Phillie Phanatic, you’re going down. Rocky, you too. And Michael Vick, stop barking!
For the next week or so, Philadelphia is enemy territory. Until this series, I didn’t really have anything against the city, or the Phillies – after all, the team makes Met fan Squawker Jon miserable, and that always warms my heart. And, as I wrote last month, I think the bad rep Philly fans have is both overblown and a little unfair. There are good fans and not-so-good fans in each and every fanbase. (Speaking of which, can we vote Artie Lange out of Yankee Universe? You could fit what he knows about the Yankees in a thimble. This is the clown who actually told Bill Simmons that the 1978 Butch Hobson, who had 43(!) errors that year, was a better player than Alex Rodriguez.Good grief.)
I digress. I was looking forward to seeing one Philadelphia Phillie’s return to the Bronx. After all, this player was part of the 2004 ALCS, and Yankee fans need to get revenge on him. He has a lot to answer for. But then Charlie Manuel left Miguel Cairo off the World Series roster. Bummer.
Anyhow, I’m one of the few Yankee fans who digs both Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Martinez – as I always say, I like players with larger-than-life personalities. (On the other hand, Shane Victorino gets on my last nerve. Go figure.) But they are the enemy this week. They’re a tough team, but they haven’t faced any team as tough as the Yankees yet.
Without further ado, here are my predictions:
* I see CC Sabathia as having an edge over Cliff Lee in Game 1.
* As for Game 2, I think Pedro Martinez will be fired up and wired up after the crowd gives him a Bronx cheer or two, and he’ll outpitch A.J. Burnett. Why do I say this, even though the Yanks have smacked him around in recent years? Because he’s a competitor who loves the drama. I would be very surprised to see Pedro do poorly. I think this game will be a walkoff win- the third Game 2 walkoff win in the postseason for the Yanks this year – with the Yankees smacking around Brad Lidge. Remember, Lidge got two blown saves off the Yankees this May.
* My guess is that the Yanks will only win, at most, one game in Philadelphia. And that will be whatever game Cole Hamels pitches.
* As for the rest of the series, I’m going to agree with Jay-Z’s prediction for how it will end:
I actually predicted the Yankees in six with the Angels, so I think I’m like Jigga the Greek. I’m gonna say, Phillies are a bit tougher than the Angels. I’m gonna take Yankees in seven. Dramatic A-Rod walk-off at the end of the game redeeming him for all the time the papers and the media vilified him. Is that specific enough?
* Needless to say, given that prediction, A-Rod is my prediction for theWorld Series MVP.
Here are some of my other predictions:
* Whatever reception Michelle Obama gets after throwing out the first pitch at Game 1 will be a super-big story. Another story will be people griping about the super-strict security. (Not exactly going out on a limb here, I know.)
* The Phillie Phanatic will do something controversial against the Yankees. (Incidentally, what kind of animal is the Phanatic, anyway? Is he like Gonzo or something?)
* Shane Victorino will be a thorn in the side of the Yankees, while Johnny Damon will be the same against the Phillies.
* Sleeper pick of a breakout Yankee World Series star? Dave Robertson.
* And finally, chances that this series will be an all-tiime classic? Excellent!
What are your predictions? Tell us about it!
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