MLB FanHouse

Footprints in the Snow: Phillies

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro made it a point not to bring back the exact same lineup in 2009 after winning the World Series in 2008. He succeeded in that goal by replacing the departed Pat Burrell with Raul Ibanez in left field. The strategy worked as the Phillies won their division and made it all the way to the World Series, eventually losing to the New York Yankees.

During this offseason, expect the mantra to be very similar to last winter. The one position in the lineup that likely will roll over is third base. The team declined their $5.5 million option on Pedro Feliz and will try and find an upgrade in the free-agent pool. If they fail to do so, they can always bring Feliz back to the team.

More Footprints in the Snow

Who Might Leave

Brett Myers, RHP; Pedro Martinez, RHP; Scott Eyre, LHP; Chan Ho Park, RHP; Matt Stairs, OF; Miguel Cairo, INF; Paul Bako, C; Pedro Feliz, 3B; Eric Bruntlett, INF.

Shopping List

The Phillies have three targeted acquisitions this winter, two of which are necessary. The team must find a third baseman to upgrade over the departed Feliz and they would like to add a pitcher or two to the bullpen. If both of these needs are met, look for the Phillies to try to add a super-utility type player to back up the infield positions, especially up the middle.

At third base, the leading candidates look to be Adrian Beltre and Mark DeRosa. Chone Figgins was the first thought for a third base replacement, but Figgins figures to be too expensive. Beltre is the youngest of the free agent-options that Philadelphia is considering and he's the best fielder. But don't count out DeRosa just yet. The Phillies flirted with him in 2007 before he went elsewhere, and many believe that Philadelphia is the front-runner for DeRosa's services.

With the struggles Brad Lidge went through in 2009 and the fact that Ryan Madson didn't prove he could take over and close with ease, the Phillies will look for a candidate or two to provide late-inning assistance. There are two players available in Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney that could compliment the current bullpen very well. They both have experience in the setup role and as a closer. Having three or four relief pitchers with that kind of experience would be wonderful.

Money Matters

You can rest assured that the Phillies will be bringing Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz and Joe Blanton back to the ballclub, at whatever cost. Pedro Martinez, who had a very respectable run towards the end of the season, has also mentioned that he'd like to make a run at it during spring training in hopes of pitching the entire 2010 season. If he can strike a short-term deal that is incentive-laden, the Phillies may bring him back.

Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park and Matt Stairs are all also of interest to the Phillies. Eyre is going to retire if the Phillies don't want to re-sign the lefty specialist in the bullpen and Chan Ho Park could also be brought back if he agrees to head to the bullpen and give up on entering the rotation.

Offseason Goals

Just like in 2008, the Phillies don't need to make any big changes to return and make a run at a championship. The team can hit a ton and their rotation looks solid headed into 2010. Their payroll may creep up into the upper echelon on the National League and compete with the New York Mets, but that may be worth it to make a third consecutive run at greatness. Keep an eye on two young pitchers this offseason as well. Cole Hamels is rumored to be included in trade talks with the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. The Phillies downplay this rumor and I think it's unlikely to happen too. But watch for him to work toward figuring out how to make 2010 a bounce-back season. Kyle Drabek should also be on your radar. He's not quite ready to pitch in Philadelphia yet, but if he grows next season like he did in 2009, he'll make that splash in 2010.

Footprints in the Snow: Phillies originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pedro Martinez Plans to Pitch the Entire 2010 Season

Knox Bardeen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, NL East

Pedro Martinez couldn't find a suitable employment opportunity prior to the 2009 Major League Baseball season, so he sat out until the Phillies came knocking in July. The 38-year-old pitcher started nine games, posting a record of 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA and helped the Phillies make a championship run that fell just a little short.

Through his agent, Fern Cuza, who spoke to FOXSports.com, the three-time Cy Young Award-winner has made it clear that he would like to pitch in 2010. And Martinez wants to pitch the entire season this time.

His track record over the past four seasons hasn't been one of durability. In the three years prior to 2009, he averaged just 16 starts and had an ERA of 4.74. And even though he pitched well this season, his nine regular season and three postseason starts don't do a lot to prove Martinez can handle the rigors of 30 or more major league starts. Especially since he didn't make his first start until the middle of August.

That said, his 2009 winning record and sub-4.00 ERA combined with the fact that Martinez greatly reduced the number of batters he walked while increasing his strikeout totals should mean that some team will take a chance on him. It likely won't be a long-term contract though. A team could put together an incentive-laden one-year deal with a club option for a second year and take a low-risk, high-reward gamble on a pitcher who knows how to win, when healthy.

It's still too early to tell where Martinez will end up. It wouldn't be shocking to see him back in Philadelphia. Or he may retest the waters with the Dodgers or the Cubs, teams he spoke with prior to signing with the Phillies. Smart money keeps the hurler in the National League, and it's safe to imagine that he'll want to pitch for a contender. That narrows the list quite a bit.

Pedro Martinez Plans to Pitch the Entire 2010 Season originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phillies Decline Pedro Feliz's Option

Tom Fornelli — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, NL East, MLB Transactions

Considering that the Phillies made a few changes to their lineup in 2009 after winning a World Series, it shouldn't really come as a surprise that the 2010 version of the team will look a bit different as well. It was announced by the team on Sunday that they would not be picking up the option on third baseman Pedro Feliz, who will now become a free agent.

This does not mean that Feliz won't be back with the Phillies next season, it just means that he won't be back at the price of $5.5 million. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. did say that he wouldn't rule out re-signing Feliz this winter in the team's official statement regarding the Feliz option.

FanHouse's World Series Coverage

"This doesn't preclude us from bringing Pedro back next season," Amaro said in a statement. "While this allows us to explore other opportunities, we will continue to keep the lines of communication open with Pedro and his representative."

There is no shortage of those other opportunities this winter either, as Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and other third baseman will all be available on the free agent market. While it's unknown whether or not the Phillies will get involved in the Figgins sweepstakes, it's likely they'll take a look at Beltre.

He's a very similar player to Feliz offensively, and also plays outstanding defense at the hot corner like Feliz. The difference is that Beltre is four years younger than the 34-year-old Feliz, who will turn 35 in April.

Phillies Decline Pedro Feliz's Option originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brett Myers, Phillies to Part Ways

Matt Snyder — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, NL East, MLB Rumors

After eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, 29-year-old pitcher Brett Myers will reportedly be playing for a new team in 2010. According to Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Myers has been told by Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., that he will definitely not be a Phillie next season. The report also states that Myers wasn't given a specific reason that he won't return.

Myers has spent his entire professional career in the Philadelphia organization after being selected in the first round in the 1999 draft. He went 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA and added 21 saves during his time in Philly.

Myers' time with the Phillies was marked by vast peaks and valleys. At times he looked like an All-Star-caliber pitcher and at others he was flat-out awful. He made three Opening Day starts, but also went through several demotions to the minors and to the bullpen. There were also some off-field issues, including an alleged incident of battery against his wife.

Considering Myers was a first-round pick and has had eight years to fulfill his potential, it appears he's not too shocked they Phillies decided a change was in order.

"I was just like, 'OK, thanks for putting up with my [stuff],' " Myers said. "He thanked me and wished me and my family well. "I'll miss the guys on the team and the fans who have supported me. Hopefully I'll be playing against the Phillies and when I do, I want the roughest treatment the fans can give me -- when I'm pitching. I'm an opposing player -- you have to give it to me."

Awesome. Phillies fans don't really need to be cued up to take proper care of their opposition, but it's nice to see Myers goading them anyway. Hopefully he'll catch on with another team in the NL East and they'll have ample chance to fulfill his wishes. Something tells me his 4.40 career ERA after being a first-round pick will be enough for the Philly fans to oblige.

Speaking of which, there should be a pretty good market for Myers. It's entirely possible a change of scenery would do him some good, and everyone's seen his ability (when he's on). He's still under 30, so it's not like he's past his prime. It's good to see accountability for his "[stuff]," whatever that may be. Plus, he's willing to work from the bullpen, enter a rotation or fight for a rotation spot. The guess is he won't be without a team for long.

