[CNOTES]

World Series Betting Preview

Most any year, the New York Yankees being in the Fall Classic automatically makes it special. Whether you love them or hate, the team in the pinstripes is an attention-getter as 26-time World Series champions. Because of their success, New York fans believe they should be in the World Series every year, however as long-time Yankees Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada would explain, wearing the uniform doesn't guarantee you make it this far, let alone win as they have failed to do in last two trips.



New York is favored to win another title, which doesn't mean anything to the defending World Series champion Phillies, who are attempting to be first repeat champions since the 1999-2000 Yankees. Some teams are intimidated by the Yankees uniforms; don't expect it to be Philadelphia, who has proven to be a deserving champion.



Pitching counts in the postseason and so does power. New York was the top home run hitting team in the big leagues with 244 and Philadelphia was the best in the National League at 224. Both teams play in homer-friendly parks, which were the top two in home runs allowed. The last time the two top hitting home run teams collided was 1926.



For those that prefer top quality pitching, it hardly gets better than Game 1 of the series. C.C. Sabathia is 12-1 since August (Yankees 14-1 in his starts) and has sick 1.19 ERA in three postseason starts. Sabathia will face someone who dressed in the same locker room as him just 16 months ago in Cliff Lee. The other former Cleveland Indian is 12-4 since July 16, and has an even lower ERA in his three postseason starts at 0.74. Both teams better start swinging from the start, as each pitcher has 20 strikeouts and three walks in the playoffs. This will be just the sixth time in World Series history, two former Cy Young winners faceoff.



For history buffs this from Jayson Stark of ESPN. Philadelphia is attempting to be just the third National League team in the last century to win back-to-back World Series, both previous teams to do so defeated the Yankees. It should also be reported five others tried and failed. These teams last met in the World Series 59 years ago. This is the third time since MLB went to division play that the defending champs faced the team with the best record in baseball, both times the champions went on to win again.



Nuts and Bolts- Philadelphia has been the best team in baseball on the road virtually all season with its 51-34 record. The Phils are 3-1 in the postseason in traveling uniforms. On June 22, the Phillies had a 10-22 record at Citizens Bank Park. Since that time, they are a torrid 39-15. Philadelphia is 31-16 against left-hand starters and 73-48 in games decided by two or more runs. New York quickly adapted to new surroundings in the Bronx and has 62-24 home record, winning by impressive 1.3 runs per game, the second best in MLB. The pitching hasn't mattered; the Yankees are 70-43 against RH pitchers and 40-18 versus lefties. The Yanks are 99-48 as favorites and even better than Philly in games decided by two or more runs with 86-43 record.





StatFox Take: For the second year in a row, Philadelphia is an underdog in the World Series. The Phillies beat New York two of three this season and are not going to fear the Yankees. New York has the better starting pitching which has carried them for the most part in the playoffs. Beyond Mariano Rivera, the bullpen has been unnerving and Joe Girardi has been widely criticized for over-managing.





Philadelphia will piece together starting pitchers and really needs Cole Hamels to return to last year's postseason form immediately. The Phillies bullpen has caused a few anxious moments in the playoffs, yet has escaped unscathed. For the Phillies to win they need to win both of Lee's starts and Hamels has to pitch effectively.





The Yankees scouts have done uncanny work in having New York players in just the right spots on the field. In the series win over the Angels, lost track after 10 line drives outs, with Yankees players always perfectly positioned. If the opposing team has made a base-running blunder, New York has been able to steal an out each time. There is no lineup that has 27 harder outs in baseball.





All the talk in baseball is always about pitching this time of year, but the opposite is also true, as batters go into slumps. In this series, look for the team that continues to hit, especially for extra-base power. The Yankees should win in six, but the value of a team being defending champions, an underdog role to create even greater focus and being able to win on the road is too much value to pass up. Philadelphia in a classic series.



