Why the Yankees vs. Phillies Might Become the Greatest World Series Ever

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

We should have known.

Back in late May, during Memorial Day weekend, as people were lighting up the BBQ, cuing up the music, and opening up swimming pools, a series was being played in Yankee Stadium.

In a rare and intriguing interleague match up, the world champion Philadelphia Phillies paid a visit to the new Yankee Stadium to play the Bronx Bombers. At the time, both teams had identical records coming in; the Phillies were 23-17, and struggling to take off on the 2009 season.

In fact, the Mets were in first place at that time!

The Yankees were 24-18, far behind the Red Sox, who got out of the gate quickly in the American League East. Even though it was an early summer series, it was a great one.

The Phillies took two of three, as two of the games were decided by one run apiece. Both teams combined for 11 homers, and there were flares of dramatics from Alex Rodriguez's walk off homer in Game Two, and Carlos Ruiz's game winning double in Game Three to take the series.

Since that time, both teams came back with a vengeance in their respective divisions.

The Yankees won 103 games and blew away the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays in the East. The Bombers' ability to win games in their final at bat became a staple of team victories. Images of A.J. Burnett smacking people in the face with shaving cream became sweet visions dancing in the heads of the Yankee faithful.

The Phillies became a winning machine as the summer wore on.

They, too, found ways to come from behind in games, even after their shaky bullpen blew the game in the later innings.

Once the Phils developed a large lead over their closest challenger, the Florida Marlins, they picked up Cliff Lee from Cleveland, and the lefty quickly became staff ace No. 2, going 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts.

Since postseason time began, the Phils turned it up to a even higher level. They rolled over the Rockies and Dodgers with clutch hitting, and even big time pitching from its closer Brad Lidge, who did not have a good regular season.

Now, both the Yankees and Phillies are ready to meet again in the fall classic.

Sure, the World Series is home to many spectacular moments, but very rarely have we seen a match-up where there is clearly no favorite. The New York Yankees will make their return to the fall classic for the first time in six years when they square off against the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

In short, this figures to be one of the greatest World Series ever played! The New Jersey Turnpike Series. Congrats, Jersey, you are now a part of history.

Let's dissect this match-up and find out who will be crowned king.

FIRST BASE: Ryan Howard (PHI) vs. Mark Teixeria (NYY). EDGE: EVEN.

Here is a match-up to make fantasy baseball owners mouths water. Two of the best hitting first basemen the game has to offer in Teixeira and Howard will square off in this series.

Teixeria spearheaded the Yankees through the regular season with clutch hitting, superb defense, and strong clubhouse leadership. He had a fantastic regular season, blasting away 39 homers and driving in 122.

It has been Teixeria's superior defense that makes him so valuable to New York. In the ALCS, Teixeria made a handful of spetacular defensive plays to save the inning for the Yankee pitchers. His glove will be key in any Yankee victory.

As for Howard, he is a monster offensively. He hit 45 homers and drove in 141 runs to lead the Phillies offense. 2009 marked the third straight year of 45 plus homers and 135 plus RBI seasons for Howard, who is easily one of the best offensive first baseman in all of baseball.

SECOND BASE: Chase Utely (PHI) vs. Robinson Cano (NYY). EDGE: Phillies.

Chase Utley is one tough cookie. Defensively, Utley is a gold glove second baseman, having made three trips to the All Star game. However, it is Utley's bat that is most impressive.

Every year, the second baseman becomes more lethal with his sweeping left handed swing. This year alone, Utley hit 31 homers and 98 RBI; the RBI total a low for him, since he usually drills in over 100 in a season.

As for Cano, he earned the reputation as a knucklehead in 2008, with lackluster play in the field. 2009 has been a different story however.

Cano hit .320 with 25 homers and 85 RBI in the regular season, and he played in all but one game this year. He is hitting .229 in the playoffs but is still a dangerous bat to deal with in the Yankee order.

SHORT STOP: Jimmy Rollins (PHI) vs. Derek Jeter (NYY). EDGE: EVEN.

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