Brett Myers, Phillies to Part Ways originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Options Aplenty: Lee, Webb Stay Put, Dye Bought Out by White Sox

Andrew Johnson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Diamondbacks, Phillies, White Sox, MLB Transactions

The champagne is barely dry in the Yankees clubhouse, but the business of 2010 is already well under way. Three trades are in the books, a number of players have already filed for free agency and Bobby Abreu has a new deal with the Angels.

In that vein, three clubs made decisions on contract options Friday as they held on to star players for next year. The Phillies and Diamondbacks both picked up the options they held on ace pitchers Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb, respectively, while the White Sox bought out right fielder Jermaine Dye.

Chicago's World Series MVP in 2005, Dye, who will turn 36 in January, was due to make $12 million in 2010. He'll instead receive $950,000 from the White Sox and hit the open market.

Free agency was not kind to aging corner outfielders last winter (just ask Abreu), and there is a virtual consensus that Dye can not play even an average right field anymore, but his time in Chicago was remarkably successful all the same.

He shed the durability issues that plagued him in Oakland during the first half of the decade, and was, at times (particularly in 2006 and 2008), an imposing force in Ozzie Guillen's lineup. He almost certainly will not equal on the open market in terms of annual salary what he would have made had the White Sox picked up his option, but he shouldn't have trouble finding work.

The Phillies haven't made an official announcement, but MLB.com's Todd Zolecki is reporting that they've picked up Lee's $8 million option for next season, and really there are no surprises there. Lee, who came to Philadelphia in a July deal with the Indians, was a dominant force in the postseason, going 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts, including both of the Phillies' wins in the World Series.

Lee can become a free agent after 2010, but Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is going to try to convince him to sign a long-term extension to keep him in the City of Brotherly Love before then, so think of the option as a way station on the way to the team's ultimate goal.

As for Webb, the 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner was limited to a lone start this season because of ominous shoulder problems, for which he eventually had surgery. Given that Webb's option for 2010 costs $8.5 million -- a sizable chunk of mid-market Arizona's payroll, which was $73.5 million on Opening Day this year -- the Diamondbacks must be feeling pretty confident about the progress of his rehab from the procedure on his right shoulder.

"Since Brandon has recovered well from his surgery, we have decided to exercise his option," Arizona GM Josh Byrnes said in a statement. "His accomplishments for our organization have been significant. We look forward to him returning to the mound."

Options Aplenty: Lee, Webb Stay Put, Dye Bought Out by White Sox originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Few Mysteries as Phils Abdicate Throne

Jeff Fletcher — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:15:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK -- This was not the type of World Series that the Phillies are going to spend much time replaying in their minds. Not long after they watched the Yankees celebrate on the field, taking the title that they won last year, the Phillies were already in full shoulder-shrug mode.

Regrets? Not really.

"They got the hits and we didn't," Jimmy Rollins said. "Simple. There's no science other than that. Get a hit or you don't. And they did."

Reliever Scott Eyre: "They got hits when they really needed 'em, and that's what it takes to win. That's what we did last year against the Rays. Sometimes you have to step back and say 'Hey, we got beat.' It's not like we made errors or threw the ball around the park. We left it out there."

The Phillies had one major gaffe in the series -- Brad Lidge's failure to cover third base on Johnny Damon's now famous double-steal in Game 4 -- but it's debatable whether that even cost them a game. Although it was certainly a punch in the gut, Damon would have been in scoring position for Alex Rodriguez's ensuing hit, regardless of the extra base."Are [the Yankees] better than we are? This series they were. They got the trophy. We don't. We gave it up. But we're going to get it back."
-- Charlie Manuel

The simple reason the Phillies lost, as Rollins said, was that their hitters consistently failed in the clutch. So, for that matter, did their pitchers. Whether it was what the Yankees did right or they did wrong is impossible to know, and if anyone in the Phillies clubhouse knew, they weren't saying.

"I felt like every game was a pretty good game," said Chase Utley, whose record-tying five-homer series was in a losing effort. "Both teams had opportunities to win at different times. The Yankees were just able to win more than we were."

Although the Yankees had the best offense in the majors this season, the Phillies were right up there. They had an American League-type offense, full of power hitters. Indeed, they delivered on the power, hitting 11 homers -- just one shy of the World Series record. The problem was that nine of them were solo homers. Utley hit a key three-run homer that sparked a victory in Game 5. Otherwise, the only homer with a man aboard was Ryan Howard's oh-by-the-way two-run shot in Game 6.

All told, the Phillies were 11 for 44 (.250) with runners in scoring position, but four of those hits were in the Game 1 victory. In the final five games, they were 7 for 35 (.200), including 4 for 28 (.143) in the four losses.

Howard had a particularly miserable series. He was 4 for 23 (.174) with a World Series-record 13 strikeouts. This came just after he had won the MVP award in the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.

Even Utley, if you can believe, was practically invisible other than his five homers. He hit four of them in the two Phillies victories. In the other four games, he was 2 for 15. Rollins (.217) and Shane Victorino (.182) were not the sparkplugs they are supposed to be at the top of the order.

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World Series 2009

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, left, and Mariano Rivera look at the championship trophy after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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World Series

A visitor watches as TV sets show New York Yankees designate hitter Hideki Matsui at bat in Game 6 of the World Series baseball at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A visitor watches a TV screen showing New York Yankees designate hitter Hideki Matsui lifting the MVP trophy he won in the World Series baseball at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, left, and Derek Jeter celebrate after Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. The Yankees won 7-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a live broadcast on TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' MVP Hideki Matsui at bat during the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte reacts during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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New York Yankees' Jorge Posada leaps into the arms of a teammate after the Yankees won the Major League Baseball World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui at bat during the Major League Baseball World Series Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte tips his cap after being relieved by Joba Chamberlain during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui hitting a two-run homer in the second inning during the Major League Baseball World Series Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

"Their left-handed pitchers, I felt like did a good job on our left-handed hitting and stopped them," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "That is a big part of our offense."

The Phillies also didn't pitch. The only pitcher who proved to be consistently reliable in the series for Philadelphia was Cliff Lee, who started both victories. Lee had a 2.81 ERA in the series, and the other Phillies pitchers had a 6.50 ERA.

After Lee's Game 1 effort, none of the starters got through a game without giving up at least three runs. None of the starters other than Lee got an out in the seventh inning, and none of them gave up fewer than three runs.

One of the worst performances came at the end, with Pedro Martinez getting whacked for four runs in four innings of Game 6. Martinez, who had pitched a credible six innings, allowing three runs, in Game 2, had no velocity at all. And he didn't have much to begin with. Although Martinez bolted from the clubhouse before reporters were allowed in, the word was that he had reported he still felt a little under the weather, just as he was in Game 2.

He made a mistake that Hideki Matsui deposited into the left-field bleachers for a two-run homer in the second, and he allowed Matsui to bang a two-run single in the third. That put the Yankees up 4-1. Against a wobbly Andy Pettitte on three days rest, the Phillies still might have had a chance to come back, but the Yankees tacked on three more runs charged to Chad Durbin in the fifth.

"We just got beat," Joe Blanton said. "Coming into the series it was two pretty even teams. I thought it was 50-50 or 55-45. They just won four games before we did."

The Phillies could swallow all of this a little more easily because they know they are a team that is pretty young, with most of their key players back for next year.

"Are they better than we are? This series they were," Manuel said. "They got the trophy. We don't. We gave it up. But we're going to get it back."

Rollins, who had talked in the past about the Phillies becoming a dynasty, said he still has hopes of that.

"It would have been nice to win two in a row," he said, "but San Antonio is pretty good winning every other year."

Few Mysteries as Phils Abdicate Throne originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yankees Quit Playing Games, Start Playing Championship Baseball

Terence Moore — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:45:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- The biggest World Series choke involved the New York Yankees, but they won back then in 1996 over the gasping Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees won this time, too. It's just that they did so to avoid sliding toward the brutal end of the second-worst choke in World Series history.

On a clear Wednesday night in the Bronx, with Hideki Matsui's sizzling Mizuno bat and various pinstriped chants warming the November chill inside the newest version of Yankee Stadium, the home team got a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. It also got a 27th world championship for the franchise.