Series odds from Sportsbook.com: Philadelphia +165, New York -195




Wednesday October 28
Philadelphia (Lee) at New York (Sabathia) 7:57 EDT



Thursday October 29
Philadelphia (Martinez) at New York (Burnett) 7:57 EDT



Saturday October 31
New York (Pettitte) at Philadelphia (Hamels) 7:57 EDT



Sunday November 1
New York (TBD) at Philadelphia (TBD) 8:20 EDT



Monday November 2
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia if necessary



Wednesday November 4
Philadelphia at New York if necessary



Thursday November 5
Philadelphia at New York if necessary

[CNOTES]

MLB
Dunkel Index


Philadelphia at NY Yankees
The Yankees open the World Series looking to build on their 10-1 record in C.C. Sabathia's last 11 home starts. New York is the pick (-160) according to Dunkel, which has the Yankees favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-160). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

Game 951-952: Philadelphia at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Lee) 16.779; NY Yankees (Sabathia) 17.316
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-160); 8
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-160); Over

[CNOTES]

MLB
Long Sheet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, October 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHILADELPHIA (100 - 71) at NY YANKEES (110 - 61) - 7:55 PM
CLIFF LEE (L) vs. C.C. SABATHIA (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 14-24 (-13.5 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 110-61 (+16.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 62-24 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
NY YANKEES are 37-14 (+18.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 62-24 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season.
NY YANKEES are 74-37 (+22.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY YANKEES are 61-34 (+14.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY YANKEES are 38-18 (+13.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 100-71 (+5.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 51-34 (+12.9 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 48-31 (+12.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 72-52 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 31-16 (+10.9 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 18-5 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in playoff games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 32-21 (+8.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a win this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 50-37 (+5.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 63-38 (+16.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LEE is 27-11 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LEE is 60-41 (+21.1 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-1 (+2.1 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.0 Units)

CLIFF LEE vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
LEE is 4-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 5.02 and a WHIP of 1.538.
His team's record is 4-5 (+0.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-5. (-1.1 units)

C.C. SABATHIA vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
SABATHIA is 1-2 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 5.55 and a WHIP of 1.479.
His team's record is 1-3 (-3.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-1. (+1.9 units)

[CNOTES]

MLB
Short Sheet


Wednesday, October 28th

World Series
Best of Seven
Game One
Series Tied 0-0
TV: FOX

Philadelphia at NY Yankees, 7:55 ET
Cliff Lee (L) vs. CC Sabathia (L)

Lee:
PHI 14-24 vs. American League
PHI 20-9 Under after scoring 9+ runs

Sabathia:
16-6 Under at home off team win
NYY 69-25 as a favorite of -150 or more

[CNOTES]

MLB


Wednesday, October 28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:55 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. NY YANKEES
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of NY Yankees's last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

[CNOTES]

MLB


Wednesday, October 28

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Fall Classic: World Series preview and pick
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What happens when two unstoppable forces collide? We're about to find out.

Both the Phillies and Yankees steamrolled their way into the World Series and tore the cover off the rawhide in the process. Each team is 7-2 in the postseason, with Philly scoring 55 runs and New York putting up 48.

We break down what should be a high-scoring Fall Classic.

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees

Series Price: Yankees -190

Pitching: Stud lefties headline each team's starting rotation. New York's CC Sabathia entered the playoffs with a career 2-3 record and a 7.92 earned run average, but he's gone 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts this year. Philly's Cliff Lee has shaken off a late-season slump to go 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA in three postseason appearances.

New York follows up Sabathia with hard-throwing A.J. Burnett and experienced southpaw Andy Pettitte. The Yankees rotation thins quickly after that. Joba Chamberlain and Chad Gaudin possible candidate if manager Joe Girardi decides to use a fourth starter.

After Lee, the Phillies have Cole Hamels, Pedro Martinez and Joe Blanton. Hamels was the NLCS and World Series MVP last year, but he's struggled this year and is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in the playoffs.

