2009 World Series - Yankees Vs. Phillies

By JEFF CAPELLINI, WCBSTV.com Senior Sports Producer
NEW YORK (CBS) ― I have to admit I don't feel the usual crush of dread heading into yet another big Yankees playoff series. Don't get me wrong, the World Series is hardly just another round of the postseason, but considering what the Bombers have accomplished so far, many in the Universe should feel at ease.

More importantly, they should try to enjoy this one.

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Combining the fact that the Yankees have finally vanquished the Angels in a big spot with the fact that the Red Sox are out playing golf in Florida, we should all feel that this team has probably hurdled its biggest psychological barrier.

The Angels, as has been widely talked about, are the only team with a winning record against the Yankees since the Joe Torre era started in 1996 -- by about a mile. The Angels beat the Yankees in both the 2002 and 2005 ALDS, and owned them nearly every time they met due to their superior smarts and sound fundamental play.

Not anymore.

The Red Sox started 8-0 against the Yankees this season, only to see the Bombers win nine of the last 10 meetings. Then Jonathan Papelbon did his thing and the Nation went dark.

It's almost a perfect scenario for the Yankees. They did struggle at times in the ALCS, but now that it's over and they didn't blow a big series lead, I can't imagine this team not playing fast and loose in the Fall Classic.

Now I won't call it a house money series. I do believe the Phillies are the slight favorites, and the Yankees still have plenty of pressure to deal with -- from their rabid fan base's expectations to the potential media backlash to the ever-present talk of spend big, win big or else. Each is sitting in the background like the Grim Reaper.

I respect the Phillies more than any team the Yankees have matched up against in October and November since 1995. The reason is simple. If you really look at the Phillies you will see many qualities of the dynastic Yankees of 1996-2000.

The Phillies are champions through and through. They play the game the right way and have figured out ways to mask their few flaws.

It's really a case of picking your poison. Philly's lineup is ridiculous. It's an American League 1-8 that will only be better in Yankee Stadium with the DH.

Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth ... the list goes on and on.

But rather than break this series down position by position, as most every other media type has done, I'll tell you straight out why I think the Yankees will prevail.

Simply, they have the best starting pitcher, the best position player and the best reliever in this series. All three will play pivotal roles. And how the Yankees do will be directly related just how well the pinstriped money has been spent.

Let's start with CC Sabathia. The massive left-hander has earned every penny of his $160 million contract this season alone. Take his 19-7 regular season and then quickly segue to his unbelievable 3-0 mark, 1.19 ERA and 20 strikeouts to just three walks in 22 2-3 postseason innings.

Bet the farm that Sabathia toes the rubber three times in this series. Don't worry about the big stage or playing in front of Philly's hostile fans. Sabathia is every bit the warrior the Yankees thought they were getting before the free agent sweepstakes started last winter.

Then there is Alex Rodriguez. At long last, after years of this guy playing the role of the mental midget in Adonis' frame, he has taken over. You can make a case that A-Rod deserved the ALCS MVP over Sabathia, but in reality his overall numbers are what really matter.

Rodriguez, after missing 30 games to start the season due to hip surgery, still finished with 30 homers and 100 RBIs. Then came all the familiar cries that he'd once again fall flat in the postseason. Well, A-Rod silenced all those critics in the bottom of the ninth of Game 2 of the ALDS against Minnesota.

In all, Rodriguez is hitting .424 (14-for-33) with 5 homers, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored through nine playoff games. There is absolutely no reason to think the A-Rod of postseasons' past will make a cameo against the Phillies.

The guy is locked in and loaded. And when he's like that he is the best baseball player on the planet.

Lastly, there's Mariano Rivera. The pressure is on the greatest closer in baseball history to finish this time around what he didn't finish against Arizona in 2001 and never got much of a chance to complete in 2003 against Florida.

There are serious questions right now about the reliability of both Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain because each was less than stellar in the first two rounds, so more pressure will be on Rivera should he be needed for six-out saves. And considering the lack of extra off days, just how much Joe Girardi can use Rivera more than one inning will remain the million dollar question.

But I think if you ask me who I trust more, Rivera regardless of the number of outs needed and consecutive days pitched or Brad Lidge, a guy who looks like the untouchable Lidge of 2008 again, I'll still take Rivera every time.

These three Yankee stars aside, a case can be made that the Phillies have the edge at the majority of the remaining positions -- with Howard-Mark Teixeira, Utley-Robinson Cano and Rollins-Derek Jeter so close you can barely shine a flashlight between them either way.

But the Phillies are the superior defensive team and have more World Series experience than this Yankee team, as hard as that may be to believe. Plus, we still don't know what A.J. Burnett is and if Girardi has to turn to Chad Gaudin in Game 4, that could be a batting practice session in Citizens Bank Park.

Ultimately, if you are a fan of the Yankees you have to dance with the girl that brung ya. You have to pray that Sabathia, Rodriguez and Rivera deliver.

Because if even one of those three fails to get it done, the Phillies could very well be the two-time defending World Series champs by the end of the first week of November.

But the bottom line for me is I believe the Yankees' biggest stars will step up and do the necessary damage. This pinstriped machine seems to have destiny written all over it.

Yankees in 7, chalk up No. 27 and start cutting up the confetti for the Canyon of Heroes.

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