Plus, it got these current Yankees off the hook.

They would have been dangling by that hook over the edge of the George Washington Bridge with a World Series loss. Not only did they have to win the 2009 world championship, but the clincher had to come Wednesday night in Game 6. The way things were going for the extremely gifted but occasionally wobbly Yankees during this series that should have ended in five games, they couldn't depend on a Game 7. They couldn't spend another night pumping life into what was a World Series corpse after the Phillies won just once in the opening four games.

"It's a great ballclub with a lot of heart," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, telling the truth about the Phillies, the defending world champions.

The thing is, the Phillies weren't superior to the Yankees. Nobody was, and despite many of the World Series results since 2000 -- you know, the last year the Yankees won it all -- nobody has possessed more reasons to hoist baseball's ultimate trophy after the past nine seasons than the team that has done it more than anybody. The Yankees have the money, and they have the talent, and they have the legacy. In fact, the NFL names its world championship trophy after Vince Lombardi. The NBA honors Larry O'Brien, and the NHL has its cup from Lord Frederick Walter Stanley. So, instead of the Commissioner's Trophy, which is the official name of baseball's award, how about something named after any great from Yankees history?

Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle. It doesn't matter.

Given all that Yankee stuff, it's like this: Whenever they don't win it all, they've usually choked. Said Matsui, crowned the World Series Most Valuable Player after he batted a ridiculous .615 with three home runs and eight RBI as mostly a designated hitter, "My first and foremost goal when I joined the Yankees [in 2003] was to win a world championship. Certainly it's been a long road and very difficult journey."

It was another World Series loss from becoming a wretched journey. That's why the Yankees couldn't take the chance of blowing it on Wednesday night, especially since they began the evening with a three-game losing streak whenever they've had the opportunity to clinch a world championship. There were Games 6 and 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, when the Yankees dropped the World Series finale on the road. Then there was their 8-6 loss on Monday night in Philadelphia.

There also was that 2004 ugliness rattling around the memories of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Matsui. It was a quintet that experienced baseball infamy. After the Yankees surged to a 3-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox during that American League Championship Series, the Yankees miraculously spent the World Series at home. They lost four straight with much help in Game 7 from Johnny Damon's grand slam for the Red Sox.

This is the same Johnny Damon who was among those trying to keep the Yankees from grabbing their throats against the Phillies. He left the game before the top of the fourth inning after straining his right calf while scoring one of the Yankees' two runs during the bottom of the third.

The Yankees didn't need him. They had Matsui, along with a bunch of everything else that made this a must-win World Series for them.

Nobody won more games during the regular season than the Yankees' 103. They entered the World Series with a huge advantage over any National League team they would play courtesy of the DH -- as in Matsui, with a record-tying six RBI on Wednesday night. Their pitching was at least a Mariano Rivera (the greatest reliever ever in October and now November) better than the Phillies. In fact, that Yankees pitching was significantly better than that with the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte trumping Phillies' brilliant ace Cliff Lee, a fading Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels, who confessed during the middle of the World Series that he'd rather be fishing or something.

Oh, and don't forget about Derek Jeter continuing his Lou Gehrig imitation. Just like Gehrig, Jeter is a Yankee captain. And, just like Gehrig, Jeter is a terror in the World Series. He has hit safely in 32 of the 38 World Series games he has played, including Wednesday night, when he had three hits and scored twice. Just three players with 100 or more World Series at-bats have a higher batting average than Jeter's .321, and in case you're wondering, Gehrig leads the way at .361.

And did I mention the Yankees said before the playoffs began that they wished to win it all for George Steinbrenner, their ailing owner of yore?

The Yankees were just better, period.

As for the biggest choke, it was spectacular. It was Jim Leyritz. It was the Braves doing the unfathomable on the positive and on the negative in the same World Series. First, they won the first two games at Yankee Stadium. Then they roared to a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning of Game 4 while holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.

End of the positive for the Braves.

Leyritz ripped a three-run homer to tie the game along the way to a New York victory, and the Braves crawled into a corner for the rest of the World Series.

The Yankees didn't need Leyritz this time.

They just needed to stop fooling around.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

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World Series 2009

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Johnny Damon

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World Series

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Mariano Rivera #42 (C) and Mark Teixeira #25 (L) of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Teixeira;Mariano Rivera

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees celebrates with his teammates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Jeter

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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Yankees Quit Playing Games, Start Playing Championship Baseball originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Howard Sets Dubious Series Record

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, World Series

NEW YORK (AP) -- Philadelphia's Ryan Howard struck out swinging against Yankees reliever Damaso Marte in the eighth inning Wednesday night, setting a record with his 13th strikeout of the World Series.

Howard, who was MVP of the Phillies' NL championship series victory over Los Angeles, passed Willie Wilson's old mark. Wilson struck out 12 times for Kansas City against Philadelphia in 1980.

Howard went 2 for 5 in the opener, but got two hits the rest of the Series, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning in Game 6. He fanned four times in Game 2 and three times in Game 3.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Howard Sets Dubious Series Record originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yankees Capture 27th World Series Title

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK (AP) -- Paint the town in pinstripes! Nearly a decade after their dynasty ended on a blooper in the desert, the New York Yankees are baseball's best again.

Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 on Wednesday night, finally seizing that elusive 27th title - the most in all of sports.

It was the team's first since winning three straight from 1998-2000.

Mariotti: Not the American Dream, but Give Yankees Props
Fletcher: Phillies Abdicate Throne | Moore: Yanks Quit Playing Games
Price: Uncertain Future for N.Y. Trio | Olson: Phillies Fade Into Night
Box Score | Matsui MVP | A-Rod Finally a Champ | Fans Rejoice in Victory

Matsui, the Series MVP, powered a quick rout of old foe Pedro Martinez. And when Mariano Rivera got the final out, it was ecstasy in the Bronx for George Steinbrenner's go-for-broke bunch.

What a way for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and crew to christen their $1.5 billion ballpark: One season, one championship.

And to think it capped a season that started in turmoil -- a steroids scandal involving A-Rod, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.

"My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me and now we stand here as world champions," Rodriguez said. "We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party!"

During postgame ceremonies on the field, the big video board in center flashed: "Boss, this is for you." And commissioner Bud Selig dedicated the moment to Steinbrenner.

About 100 miles south, disappointment.

For Chase Utley and the Phillies, it was a frustrating end to another scintillating season. Philadelphia fell two wins short of becoming the first NL team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.

Ryan Howard's sixth-inning homer came too late to wipe away his World Series slump, and Phillies pitchers rarely managed to slow Matsui and the Yankees' machine.

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World Series 2009

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World Series

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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"It's important in our next couple years to stay afloat," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I know we can do better."

In a fitting coincidence, this championship came eight years to the day after the Yankees lost Game 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona on Luis Gonzalez's broken-bat single off Rivera.

New York spent billions trying to get back. At long last, it did.

"We're looking forward to this parade," Jeter said.

Hey Babe and Yogi, Mr. October and Joltin' Joe -- you've got company. Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and a new generation of Yankees have procured their place in pinstriped lore.

And for the four amigos, it was ring No. 5.

Jorge Posada, Jeter, Pettitte and Rivera came up together through the minors and were cornerstones for those four titles in five years starting in 1996.

Now, all on the other side of age 35, they have another success to celebrate. And surely they remember the familiar parade route, up Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes.

Indeed, a New York City-sized party is next. Nine years in the making, with all the glitz and glamour this tony town can offer.

"You never know when you're going to get back here," Posada said.

Carrying flags that read 2009 World Series champions, Joba Chamberlain and Nick Swisher led a victory lap around the warning track. Players high-fived fans, then sprayed bubbly behind the mound.

For the 79-year-old Steinbrenner, who has been in declining health, it was the seventh championship since he bought the team in 1973.

Though he stayed back home in Tampa, Fla., he certainly wasn't forgotten. The grounds crew wore "Win it for The Boss" shirts last week, which were on sale outside the ballpark Wednesday.