New York's bullpen has been excellent throughout the playoffs, leading all teams in ERA. The Phillies relievers - seen as the team's weakness entering the postseason - have also stepped up their game, particularly much-maligned closer Brad Lidge.

Edge: Yankees

Hitting: Both teams have relied heavily on the home run all year, and that hasn't changed in the playoffs. New York clubbed a franchise-record 244 bombs to lead the Majors during the regular season, while the Phillies tied the Rangers for the second-most jacks (224). Each team cranked 14 long balls in the first two rounds.

The teams' respective sluggers are white hot right now. New York's Alex Rodriguez is making fans forget his past playoff failures, batting .438 with five homers and 12 RBIs. Philly's Ryan Howard has dominated as well, pounding out seven extra-base hits and driving in 14 runs in nine games.

A-Rod's production has helped the Yankees overcome subpar postseasons from Mark Teixeira (.205, one HR), Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon.

On top of Howard's contributions, the Phillies have also received plenty of power from Jayson Werth (five homers, 10 RBIs). Shane Victorino (.346 average) and Carlos Ruiz (.361) have also chipped in, and underachieving Jimmy Rollins came up big with a two-out double to give the Phils a key walkoff win over the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Edge: Yankees

Intangibles: New York, owner of the best home record in baseball this season, has home-field advantage in the series. The Phillies don't mind playing on the road, however, posting the most road victories in the Majors this year.

Both clubs have shown an ability to overcome ninth-inning deficits. Joe Nathan and Brian Fuentes blew saves against New York in the past two rounds, while Philadelphia generated comebacks against Huston Street and Jonathan Broxton.

The Phillies are the defending World Series champions, playing loose and with loads of confidence. The Yankees are also full of confidence, but are burdened by the fact they haven't won the World Series since 2000 despite leading the Majors in payroll year after year.

Philly took two of three interleague games at Yankee Stadium in May.

Edge: Phillies

Series pick: Yankees in six games.

[CNOTES]

MLB


Wednesday, October 28

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MLB Notes: Interest is Cy high for Game 1 matchup
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CC vs. Lee will be sixth time Cy Young winners meet

Mike Flanagan and Steve Carlton did it first in 1983, representing the Orioles and Phillies, respectively.

The Braves' Greg Maddux and the Indians' Orel Hershiser did it twice in '95, and a year later, David Cone of the Yankees and Tom Glavine of the Braves pulled it off.

Three years later, Roger Clemens and John Smoltz followed suit, again for the Yankees and Braves.

CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee will join the extremely exclusive club on Wednesday at 7:57 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium -- and form a new club at the same time.

Cy Young Award pedigrees in hand, Sabathia and Lee will square off in Game 1 of the World Series, marking the sixth time in history that former Cy Young winners have squared off.

"I think that's a pretty good matchup," understated typically understated Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

There's no understating the rarity of such a matchup, though. Aside from the aforementioned examples and what will go down in Game 1, only a handful of World Series games have even come close to featuring a pair of previous Cy Young winners.

For instance, Dwight Gooden had won the National League Cy Young for the Mets the previous year when he took on Clemens -- then with the Red Sox -- in Game 2 of the 1986 World Series, but Clemens was still a few weeks away from claiming his first Cy Young.

And were the Cy Young Awards doled out before the Fall Classic instead of after it, 1968 would have been the ultimate example.

There were no better pitchers in the game that year than Denny McLain of the Tigers and Bob Gibson of the Cardinals, who locked horns in Games 1 and 4. They were officially named the NL and American League Cy Young Award winners in the aftermath.

The Gibson-McClain clashes in the "Year of the Pitcher" were the first of two successive such matchups. In 1969, the Mets' Tom Seaver and the Orioles' Mike Cuellar faced off in the Fall Classic and later earned the hardware for their respective leagues.

