World Series Preview

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The World Series mercifully begins tonight and what better way to prepare than to inundate sports fans with predictions? What kind of sports writer would I be if I didn’t throw my hat into the prediction ring?

Exactly.

So let’s go ahead and compare the Yankees and Phillies position by position to find out who the better team is and, thus, who will win the World Series.

First Base: Mark Teixeira vs. Ryan Howard

It most cases it would be nearly impossible to pick against a switch-hitting first baseman who tied for the American League lead in home runs. However, when his competition is a guy who hit 47 home runs, has dominated throughout the playoffs, and doesn’t look like Whitney Port from The City, I have to pick against Teixeira.

Plus Teixeira has been an awful hitter this postseason.

Advantage: Phillies

Second Base: Robinson Cano vs. Chase Utley

This matchup is much closer than most people would guess. Phillies fans will likely overrate Utley and underrate Cano, while Yankees fans will overrate Cano and underrate Utley. And, just for good measure, everyone else will underrate both.

What we have this World Series, however, are the two best second basemen in baseball going head-to-head.

Their stats are very similar, and the fact that Cano hits seventh in the Yankees lineup proves how unbelievably deep their team is. Utley, though, has a better career track record and is the superior fielder to Cano.

Apparently taking Myoplex really does give Utley that extra boost as he edges out Cano.

Advantage: Phillies

Shortstop: Derek Jeter vs. Jimmy Rollins

I hate defensive statistics. Let me just say that right now. I don’t believe in them. I consider myself a baseball stats nerd to a certain degree, but I draw the line at range factor and all that garbage. You know how you can tell how good someone is at defense?

By watching him play.

Derek Jeter is the smartest shortstop in baseball. Period. Nobody knows how to play shortstop better than Derek Jeter. So, please, sabrematricians pass on Jeter for your team because of defensive stats. I will gladly take him on mine. And you know what? My team will win.

Advantage: Yankees

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez vs. Pedro Feliz

Ugh.

Advantage: Yankees

Catcher: Jorge Posada vs. Carlos Ruiz

Yes, Phillies fans, I’m sure Carlos Ruiz calls an immaculate game. I bet he calls the best damn game this side of Crash Davis. But he’s a career .246 hitter with little power. Ruiz does have a higher-than-expected career OBP, but he’s no Jorge Posada. He just isn’t. Sorry.

Advantage: Yankees

Left Field: Johnny Damon vs. Raul Ibanez

Remember how Raul Ibanez was leading the league in home runs for a while? Remember how he had 22 before the all star break? Remember that? Turns out he, um, fell off the map a little bit since then.

Ibanez ended with a solid season though, one pretty much right on par with his career average, so you can’t really complain.

Johnny Damon, on the flip side, had arguably his best year as a Yankee, and it was still about equal to Ibanez.

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