New York wasted its chance to wrap things up in Game 5 at Philadelphia, then set its sights on clinching the World Series at home for the first time since 1999.

While nine years between titles is hardly a drought for most teams, it was almost an eternity in Yankeeland.

New York's eight seasons without a championship was the third-longest stretch for the Yankees since their first one, following gaps of 17 (1979-95) and 14 (1963-76).

Reggie Jackson's three homers in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers made the Yankees champs in '77. On this November night, Matsui delivered a sublime performance at the plate that must have made Mr. October proud.

"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."

By the Numbers
27 World Series championships by the New York Yankees
6 RBI by Hideki Matsui in the decisive sixth game -- a record for a World Series-clinching victory
1.57 Billion Approximate dollars spent by the Yankees on payroll since their last World Series title in 2000
.373 Alex Rodriguez's batting average in the 2009 postseason. He also had six home runs and 18 RBI. In his previous four postseason trips with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .245
19 Combined World Series rings won by the Yankees' core four of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera

Playing perhaps his final game with the Yankees, Matsui hit a two-run homer off Martinez in the second inning and a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch in the third.

A slumping Teixeira added an RBI single in the fifth off reliever Chad Durbin, and Matsui cracked a two-run double off the right-center fence against lefty J.A. Happ.

A designated hitter with balky knees, Matsui came off the bench in all three games at Philadelphia. Still, he had a huge Series, going 8 for 13 (.615) with three homers and eight RBIs. His go-ahead shot off an effective Martinez in Game 2 helped the Yankees tie it 1-all.

Bobby Richardson was the only other player with six RBIs in a World Series game, doing it for the Yankees in Game 3 against Pittsburgh in 1960. Richardson had a first-inning grand slam and a two-run single in the fourth.

Matsui's big hits built a comfortable cushion for a feisty Pettitte, who shouted at plate umpire Joe West while coming off the field in the fourth. Still, Pettitte extended major league records with his 18th postseason win and sixth to end a series.

The 37-year-old left-hander, pitching on three days' rest, became the first pitcher to start and win the clincher in all three postseason rounds. He beat Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels in the AL playoffs.

Pettitte lasted 5 2-3 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and five walks. Chamberlain and Damaso Marte combined for 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief before Rivera secured the final five outs.

It had been nearly a half-century since players had won five titles with one team. The last to do it? Of course a bunch of Yankees: Yogi Berra (10 titles), Mickey Mantle (seven) and Whitey Ford (six) in 1962, according to STATS LLC.

For Joe Girardi, a three-time Yankees champion as a player, it was the fulfillment of a mission. When he succeeded Joe Torre in October 2007, Girardi chose uniform No. 27, putting his quest on his back for all to see. His tenure didn't start out so well, with New York missing the playoffs in its final season at old Yankee Stadium following 13 consecutive appearances.

Steinbrenner's well-paid players hadn't soaked themselves in bubbly after the season since Bernie Williams gloved Mike Piazza's midnight flyout at Shea Stadium to win the 2000 Subway Series and cap the Yankees' third straight championship and fourth in five years.

Two outs from winning in 2001, the Yankees stumbled in the desert. New York then spent more than $1.6 billion after that trying to regain glory, falling short with infamous flops such as Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez and Carl Pavano.

But last offseason the Yankees got smart, adding a trio of top free agents -- Teixeira, Sabathia and A.J. Burnett -- for $423.5 million. They jelled with Rodriguez, the game's highest-paid player but a winner for the first time in 16 major league seasons.

Notes: Howard set a World Series record with 13 strikeouts. ... Jeter batted .423 in the Series. ... Teixeira had been 2 for 20 before his RBI single in the fifth. ... It was the fourth time Rivera got the final out of a World Series. ... Yankees LF Johnny Damon left after three innings with a strained right calf. ... All-Star CF Shane Victorino was in Philadelphia's lineup despite an injured index finger. Victorino was hit on the right hand by A.J. Burnett's fastball early in Game 5 and removed in the eighth inning.

By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Sports Writer

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Yankees Capture 27th World Series Title originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World Series Game 6 Live Chat

Andrew Johnson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Live Blogging, MLB Playoffs, World Series

As if the first Game 6 in the World Series in six years wasn't enough to whet your appetite, it's Pedro Martinez in the Bronx, Round 2, on Thursday night. Oh, there's a championship on the line as well as the Yankees try for the second time to win their 27th championship.

Yes, there will be no shortage of drama as the Fall Classic returns to Yankee Stadium, and the MLB FanHouse crew will be here to take you from the first pitch to the final out and beyond.

Will the Yankees celebrate or will the Phillies deliver the best thing all of sports -- a Game 7? Join us after the jump, starting at 7:45 PM ET for a LIVE chat as we find out.

World Series Game 6 Live Chat originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Chin Music for Chase Utley?

Matt Snyder — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, AL East, NL East, World Series

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is having quite the World Series. The perennial All-Star is hitting .333 with five home runs, eight RBI and a disgusting 1.651 OPS. Needless to say, he's as locked in as anyone in the series. Four of those round-trippers came in the two Phillies victories (two in each), which illustrates the point that it is paramount for the Yankees to stop him in order to win Game 6.

Doing so is easier said than done, but former Yankees pitcher and World Series Champion David Wells has an idea: a little old fashioned "chin music."

Chase Utley needs to kiss the Yankee Stadium dirt tonight.

Enough is enough, already. I would never advocate throwing at somebody's head, but there comes a time when you've got to make an insanely hot hitter like Utley squirm.

This was written by Wells himself in a column for the New York Post. He also uses the statement, "Show some guts and knock him on his butt," and discusses the fact that five Yankees hitters have been hit with a pitch while only one Phillies hitter has suffered the same fate.

Wells does point out that, once brushing Utley back, he needs to be pitched outside, "like he's Babe Ruth."

I don't want to completely argue with Wells, as he's an accomplished former major league pitcher with some rings (plus, he threw a perfect game half-drunk!), because I can see the value of brushing someone back off the plate and messing with their comfort zone.

But, instead of chancing automatically putting Utley on base in the first inning of a pivotal Game 6, shouldn't they at least broach the philosophy of not feeding him fastballs in the strike zone? Or at least not directly down the middle of the plate? I understand the menacing presence of Ryan Howard is in the on-deck circle protecting Utley, but Howard's doing his best impersonation of a real-life Pedro Cerrano right now (.158 average, World Series record-tying 12 strikeouts, looks overmatched against breaking pitches).

I'd rather walk Utley with four breaking pitches out of the strike zone -- in hopes he goes fishing and gets himself out -- than take the chance of hitting him with a pitch in order to prove some sort of point. Boomer obviously disagrees. We'll find out the Yankees' decision Wednesday evening.

Some Chin Music for Chase Utley? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Older, Wiser, Better? Pedro vs. Pettitte

Jeff Fletcher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- Pedro Martinez and Andy Pettitte both used the same word to describe how they felt about getting the assignment to pitch Game 6 of the World Series: "Blessed."

Martinez, understanding the similarities between the pitchers go beyond their statistical resumes, added another description: "Two old goats out there doing the best they can and having fun with it."

With the Yankees looking to close out their 27th World Series title on Wednesday night, they'll turn to the 37-year-old Pettitte, while the Phillies will lean on 38-year-old Martinez to try to force a Game 7. The matchup would have plenty of drama because of the situation in the series, but it certainly has an added bit of texture because of what could be the final major league game for either or both of these iconic pitchers.

More Coverage: Playoff Pulse | Phillies Take Game 5 | Short Rest Issues?

Martinez and Pettitte have each seen better days, but neither is a has-been. Martinez pitched brilliantly in one of his playoff starts this year, and pretty well in the other, in Game 2 of the World Series. Pettitte is 3-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four playoff starts, including victories in both of the Yankees clinchers so far this postseason.

Both are pitching well -- on the biggest stage -- at a time when their careers each looked as if it might be over, which is why they both said they feel "blessed."

Pettitte considered retiring two years ago, before returning to the Yankees, specifically because he wanted to try to win another championship.

"I just feel very blessed, very fortunate to be able to have this opportunity," Pettitte said Tuesday.