And the Gooden-Clemens pairing in '86 was the latest of three instances of a former Cy Young Award winner dueling a hurler who would be so honored following that year's World Series. It happened twice in the era before 1967 when one Cy Young Award was doled out for both leagues. In 1963, Whitey Ford (who won in '61) faced '63 winner Sandy Koufax in Games 1 and 4 of the Dodgers' sweep over the Yankees. In 1960, the Yankees' Bob Turley (who won in '58) started Game 7 against '60 winner Vern Law of the Pirates, but neither pitcher received a decision when Bill Mazeroski ended the Series with his famous home run.

This kind of thing simply doesn't happen much. Walk-off homers are more common in the World Series, and that's pretty much all you need to know.

This particular matchup, though, has an extra dose of intrigue to it.

Sabathia, of course, will be donning the iconic pinstripes of the Yankees, who are looking for their 27th world championship. Lee is the ace of the Phillies, who are looking to become the game's first back-to-back champs since the Bronx Bombers won three in a row from 1998-2000.

And like those 1968 battles between McLain and Gibson, this year's matchup pits two pitchers at the absolute top of their games.

Sabathia, a top candidate for this year's AL Cy Young after a stellar first season in New York, was named the AL Championship Series MVP on Sunday and is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three postseason starts this year.

Lee, last year's AL Cy Young Award winner, is 2-0 with an 0.74 ERA in three starts this October.

"CC loves to pitch and he's very competitive, and Lee has the same kind of makeup, too," Manuel said. "So it has a chance of being a good game."

It has a chance of being three good games, actually. Neither manager is tipping his hand, but if the Series goes the distance, it's feasible that Sabathia and Lee could square off in Games 4 and 7, too.

Should that happen, it'll bring into even sharper focus the relationship between the two mound masters, and that relationship is what makes this matchup particularly tasty.

Sabathia and Lee were teammates with the Indians from 2002-08.

"We have two Cleveland Cy Young Award winners going against each other," mused Manuel, who managed the Indians from 2000 to mid-2002

Less than a year after picking up his first Cy, Sabathia was traded by the Tribe to the Brewers last summer and parlayed his success with Milwaukee into free-agent riches with the Yankees.

Lee was traded to the Phillies this summer, prompting a fan to unfurl a banner during the NLCS thanking the Indians for the help.

The man who engineered both trades, Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro, has mixed feeling about seeing his former formidable one-two punch shining so bright this fall.

"It's bittersweet," Shapiro said Monday. "You don't work in this game without building a personal attachment to guys. So I look out there and see those two guys, and, as people, I'm excited for them. I'm excited for them to show their talent on that stage, I'm excited for them to get that type of exposure.

"And yet I'm bitter that they're not doing it in the Indians uniform."

Sabathia said he still texts with Lee frequently, and he beamed at the possibility of getting to hit off Lee when the series moves to Philadelphia.

The two faced each other on April 16, in the first regular-season game at New York's $1.5 billion behemoth of a baseball cathedral. Lee got the win, Sabathia a no-decision.

"That was a pretty big game, too," Sabathia said.

[CNOTES]

MLB


Wednesday, October 28

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Phillies-Yankees World Series breakdown
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plenty of power expected in Fall Classic matchup

Got the earmuffs ready? No, not to guard against the potential chill of the 2009 World Series -- but to muffle the offensive thunder it will generate.

The line has been drawn in the sand and, in long-ball lingo, both the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees are over it. The most power-packed World Series ever is about to take flight, one which could produce all sorts of hitting records.

At least, that's the universal speculation. You might have even read about it in astronomy journals. The Big Bang Theory?

The Yankees (244) and Phillies (224) combined for more regular-season home runs than any World Series opponents in history. In fact, only two prior Classics featured pairs of 200-homer teams, 2001 between the Yankees and the D-backs and 2004 between the Red Sox and the Cardinals.

Between them, the Phillies and Yankees have six players who hit 30-plus homers and six others who topped 20. And note this: The only player in either lineup to not homer in double-figures is Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz, who stopped at nine during the regular season, but has stood up as one of his team's most dangerous October hitters.

