Yankees excited about trying to take Phillies' title
Photo credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara | The New York Yankees celebrate their ALCS victory over the Angels at Yankee Stadium. (October 25, 2009)
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It really is simple from the Yankees' perspective as the 105th World Series begins Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
"They have what we want," catcher Jorge Posada said.
"I think we're all excited about playing Philly because they are the world champs," first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "We have to take that title away from them. It's a great team over there. You have two really good teams going against each other. It's going to be a great battle and the fans are going to enjoy it, too, because they're so close to each other."
>> Read our complete World Series preview
The first World Series game in the Bronx since Oct. 25, 2003 - Game 6 against the Marlins - features a headliner of a pitching matchup, CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.57 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22).
Not only have they won the last two American League Cy Young Awards, but both started the 2008 season on the same staff in Cleveland. The Indians traded Sabathia to the Brewers in 2008 and Lee to the Phillies in 2009. In between, Lee and the Indians beat Sabathia, 10-2, in the Stadium opener April 16.
They are close friends, and both have pitched to their "ace" status this postseason. Sabathia, 29, is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA; Lee, 31, is 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA.
"That's what you come here for, to pitch and play in these big games," Sabathia said Tuesday.
Some World Series produce more buzz than others. This one isn't lacking in that, with two powerful teams - both about equally hated by Mets fans - and the cities' general contempt toward each other.
And then Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' garrulous shortstop, guaranteed a Philadelphia victory. "Of course we're gonna win," he said during an appearance on "The Jay Leno Show" on Monday. "If we're nice, we'll let it go six, but I'm thinking five, close it out at home."
Teixeira laughed when the quote was read back to him.
"I think it's great," Teixeira said, still smiling. "Jimmy's so funny. He's an entertainer. He loves having fun with the game and we'll let him do whatever he wants."
World Series often match teams of contrasting styles, but this isn't one of them.
The Yankees led all of baseball with a franchise-record 244 home runs; the Phillies led the National League with 224.
Both teams have solid pitching staffs. The Yankees ranked fourth in the AL with a 4.26 ERA and the Phillies ranked sixth in the NL at 4.16. The Yankees, however, have a clear advantage in the bullpen with closer Mariano Rivera.
"On paper, we have similar teams," Nick Swisher said. "A team that hits a lot of home runs, a team that has great pitching, got some guys that can steal bags when needed. So it's going to be a great series. It's going to be a lot of fun. Two great teams going at it."
"Obviously, they're the defending champs and they are well respected in our clubhouse," Posada said. "They have a great team, we understand what kind of players they are and you try to do everything possible to beat them."
>>INTERACTIVE: Yankees vs. Phillies scouting report
>> COMPLETE COVERAGE: Yankees go for 27th World Series title
>> PHOTOS: Reasons to fear the Phillies | Yankees celebrate 40th AL pennant | ALCS highlights
>> BLOGS: Yankees postseason | Ken Davidoff's MLB Insider
>> FUN: SimSeries | Yankee pie chart (walkoff wins) | Tale of Two Cities: NY vs. Philly | Core Four: Who's the best?
>> MORE: World Series pitching capsules | VOTE: Who wins?