Martinez had not publicly said he was considering retirement, but it may have been forced upon him. He sat out the first half of the season, waiting for a team that made him what he deemed a suitable offer. Just when he may have been ready to slip out of the collective consciousness of Major League Baseball, Martinez signed with the Phillies at the All-Star break. Since then, he's pitched better than just about anyone could have imagined.

"I look at this situation as a blessing," Martinez said. "I mean, what else would I want? I'm doing the job I love. I'm doing something not everybody gets to do. If you consider the fact that I was, two months back, sitting at home not doing anything. None of you were thinking of me whatsoever. None of you were asking me questions, and today I am here, probably pitching one of the biggest games ever in the World Series."

Further adding intrigue to the matchup, Martinez has said that he will probably retire if the Phillies win the World Series, and there's a reasonable chance that Pettitte might call it quits if the Yankees win.

Before that, though, there is the matter of this game, which will be not be decided by a debate about career totals amassed over the past 15-plus years, but by which pitcher can bring more to the table on this November night at Yankee Stadium.

Each faces some issues.

Pettitte will be pitching on three days' rest for the first time since 2006. The issue of a pitcher's rest between starts has been debated ad nauseam throughout this World Series, punctuated by CC Sabathia's success and A.J. Burnett's failure. Pettitte, though, is older than both of them, so it remains to be seen how his arm will react.

"I really don't think there's that big of a difference ... I guess you'd probably fatigue a little bit quicker than you normally would, just because your body gets so into a routine of pitching on every fifth day and then you're shortening your rest time a little bit," Pettitte said.

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World Series 2009

New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte responds to a reporter's question at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. Pettitte is scheduled to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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World Series

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez speaks to reporters at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. Martinez is scheduled to pitch against the New York Yankees on Wednesday in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, right, laughs as Freddy Guzman chases down a ball hit to him during a team workout at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. The Yankees are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of Major League Baseball's World Series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees special adviser Reggie Jackson, left, listens to first baseman Mark Teixeira by the batting cage during a team workout at Yankee Stadium Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Yankees are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of Major League Baseball's World Series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi speaks to the media during a news conference before his team worked out at Yankee Stadium, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. The Yankees are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of Major League Baseball's World Series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter throws long toss from behind the batting cage during a team workout at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. The Yankees are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of Major League Baseball's World Series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel listens to reporters' questions during a news conference at Yankee Stadium Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies will face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia stretches his legs during a team workout at Yankee Stadium Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Yankees are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of Major League Baseball's World Series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on November 3, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charlie Manuel

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Yankees manager Joe Girardi has said all postseason that the Yankees limited their pitchers' workload in September specifically so they could pitch them on short rest in the playoffs, if necessary. He hasn't really had much of a choice -- Chad Gaudin is the No. 4 starter -- about sticking to his big three. Girardi said he'll be watching Pettitte closely, but the signs that he may be losing it are no different, whether he's on three or four days' rest: lack of velocity, lack of command. Pettitte said he felt like he had nothing in his previous start, on six days' rest, and he still pitched well enough to win, so that's encouraging for the Yankees.

As for Martinez, he is pitching on five days' rest, but that's still short compared to what he has been doing. His previous three starts, including his final one of the regular season, were on at least 10 days of rest.

"I've got no choice but to expect that it will help me," Martinez said of the more typical rest time. "I feel really good. I feel like I had enough time to rest, plus the previous two outings with all those days, I guess this is just a makeup for all those days of rest I had."

Tale of the Tape
	Pedro	Pettitte
Regular season	219-100, 2.93	229-135, 3.91
Postseason	6-3, 3.22	17-10, 3.91
World Series titles	1	4
Cy Youngs	3	0
All-Star Games	2	8
Age	38	37

Martinez is also going to be asked to pitch against the same team in back-to-back starts for the first time all season. While that may not have been a big deal to him when he was 28 and firing 97 mph fastballs, now that he has to rely on trickery, it may be even more difficult to confuse a lineup of veteran hitters a second time in a week.

"It's such a good team, you just go out there and do the best you can, adjust to the moment as they develop and pray that you do an acceptable job and come out of it healthy," Martinez said. "That's all you can do."

Martinez used an array of slow, slower and slowest -- rarely hitting 90 mph -- to hold down the Yankees for six-plus innings in Game 2.

"I expect it to be more of what he did last time, mixing up pitches," said Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long. "Hopefully he doesn't bounce back as well. You feed off emotion, and a lot of guys it's hard to come back and be as good as they were the prior outing if they're maxed out. He was really into that last game, so hopefully it drained him a little bit."

Both pitchers will definitely need to rely on their wits and experience to wade through the opponents' powerful lineups in this game.

When it's over, we'll see which one was more "blessed," after all.

Older, Wiser, Better? Pedro vs. Pettitte originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yankees Need More Hits, Fewer Excuses From Teixeira, Cano

Ed Price — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- Hideki Matsui couldn't be a big part of the Yankees offense the past three World Series games because there was no DH for the games in Philadelphia.

As for Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira, what's their excuse?

Actually, Teixeira was glad to offer up an excuse.

"Unfortunately, during these playoffs, it's been tough to get into a rhythm," Teixeira (hitting .172 in the postseason) said Tuesday before the Yankees worked out. "When you're in a rhythm during the season, you're going to fail seven out of 10 times. When you're not in a rhythm, you're going to fail a lot more than that. And unfortunately for me, that's kind of been the case right now."

More Coverage: Playoff Pulse | Phillies Take Game 5 | Short Rest Issues?

Oh, so it's all those off days in the postseason schedule. Even though the Yankees played five of the past six days.

Funny, Derek Jeter, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley don't seem bothered.

"I'm not going to make any excuses, because everyone's got to deal with it," Teixeira went on, before returning to his excuse. "But it hasn't been easy. It definitely hasn't been easy.

"You have more time so you watch more tape, you take more batting practice. Maybe that works against you, I don't know. Maybe during the season when you're a little tired, when you just kind of just go out there and play the game because you've played 20 games in a row, your natural ability just takes over."

So, of course, Teixeira was the first one in the indoor batting cage Tuesday and, according to hitting coach Kevin Long, took even more swings than he has lately.

And then, there's that darn postseason schedule again.

"I don't make excuses, I'm not going to make excuses, because everyone has to deal with it," Teixeira said. "But being a switch-hitter, being a guy that kind of lives off hot streaks, lives off rhythm, it doesn't help.

"Over a 162-game schedule, the approach that I've had my entire career has always worked. When you play a game here, a day off, two games, day off, four days off -- sometimes that approach doesn't work."

Despite being 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position this postseason, Teixeira does have seven RBI, since four of his 10 hits have been for extra bases.

"I hope he comes up in a big situation," Long said. "The hits that he's got have been big ones.

"He's not down. He's not not himself. He's just got to keep plugging away. There's really no secret remedy."

The Yankees offense, by their standards, has been OK through five games, averaging five runs a game. And they lead the series 3-2. But there's no doubt the Yankees could use more production from Teixeira and Cano.

" 'Tex,' he's struggled a little bit," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's had some big hits, had a big hit [in Game 5, an eighth-inning double] that kind of got us going, got us back in the game. I felt good about him, and I felt Robby swung the bat pretty well last night, and I feel good about him."

Those two ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the AL in total bases for the regular season. But Cano is 3-for-18 with no walks and one RBI in the World Series while Teixeira is batting .105, with seven strikeouts on 19 at-bats.

"I'm not going to make any excuses, because everyone's got to deal with it. But it hasn't been easy. It definitely hasn't been easy."
-- Mark Teixeira "Maybe I'm expanding the [strike] zone a little bit -- I don't know," he said. "Maybe I'm trying to do too much."

Cano has definitely been chasing, and he admitted it.

"I feel I was a little off," he said. "I was trying to hit everything way out front, not waiting. I feel much better right now."

Cano did hit the ball hard a couple of times in Game 5, including a single to center.

"Last game was very good," Long said. "The two games prior to that, he got a little out of whack -- as everybody does."