With such nitro at the trigger, it is natural to wonder about mitigating factors. Sorry, enemies of crooked numbers, there are none.

Yankee Stadium hosted the Majors' most home runs this season, 161. Citizens Bank Park was runner-up, with 149.

Phillies pitchers were taken deep 189 times, the third-highest yield in the big leagues. Yankees pitchers gave up 181 homers, 10th most among the 30 Major League staffs.

The wonderful offshoot of such matching might, of course, is the potential of some minor nuance, a subtle ingredient, spelling the difference.

It could be Jimmy Rollins' loose uniform top, brushed by a pitch for a painless hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. Or Brett Gardner's speed, barreling into Chase Utley on the pivot, causing a wild relay. Maybe even omnipresent Derek Jeter again being where he has no business being, making a game-saving defensive play.

Who knows? No one knows anything. But everyone knows one thing: It will be pulsating. When they call it The Show, this is what they mean. Soon after they raise the curtains, the Phillies and the Yankees will raise the roof.

Actually, there is a second thing everyone knows: It will end in disappointment for someone.

As Colorado manager Jim Tracy noted after the Rockies' National League Division Series loss to Philadelphia, citing the postseason's cruel creed, "At some point in time it will always be painful unless you play the last game of the year and win."

AT THE PLATE

Phillies: Finally, someone who can go toe-to-toe with the Yankees, and with A-Rod. The Phillies ranked second in the Majors in homers. But, while Ryan Howard is matching Alex Rodriguez's other-worldly pace, their lineup has shown slightly more offensive versatility in the postseason, relying less on the long ball. And Jayson Werth has teamed with Howard for October's best one-two punch (seven homers, 24 RBIs).

Yankees: Twenty-seven outs of torture. They got whole in the final two American League Championship Series games, after having ridden Rodriguez's and Jeter's shoulders through their first seven postseason games. Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon awoke to drive in seven of their last 11 runs after having totaled the same seven up to that point. They'll lose a big bat in Hideki Matsui's in the middle three games in Citizens Bank Park, but shouldn't miss it.

KEY LATE-GAME MATCHUP

Phillies' J.A. Happ vs. Yankees' Teixeira: If the ankle Scott Eyre turned in Game 4 of the NLDS continues to trouble him (he was nearly invisible against the Dodgers), Happ would inherit matchup lefty duties. At some point, that will mean being brought in to face Damon and sticking around to turn the switch-hitting Teixeira to his "weaker" right side. In Happ's May 23 Interleague start against the Yankees, Teixeira went 2-for-3 off him, both hits singles.

Yankees' Mariano Rivera vs. Phillies' Howard: The NLCS MVP's postseason mantra has been "Get me to the plate, boys," and if the batters in front of him comply in a ninth-inning situation, Howard and The Cutter will meet. They hardly know each other, with Rivera having gotten the best of Howard all four times they've faced each other, including in the bottom of the ninth of the 2006 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, when Mo elicited an infield grounder with the tying run on base. Most recently, in May, Howard managed a 10-foot dribbler in front of the plate. Next time, a World Series could hang in the balance.

SECRET WEAPON

Phillies: Can Ruiz possibly still be a secret after his MVP-worthy Championship Series? Not in the strictest definition, but he still remains lying in ambush compared to the higher-profile men around him who must command more attention. Ruiz is also the secret component that turned the Phillies' uncertain pitching staff so stout against the Dodgers; he nurses pitchers along like a devoted nanny. And while the Dodgers gave him few opportunities to fire his arm -- running only five times, twice unsuccessfully -- it remains locked and loaded.

Yankees: Superscout Gene Michaels and his cadre of advance snoops who bird-dogged the Phillies. If their work on the Angels was any indication, the Yankees again will appear to be playing with a sixth sense. Their defensive alignment in the ALCS was uncanny, repeatedly positioned perfectly for the hardest-hit liners. As for the scouts' book for pitchers -- they draped a collective 7-for-48 ALCS collar around the Angels' two main pistons, Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu.

