking out for some scary power displays from both sides. A.J. Burnett and Pettitte are both vulnerable to the long ball, though Pettitte can perhaps neutralize the Philly lefty power guys (if not their wild card, Jason Werth). Meanwhile, Pedro had better be good, because Hamels has a gopher ball, and Joe Blanton is not exactly Christy Mathewson.

The difference, if it falls the Yanks' way, will be in the late-inning bull pen. Will Phil Hughes get his confidence back, or Joba Chamberlain recall his magic from 2007? If so they will bridge nicely to Rivera. As for long relief, the Phils have a better man in J. Happ than anything the Yanks offer, though Gaudin can be useful in short spurts.

In short, the Phils' advantage in the outfield is balanced by the Yanks' slight edge in the infield, and in catching and relief. There's no reason in the world that the Series should not end up in New York, in six games or seven. This should make Fox happy, and baseball purists. My call, I fear, is the Phils in six, because they are better rested, and because it has been nearly forty years since a National League team has repeated a championship, so that fait is due. I hope I am wrong, of course, as I was not in my LCS predictions.

However the post-season concludes, though, it will not be a farcical decision. One of the best two teams will win. And with the Perennial contenders slugging it out with the current World Champions, the baseball world will not be cheated.