After the rest of the team finished batting practice Tuesday, the always inventive Long set up a special drill for Cano, Nick Swisher and Freddy Guzman.

For 23 minutes, as Long flipped balls underhand from about 20 feet away, the hitters took their swings while a large screen was placed across home plate (running toward the mound), leaving about two-thirds of the plate for the swing.

That forced the hitters to keep their hands in toward their body through their swings so the bat wouldn't hit the screen.

"Something we've been doing with Robby all year when he kind of gets a little funky," Long said.

If Cano and Teixeira don't break out, perhaps Matsui will add a boost.

Despite being limited to one pinch-hit plate appearance in each of the three games in Philadelphia (going 2-for-3 with a solo homer), Matsui leads the team with 11 total bases for the Series. He is slugging 1.222 and the rest of the club has a .348 slugging percentage (the team had a .478 mark in the regular season).

"Getting Matsui back is always important to our lineup," Girardi said. "He's been a huge hitter in our lineup during the course of the year, a great RBI guy, big hits, home runs. So that's a very good thing."

Something else the Yankees could bring back: a killer instinct.

Twice this postseason, in Games 5 of the ALCS and World Series, they have had a chance to clinch and lost. And since the 2004 ALCS, the Yankees are 2-7 when they need a win to wrap up a series.

Contrast that to the 1996-2000 dynasty Yankees, who were 12-4 when needing one win to clinch. Of the 13 postseason series they played in those years, the Yankees closed out 10 as soon as they got within a win of clinching.

They have lost their last three possible World Series clinchers, inclduing Games 6-7 in 2001, after having won five straight such games.

"I think there is a killer instinct," Girardi said. "We were down 8-2 [in Game 5] and we were right back in the game. To me if you don't have a killer instinct you go home and lose the game 8-2. You don't take your at-bats seriously, you don't take the pitches seriously. So I think there is a killer instinct in that clubhouse.

"We lost a game. That's going to happen. We're playing a very good team."

Yankees Need More Hits, Fewer Excuses From Teixeira, Cano originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hamels Earns Manuel's Trust for Possible Game 7

Jeff Fletcher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:08:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- Cole Hamels may still have to fight a public perception that he's not ready to pitch a possible Game 7 of the World Series, but his manager apparently has no qualms about giving him the ball.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel isn't saying whether Hamels would pitch that game, but he said on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium that he is convinced that the flap over a Hamels comment following Game 3 was overblown or misunderstood.

"He came in and talked to me [Monday] night, and we sat in there for 10 or 15 minutes and we talked about some of the things that were said, and I felt very good about it, really," Manuel said. "I know Hamels. I've been a Hamels guy ever since I seen him pitch in Lakewood and when I first came to work here. I never, ever -- I want you to listen to this -- never ever questioned his mental toughness because he's just as tough as anybody on our team."

More Coverage: Playoff Pulse | Phillies Take Game 5 | Short Rest Issues?

Manuel isn't ready to say who would pitch Game 7, because the Phillies aren't there yet, but he didn't rule out Hamels.

"I'm not hesitant to pitch him no time, but we've got [Game 6] to play," Manuel said. "I'm not going to say who's going to pitch. Cole Hamels can pitch for me any time."

Manuel also said that the reported confrontation between Hamels and Brett Myers was misinterpreted.

"You say 'Manny being Manny, well that was 'Brett being Brett,' " Manuel said. "Brett likes to throw that jab at you, and sometimes it doesn't matter who's around. I think people when they hear that, sometimes they don't know how to take it. And I think that's what happened."

There was a report on Monday night that Hamels and Myers needed to be separated, but another reporter who witnessed the exchange said it was not heated. Myers on Tuesday apologized for the poor timing of his comment to Hamels.

The controversy began after Game 3, when Hamels said "I can't wait for the season to end. It's been mentally draining." Hamels explained after Game 5 that the comment was misinterpreted, and he still wanted to pitch, to redeem himself.

All of that said, there is still no guarantee that Hamels would get the ball in a potential Game 7, even though it would be his turn in the rotation.

Even if Hamels has the right attitude and mental toughness, his stuff still may be an issue. He has struggled with his curveball throughout the postseason. Often he's been able to get through the lineup once or twice, but then he hits a wall.

In Game 3 against the Yankees, Hamels didn't allow a hit through the first three innings, but then he gave up five runs without getting out of the fifth. He has a 7.58 ERA in four postseason starts this year, a performance that has come after a disappointing 10-11, 4.32 record in the regular season.

The general consensus, which includes Hamels, is that last year's heavy workload -- 262 innings, including MVP awards in the NLCS and World Series -- contributed to him doing too little work in the offseason. That caused him to start slowly, and created a cycle in which poor performance led to frustration, which led to more poor performances.

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World Series 2009

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley arrives at Penn Station after taking the train from Philadelphia with his team Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FR103966 AP

World Series

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard arrives at Penn Station after taking the train from Philadelphia with his team Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, left, walks through Penn Station after the Phillies took a train from Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee arrives at Penn Station after taking the train from Philadelphia with his team Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, left, arrives at Penn Station after taking the train from Philadelphia with his team Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies are scheduled to play the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz arrives at Penn Station after taking the train from Philadelphia with his team Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels arrives at Penn Station after taking the train from Philadelphia with his team Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in New York. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley hits a solo home run off New York Yankees relief pitcher Phil Coke as New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada looks on in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Hamels Earns Manuel's Trust for Possible Game 7 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Playoff Pulse: It's in the Manuel

Andrew Johnson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series, Playoff Pulse

Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.

Looking Forward ...

Much will be made in the lead-up to Game 6 of another Yankees starter -- Andy Pettitte -- going on three days' rest, assuming of course that that is officially announced Tuesday. Of course, there wasn't much of a choice for Joe Girardi.

The Phillies do have some interesting options as they head back to New York. Game 6 starter Pedro Martinez was the easy part, but you can't expect him to go all nine innings, so, especially if the Phillies have a lead, what happens then?

Ryan Madson apparently supplanted Brad Lidge in Game 5 after Lidge's meltdown in Game 4, but even though he closed out a win, Madson hardly inspired a ton of confidence, allowing three hits and an earned run.

And what happens if Philadelphia gets beyond that? Cliff Lee on two days' rest seems like the longest of shots. Cole Hamels -- the guy who is ready for the season to be over and has a 7.58 ERA in the playoffs -- hardly seems like the best option. Joe Blanton? J.A. Happ? That could be Charlie Manuel's toughest choice of all, one we're sure he'd gladly make.

In Their Own Words
"If I can steal signs, I will. I mean, if I can. That means we're definitely not. I mean, or if they do, I don't know nothing about it. Usually I do. No, we're definitely not stealing. We don't have their signs and we're not stealing their signs. But we are trying." -- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel clearing up (we think) the accusation that his club is stealing the Yankees' signs.
By the Numbers
2 Home runs allowed by Phil Coke in 2/3 of a inning of work in Game 5. Coke is the first pitcher in World Series history to allow that many homers in an appearance and not record at least three outs. *-- Ed Price*
More From FanHouse
Mariotti: Lee's Too Late Fletcher: Champs Swing Away Price: Yankees' Short Story

Looking Back ...

It looks like fans aren't the only ones who have noticed the numerous mound meetings between Yankee catchers and pitchers throughout the course of the postseason.

Major League Baseball is planning to discuss the near-constant mound meetings, which are unlimited as long as a coach or manager isn't involved, during the offseason. MLB has, at times, made a point of trying to speed up the game.

The Yankees naturally defended all the meetings, with Jorge Posada pointing out the gravity of every at-bat in the playoffs and pitching coach Dave Eiland pointing out MLB's hypocrisy on the matter.

"Don't take three minutes between innings," he said, referring to the extended commercial breaks that come with baseball in primetime on network television. "You know how many times a pitcher is standing on the mound waiting for an umpire's call to throw the first pitch?"

That's well taken, but Eiland went on to admit that the Yankees sometimes use mound conferences as a "momentum-breaker" and that while it might upset fans it's -- that old standby -- "part of the game."