ACHILLES' HEEL

Phillies: They showed no limp whatsoever in the NLCS but, in a relative sense, their biggest concern has to be Cole Hamels. The Phils won both of his starts against the Dodgers, but only by scoring 18 runs in them. Last October's King Cole lasted a total of 9 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs and 13 hits. Most alarmingly, left-handers went 5-for-9 with three homers off the southpaw. Damon, Cano and Matsui are salivating so much, they need bibs.

Yankees: Joe Girardi got away without using struggling setup man Phil Hughes in the ALCS clincher by having Rivera notch his first six-out postseason save since 2004. But that won't work for a long run, and Hughes needs to get back on track after getting hit at a .391 pace in his first six postseason outings. Joba Chamberlain could step in as the eighth-inning guy, but you'd prefer not juggling significant roles at this late stage.

AND THE WINNER IS ...

The Phillies will win if ... Hamels remembers who he is (the young lefty who went 4-0 in the last postseason) and Pedro Martinez forgets who he is (a 38-year-old who has been back in semi-retirement for six weeks, pitching a total of 14 innings since Sept. 13). The Phillies won't survive in a battle of bullpens. They need solid starts from someone other than Cliff Lee.

The Yankees will win if ... They keep checking the start times and just show up for all the games on time. Seriously, this is a loaded team engineered to win. Lest the Phillies muscle up on and chase the starting pitcher early, everything is neatly and oppressively laid out for Girardi. The lineup is without a weak link. They all step into the batter's box and regard the opposing pitcher with that "You're mine" leer.

[CNOTES]

MLB


Wednesday, October 28

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Yankees stand in Phillies' path to history
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New York expects 'a battle' as Philadelphia seeks repeat

George Steinbrenner is Bronx-bound. So are the Philadelphia Phillies, for Wednesday night's start of the 105th World Series.

In 1950, they were the Whiz Kids. Fifty-nine years later, the Phillies return to take on the Yankees in another World Series as the Gee-Whiz Men, bent on squaring the historical ledger by defending their title.

All season, Dodgers billboards declared "This Is Our Town." As it turned out, neither they nor the Angels had the deed. The Phillies and the Yankees owned Los Angeles -- although the latter had a bit tougher time proving it in the probate court of the American League Championship Series -- and now they lock bumpers in the Turnpike Series.

"It's going to be a battle, a fight," promised CC Sabathia, the ALCS MVP and New York's Game 1 starter against fellow left-hander -- and former Cleveland mound-mate -- Cliff Lee.

The 127-year-old Phillies are in their seventh World Series, seeking their third title and second straight to become only the third National League team to repeat, the first since the 1975-76 Reds.

"What we did last year, that was something special," said Philadelphia's NLCS MVP, Ryan Howard. "But to get back to this point, to have the opportunity to do it two years in a row, that's even more special."

The Phillies, in fact, are the first defending NL champs to even make it back to the Classic in years, since the 1996 Braves, who lost to the Yankees one October after beating Cleveland.

Two in a row is "the only way you can really be remembered for being great," in Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins' estimation.

The 109-year-old Yankees are in their 40th World Series, seeking their 27th title and first since 2000.

It may be old hat to the American League's premier franchise, but not to its premier player, Alex Rodriguez, who after 16 seasons, 2,166 games and 583 home runs will finally make his first World Series appearance.

"I've dreamt about this since I was a child," A-Rod said after his eighth postseason team finally reached the summit. "To win it, you have to get there first, and I couldn't be happier."

In baseball's classless society, the two teams are equals. Maybe in everything but idle time. By making quick work of the Dodgers, the Phillies had a week to kill between games. Pushed to six games by the Angels, the Yankees have only a two-day break.

