Yankees win World Series in six
Hey, I got a prediction right! Unfortunately.
I said the New York Yankees would defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series in six games, and that's exactly what happened. The Yankees won their universe-best 27th Series Wednesday night, riding the six RBIs of Series Most Valuable Player Hideki Matsui and the pitching arms of Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera to a 7-3 clinching victory.
It feels to be right for a change, as anyone that reads this blog regularly knows my predictions are quite often an indicator of what is not going to happen. But I'd rather have been wrong this time. The Yankees are back to outspending and dominating the baseball world. Unless you're one of the billion people who have sold their souls and become Yankees fans, that's no fun.
They were certainly the best team in 2009, though you never know what might have happened had Phillies manager Charlie Manuel brought back his ace, Cliff Lee, on three days rest. Pedro Martinez didn't have the magic Wednesday night, and the Phillies starters in Games 3 & 4, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton, were no better. Meanwhile, Yankees manager Joe Girardi got consistent results from the three starters he used, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Pettitte. His bullpen, which still features the remarkable Rivera, was much better as well.
Offensively, I'd never have believed the Yankees could win while getting so little from Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano. Matsui, Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon were good enough to compensate for the struggles of their teammates. As a result, Rodriguez gets to end a year during which he admitted to past steroid use on top of the world. Forgive me for not feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
Even in defeat, it's hard not to be impressed with the Phillies, who clawed their way back to the Series a year after winning it all. Chase Utley's five home runs shouldn't be overlooked just because some of his fellow boppers stopped bopping, and Lee had a fantastic coming-out party.