Well, OK, the Yankees may care mostly about winning and being able to employ whatever methods they can to do so, but it's Major League Baseball's job to, in most facets, serve the fans. You'll be hard-pressed to find any who would miss all those strategy sessions/time-wasters.

Scout's Eye View ...

Chase Utley has, for the most part, been pitched away by the Yankees in this World Series. One has to wonder when that strategy will change as the Phillies' second baseman continues to tear apart Yankee pitching. Utley likes to crowd the plate and has the ability to lean out and hook any mistakes on the outer third of the plate. Unfortunately for the Yankees, he has not been missing even the slightest mistake.

While they have occassionally gone inside to keep him honest, New York is going to need to establish the fastball in there if they plan to slow him down. However, that will be a tough task for Andy Pettitte, a pitcher who usually lives on the outside part of the plate against left-handed hitters. To Utley's credit, the Yankees have made good pitches on him early in some counts but he just doesn't seem to be missing that one mistake. Right now, it's taking perfect pitches to put him away.

-- Frankie Piliere

Wednesday's Tale of the Tape ...

Phillies (Pedro Martinez) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte?), 7:57 PM ET: Martinez lost Game 2, but he was terrific in doing so, pitching backwards and using every ounce of guile he had to limit the powerful Yankees. Virtually every corner of Martinez's history against New York has been scoured, so what about this year's Pedro? This will be only the third time he's facing a team for the second time in 2009. In the previous two -- against the Braves and Mets -- he went 1-1 with a 2.46 ERA, so it doesn't appear he'll suffer from overexposure based on that limited sample. Pettitte will become the third straight Yankee starter to start on three days' rest. He's done it before, with success in the postseason (2.80 ERA) and hardly any at all in the regular season (4.70 ERA), but as FanHouse's Ed Price points out, the most important number of all is 29. That was the 37-year-old Pettitte's age the last time he started on short rest after throwing 100-plus pitches in his previous start.

Playoff Pulse: It's in the Manuel originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phillies Come Out Swinging to Stay Alive

Jeff Fletcher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:23:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, MLB Playoffs, World Series

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson didn't need any detailed analysis to get his players to understand what they needed to do differently against A.J. Burnett.

The game plan might as well have consisted of one word: "Swing."

"Be ready to hit the fastball," Thompson told FanHouse after the Phillies walloped Burnett for six quick runs en route to a season-saving 8-6 victory in Game 5 of the World Series. "We let him get first-pitch strikes on us last time and he got his confidence and started getting his curveball over. Tag the fastball. That's all."

FanHouse World Series Coverage: Mariotti | Price
Game 5: Phillies 8, Yankees 6 | Box Score | Series Home

Burnett, who held the Phillies to one run in seven innings in Game 2, continued to dump first-pitch fastballs into the strike zone, and one in particular ruined his chances of locking up the Yankees' 27th championship. Chase Utley belted the first pitch he saw into the right-field bleachers for a first-inning three-run homer, putting the Phillies up 3-1 and sending the message that this series was going back to New York.

For good measure, Utley added another homer in the seventh, his record-tying fifth of the World Series.

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World Series 2009

Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley runs the bases after hitting a home run against New York Yankees' Phil Coke during the seventh inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

World Series

Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley, right, talks with Cliff Lee during the eighth inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. Chan Ho Park relieved Lee in the inning. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez slides past Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz to score on an RBI sacrifice fly by Robinson Cano during the eighth inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Philadelphia Phillies' Raul Ibanez fails to catch a two-run RBI double to center field by New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez during the eighth inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. The Phillies won 8-6 and the Yankees lead the series 3-2. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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Philadelphia Phillies fans whoop it up in the outfield stands after the seventh inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: New York Yankees fans watch them play the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series at The Dive Bar in the Upper West Side on November 2, 2009 of New York City. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees 8-6 during Game 5 of the 2009 World Series at Citizens Bank Park, Monday, November 2, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (David Maialetti/Philadelphia Daily News/MCT)

MCT

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson reacts after striking out New York Yankees Mark Teixeira to end Game 5 of the 2009 World Series at Citizens Bank Park, Monday, November 2, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

MCT

"He's looks like one of the best players in baseball to me," Thompson said. "That's why he's an All-Star, a perennial All-Star."

Utley was no secret in major league circles. The guy had been an All-Star each of the past four years, and he has consistently hit 25 to 35 homers. He's a left-handed hitter with a stroke so short and quick that left-handed pitchers can't get him out any easier than righties - four of his homers in the series have been against lefties, three against CC Sabathia.

Utley was merely the brightest hitting star on a night that the Phillies offense finally showed up in all of its glory. Sure, they had scored a respectable, 16 runs in the first four games, but they were a quiet 16 runs. They had hit seven solo homers.

"It felt like we were up 3-1 in the series. The guys were upbeat, having fun. We just had a kind of looseness."
-- Ryan Madson Utley's three-run blast was the kind of crushing blow they had administered to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. The Phillies hit four three-run homers in their five-game victory to win the pennant.

The Phillies also worked Burnett for four walks, two of which led to runs. Essentially, they grinded him up the way they had done to so many pitchers all season. Throw a strike, they'll crush it. Throw a ball, they'll take a walk.

"I think we're very capable of playing that type of game, day in and day out," Jayson Werth said.

The Phillies' offensive breakthrough was a pretty clear indication that they weren't squeezing the bats too tightly or feeling the heat that a 3-1 series deficit ought to create. No, these guys are, perhaps in the mold of the infamous "idiots" on the 2004 Red Sox, not into overthinking their situation.

"It felt like we were up 3-1 in the series," reliever Ryan Madson said of the pregame environment. "The guys were upbeat, having fun. We just had a kind of looseness."

Manager Charlie Manuel had said before the game that he might talk to each of his players to deliver a message, but Ryan Howard said that never happened.

"I think he came in here and saw everyone messing around, so I guess he thought he didn't need to say anything," Howard said. "Everyone was relaxed and loose."

The result was a sea of runs. Although it got a little dicey at the end, when the Yankees started getting to Cliff Lee and Madson, they eventually locked up the victory and a trip back to New York. There, they will try to finish off one of the more improbable comebacks in World Series history. Of the 18 teams that fell behind 3-1 while playing the middle games at home, only three have come back to win the series, taking games 6 and 7 on the road: the 1958 Yankees, the 1968 Tigers and the 1979 Pirates.

For the Phillies to join that list, they'll need to keep doing what they did on Monday night.

"We're a very confident team, at home and on the road," Howard said. "The situation we're faced with now is we've got to go on the road and try to win on Wednesday."

Phillies Come Out Swinging to Stay Alive originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hamels Backtracks From Comments; Lee Ready to Help in Possible Game 7

Jeff Fletcher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:16:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, MLB Playoffs, World Series

PHILADELPHIA -- Now that the possibility of a Game 7 start is looming for Cole Hamels, he is backtracking madly from his eye-opening comments about being eager for the season to end, comments that reportedly sparked a clubhouse tussle with Brett Myers.

Although the Phillies still may opt to give someone else the ball for Game 7, assuming they even get there, Hamels said that his perceived mindset should not be a reason for him not to pitch.

"The way it came out was not the way I intended," Hamels told reporters after the Phillies' 8-6 victory in Game 5. "It hurt the way it came out. I was shocked. I didn't even know what I said. It's not what I was thinking."

The comment in question came following Hamels' disappointing Game 3 performance, yet another in a season that has failed to live up to the expectations he set last year.

"I can't wait for the season to end," he said Saturday. "It's been mentally draining."

In Hamels' defense, he also said in the same interview that he felt confident that he could turn it around and that he hoped his teammates and manager Charlie Manuel still had enough confidence in him to give him the ball on his normal turn, which would fall in Game 7.

Considering the options -- a slumping Hamels or J.A. Happ, who hasn't pitched much lately -- there is going to be a growing sentiment among Phillies fans for Manuel to give the ball to Cliff Lee, on two days' rest, in Game 7. Manuel had already said that Lee would be available for two or three innings of relief. Lee threw 112 pitches on Monday night.

After Monday's game, Lee said his normal between-starts bullpen would fall on the second day after his start, which in this case would be Wednesday, the day of Game 6. Presumably, he'll skip that and be available in whatever capacity he can pitch in Game 7 on Thursday.