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Short rest vs. long rest in the World Series
For the eighth time in history, the World Series will feature teams whose pre-Game 1 layoffs will have differed by three-plus days, as a result of the length of their LCS. The team on short rest has won four of the previous seven such Classics. 2008: Phillies (6 days between games) over Rays (2)
2007: Red Sox (2) over Rockies (8)
2006: Cardinals (2) over Tigers (6)
1995: Braves (6) over Indians (3)
1991: Twins (5) over Braves (1)
1988: Dodgers (2) over A's (5)
1981: Dodgers (0) over Yankees (4)
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Significant? History's answer is no. The Phils had a similar wait problem last year, after also ousting the Dodgers in five while Tampa Bay went seven games with Boston, and defeated the Rays. And in the 2007 World Series, the Red Sox, after only two off-days, swept the Rockies, who had an eight-day rest. All told, four of seven Series between teams with a rest differential of three-plus days have been won by teams on short rest.

This Fall Classic reunion generations in the making certainly arrives through a time warp.

In 1950, the Yankees were the defending World Series champs -- and swept out the Phils for the second of their still-record five straight titles.

Then, the 59 years between meetings is the longest wait for a Classic rematch (and will remain so, until the Red Sox and the Pirates, opponents in the very first modern World Series in 1903, get around to meeting again).

As a final historical note, those 1950 Phillies were defined by pioneer closer Jim Konstanty -- the bespectacled reliever whose 22 saves at the time were the second-most in history -- pretty much the way unflappable Mariano Rivera comes closest to defining this era's Yankees.

So much for history. Because there is so much to these teams' presents and presence, two heavy-handed, strong-armed, ice-blooded teams who could pass in front of a window and mistake it for a mirror.

To former Yankees manager and latest Phillies victim Joe Torre, the chief parallel between them is that look in their eyes.

"As far as the similarities between the Philly club and the Yankees, there's a lot of fearlessness," Torre said.

They've punched out entire divisions and two playoff foes to step into the diamond ring against each other. If the World Series had a promoter, it would have to be Don King, bringing us The Thrilla in Philadelphia.

Of course, the teams haven't really waited 59 years to meet again, only five months, since the Phillies took two games of a three-game Interleague series in Yankee Stadium on May 22-24.

That precedent gives little insight into what will ensue. While in those games the Yankees did start their World Series rotation -- A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte (who started their lone win) and CC Sabathia -- the Phillies were "sandbagging."

Cole Hamels did start, and got the best of Sabathia, but the other two games were started by a pitcher who may continue his inactive postseason (Brett Myers) and another likely to be in the bullpen (J.A. Happ).

On the other hand, the dozen homers smashed in those games by the teams could be a harbinger of the mashing to come.

The Phillies and the Yankees, designated "natural geographic rivals" at the outset of Interleague Play, met each season between 1997-2001. Overall, the Yankees lead, 11 games to 10.

Due to the vagaries of Interleague scheduling, this will be the fifth World Series rematch between regular-season opponents, and three of the first four yielded reverse outcomes. Only the 2000 Yankees prevailed over the Mets, after having taken four of six summer Subway Series games from them.

In 2007, the Red Sox swept the Rockies after having gone 1-2 against them, in 2006 the Cardinals won in five over a Detroit team that had swept them in a three-game series, and in 1999 the Yankees swept Atlanta after the Braves had taken two out of three in July.

Hamels, who in fact may not get to do so unless the Series returns to the Bronx for Games 6 and 7, said, "I think everybody has dreamed of playing in Yankee Stadium in the World Series."

And in the intoxicating first few minutes after the Phillies had earned their return to the World Series, one of their fans said, "I want to play the Yankees. A win over the Yankees would validate how good a team this is."

Dream realized. Wish granted. Validation or repudiation? The stage is set.

[CNOTES]

Wednesday, October 28Game Score Status Pick Amount

Philadelphia - 7:55 PM ET Philadelphia +163 500
NY Yankees - Over 7.5 500