Again, assuming the Phillies get there.

"I think I'll be fine," he said. "You're going to have to talk to Charlie. I don't know what his plans are. I'll be ready to pitch whenever they want me to."

Manuel said that maybe he'd hope for rain that would push the series back a day. Short of that, he wasn't ruling out anything. He said he and pitching coach Rich Dubee would definitely talk to Lee.

Hamels Backtracks From Comments; Lee Ready to Help in Possible Game 7 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World Series Game 5 Live Chat

Andrew Johnson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Live Blogging, MLB Playoffs, World Series

It's now or never for the Philadelphia Phillies, who, for the first time in the last two postseasons, face elimination in Game 5 of the World Series Monday night at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

The defending champs will have the raucous Philadelphia crowd on their side as well as ace Cliff Lee, who has been virtually unhittable so far in the playoffs, but they'll have to tangle with A.J. Burnett, who shut them down in Game 2, and the rest of a Yankees team that can smell its first title since 2000.

Join the MLB FanHouse crew after the jump for a LIVE chat throughout Game 5. The festivities start at 7:45 PM ET.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=ae853d4d21" >World Series Game 5 Live Chat</a>

World Series Game 5 Live Chat originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philly Paper Isn't Into Waiting Around For Actual World Series Results

Josh Alper — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Media Watch, World Series

Excited for the fifth game of the World Series on Monday night? Sorry to burst your bubble, but the cat is already out of the bag. The Phillies win. They win Game 6 on Wednesday night, too. And in an epic battle of baseball goodness that your grandchildren will tire of hearing you talk about, they win Game 7 and repeat as world champions.

I'm not making predictions here, people, this is all true. Why else would the Philadelphia Inquirer be running ads, via PhillyTalk.com, advertising a sale on T-shirts and other memorabilia celebrating the momentous occasion hours after Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez teamed up to beat Brad Lidge and give the Yankees a 3-1 lead in the World Series?

Oh, right. It's because someone in the advertising department drank way too much on Halloween and screwed up royally sometime on Sunday. Somewhere Harry Truman is smiling and beating Thomas Dewey all over again.

The Inquirer has apologized for the mistake and reminded their readers that Macy's, the store offering the fanciful attire, is "a great corporate citizen, supporter of this region and our sports teams." I bet they claim to be big supporters of Christmas, too, but we all know what happened when Santa Claus tried to get a job at the store.

It's easy to rip on the paper for dropping the ball on proofreading the ads during such a heated time in the city, but given the economic state of affairs for newspapers it's easy to understand why they wouldn't turn down an advertisement no matter how fraudulent the claims in it. They've gotten so much attention for this foul-up that it is easy to imagine the Washington Post running come-ons from local businesses offering specials celebrating the 2010 World Champion Nationals or several of the nation's newspapers running ads from the Franklin Mint for a limited edition set of plates commemorating Sidney Ponson's third Cy Young Award.

Philly Paper Isn't Into Waiting Around For Actual World Series Results originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Playoff Pulse: Coming Up Short

Andrew Johnson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series

Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.

Looking Forward ...

Not this again. The World Series hasn't gone past five games since 2003, and that streak could be extended for a sixth straight year if the Yankees take care of business Monday night in Philadelphia.

There's a good chance that it won't and the Yankees will return to New York for Game 6 instead of a parade. The reason for that, of course, is Cliff Lee. But if Lee's form slips, A.J. Burnett could very easily put away the defending champs.

And that would be baseball's loss.

For whatever reason -- league imbalance, dumb luck and so on -- the sport's signature event has lacked the drawn-out drama that can make a best-of-seven baseball series the greatest entertainment on the planet.

There's plenty that's troubling about the postseason as its currently set up -- the schedule jumps immediately to mind -- so here's hoping the 2009 World Series at least makes it to six games. If you're an impartial observer, you've got to be pulling for every last bit of baseball you can get before settling in for a long winter.

In Their Own Words
"I think we take a lot of pride on being resilient and the way we bounce back. I know that we're going to come out and play tomorrow to win. I know that. I've seen us go through it before. We've blown 22 games from the seventh inning on or something this year. That's got to tell you something about the resilience of our team." -- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.
By the Numbers
12 Combined blown saves this postseason by all teams after Joba Chamberlain allowed a game-tying home run to Pedro Feliz in the eighth inning of Game 4. The 12 blown saves is an all-time record. *-- Ed Price*
More From FanHouse
Graziano: A-Rod Clutch Again Fletcher: Lidge Crumbles Price: 'Idiot' Uses Smarts

Looking Back ...

Chase Utley didn't have all that great of a World Series last year (two home runs, yes, but he hit only .167), so it's nice to see him making a statement this time around, even if it doesn't end up lifting the Phillies to another title.

Utley is the game's most anonymous superstar, not even recognized by many casual fans as the best player on his own team (consider that teammates Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins have MVP awards, while he does not).

A few more people should know him now that he's homered three times in the first four games of this Fall Classic, with all three drives coming off of arguably the best left-hander in the game in CC Sabathia. Just for good measure, he's belted all three in two-strike counts.

Scout's Eye View ...

When a pitcher doesn't have his best stuff, more often than not the game will be struggle. And when a pitcher can't rely on his best secondary pitch, it frequently spells a short night on the mound. On Sunday night, CC Sabathia was, quite frankly, not close to his peak in terms of command. But few pitchers in baseball are as good without their A-game as the Yankee ace. He sets the bar so high that it's easy to say his Game 4 performance was less than impressive, but the reality is that his ability to hang in and get key outs is what allowed New York to pull out a victory.

Sabathia, in peak form, can cruise through a game simply by mixing his fastball and changeup. On Sunday night, he seemed to realize the typical feel for the changeup wasn't there and he was forced to throw more sliders. Although he was burned by Chase Utley on one, he threw some nasty sliders just about every time he needed a big out against a left-handed hitter. There were plenty of times in this game where Sabathia could have easily folded. This was a classic case of bend but don't break. Having a strong performance without your best stuff is what separates an ace from an ordinary pitcher.

-- Frankie Piliere

Monday's Tale of the Tape ...

Yankees (A.J. Burnett) at Phillies (Cliff Lee), 7:57 PM ET: Burnett was terrific in his last start, the Yankees' Game 2 win over the Phillies, but there are a couple of things to keep an eye on as New York tries to clinch its first title since 2000. First, Burnett is not the same pitcher away from Yankee Stadium; his ERA was more than a run higher on the road this season. Second, he's starting on three days' rest for the first time this postseason, and indeed the first time all year. He's been very good on short rest in the past, going 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four career starts. Everyone knows just how good Lee has been this postseason (for a reminder, two earned runs in 33 1/3 innings). Lee was terrific at Citizens Bank Park after his arrival from Cleveland in a deadline deal, going 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA down the stretch there.

Playoff Pulse: Coming Up Short originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLB FanHouse

Footprints in the Snow: Phillies

Pedro Martinez Plans to Pitch the Entire 2010 Season

Phillies Decline Pedro Feliz's Option

Brett Myers, Phillies to Part Ways

Options Aplenty: Lee, Webb Stay Put, Dye Bought Out by White Sox

Few Mysteries as Phils Abdicate Throne

World Series

Yankees Quit Playing Games, Start Playing Championship Baseball

World Series

Howard Sets Dubious Series Record

Yankees Capture 27th World Series Title

World Series

Celebrities at the World Series

World Series Game 6 Live Chat

Some Chin Music for Chase Utley?

Older, Wiser, Better? Pedro vs. Pettitte

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Yankees Need More Hits, Fewer Excuses From Teixeira, Cano

Hamels Earns Manuel's Trust for Possible Game 7

World Series

Playoff Pulse: It's in the Manuel

Phillies Come Out Swinging to Stay Alive

World Series

Hamels Backtracks From Comments; Lee Ready to Help in Possible Game 7

World Series Game 5 Live Chat

Philly Paper Isn't Into Waiting Around For Actual World Series Results

Playoff Pulse: Coming Up Short