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First and foremost, let me state for the record that I am neither a Phillies nor a Yankees fan. My team (the Giants) watched the World Series the same way I did – from my couch with one eye on the tube and the other on my laptop trying to improve my fantasy football roster. (What, you don’t think Pablo Sandoval cares about his fantasy team, too?)

After the Yankees won last night, I did an all-Bronx Bombers post and barely mentioned the Phillies. I talked about how New York found the pitching it needed to get over the hump and how homegrown players like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada once again stepped up in the clutch. If you’re a Yankee fan, do yourself a favor and stop reading this post immediately and skip right to the one I wrote last night.

If you’re a Phillies fan or a Yankee-hater: Enjoy.

Sure, the Yankees might have bought their 27th championship this year, but let’s take a moment to rain on their parade by keeping all this in mind:

- After stealing all the momentum in the 2001 World Series by winning three straight games against the Diamondbacks to take a 3-2 series lead, they embarrassed themselves in Game 6 by losing 15-2 and then allowed guys like Mark Grace, Tony Womack and Luis Gonzalez to beat them in Game 7…with their ace closer Mariano Rivera on the mound no less.

- They had the best record in baseball in 2002, yet lost to the Rally Monkey in the postseason. The Rally Monkey! (That said, let me take a moment to say “F” that stupid Ebola-infested Rally Monkey on behalf of my Giants.)

- In 2003, they again had one of the best records in baseball (the Braves had an identical 103-61 record), yet lost to the NL Wild Card-winning Marlins in the Fall Classic.

- In 2004…well, we all know what happened in 2004. It’s the reason why we have “Red Sox Nation” and why the term “epic fail” is used today.

- Despite their massive payroll, the Yankee$ choked in the Division Series not once, but three times in a row from 2005 to 2007. They also completely missed the playoffs in 2008 with the highest payroll in baseball. How does that happen?

On top of this, let’s not forget that the Yankees outbid themselves to acquire A-Rod and had four players that tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs: Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi and Rodriguez.

So ask yourself this, would you trade in nine years of embarrassment for one championship?

In the end, it wasn’t Cliff Lee who saved the Phillies’ season, but second baseman Chase Utley. Okay, so Lee definitely helped. But it was Utley who supplied most of the spark.

Utley hit two home runs and finished with four RBI as the Phillies hung on to beat the Yankees 8-6 in Game 5 of the World Series on Monday night. Utley hit a three-run dinger in the bottom of the first inning to kick the scoring off for Philadelphia, and then later added a solo shot in the seventh to give the Phillies a much-needed scoring cushion. Only Utley and Reggie Jackson have hit five home runs in a single World Series.

This is a game that many expected the Phillies to win with Lee on the mound. The ace wasn’t as dominant as he was in Game 1, as he allowed five runs on seven hits, but he did go seven innings to earn the win and only walked three batters.

With two games left, the Yankees are still in a great position to wrap this series up. It’s hard to beat the same team three times in a row, nevertheless twice on their home field. The pitching matchups also favor the Yankees if the series goes seven games, because CC Sabathia would start Game 7 in New York, while Philadelphia won’t have Lee for that potentially pivotal game.

That said, crazier things have happened and I’m sure the Phillies are taking things one game at a time. They needed three before tonight and now they only need two. Utley and Lee have given them a shot to come back.

Apparently all Nick Swisher needed was a fire lit under his ass.

Swisher, benched in Game 2, homered and doubled in the Yankees’ 8-5 win over the Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday night. With the victory, New York takes a 2-1 lead in the best of seven series.

Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui also went deep for the Bronx Bombers. A-Rod’s shot was memorable because it was the first call overturned by replay in the history of the World Series. He finished 1 for 2 on the night with two RBI and a walk, while Swisher went 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.

The Phillies got two home runs from Jayson Werth and one from Carlos Ruiz to take a 3-0 lead in the second inning. But the Yankees answered with two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings on their way to victory. Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels was touched up for five runs on five hits in just 4.1 innings of work. He struck out three and walked two.

With this win, the Yankees have the Phillies right where they want them because CC Sabathia opposes Joe Blanton tomorrow night. But a win is vital for the Bombers because if they lose, not only will Philly even the series but it’ll also have the momentum with Cliff Lee (who beat the Yankees in Game 1) starting Game 5.

Tomorrow is critical for Joe Girardi, who decided to start Sabathia on only three days rest. If the Yankees can’t take a 3-1 series lead, then Girardi’s gamble could wind up costing his club.

The Phillies gave up quite the package to acquire starter Cliff Lee from the Indians at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t matter much now because he was definitely worth it.

Lee shut down the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, taking a shutout into the ninth inning of a 6-1 Phillies’ win. If it weren’t for Jimmy Rollins throwing the ball away in the ninth to give New York a run, Lee would have earned a shutout, although he’ll certainly take a 10-strike out, zero-walk performance.

Chase Utley gave Lee and Philadelphia all the offense they needed, as he hit two solo shots off New York ace CC Sabathia. With his first home run of the game, Utley reached base in his 26th-straight postseason game, which broke Boog Powell’s record from 1966-71. He was also the first player to hit two dingers in Game 1 of a World Series since Troy Glaus accomplished the feat in 2002 against the Giants.

If the trends from previous World Series hold up, the Yankees are in trouble. In the last six years, the team that has won Game 1 have all gone on to win the series, just as the Phillies did last year when they beat the Rays 3-2 in the 2008 opener.

Philadelphia played like a team that had been to the World Series the year before, while New York seemed a little uptight. Not to take anything away from Lee, but it’s a little absurd for a Yankees lineup so filled with talent to only produce one run – especially given the park they play in. It was impressive how calm and collected Philadelphia’s players were, it almost seemed like they were playing in a spring training game.

Now all the pressure is on the Yankees to win Game 2, because they can’t fall behind 0-2 and then hit the road for three. The Phillies essentially accomplished their goal of winning one game in New York, but if they take Game 2 they’ll certainly be in the driver’s seat when they head back home.

- BLEACHER REPORT ranks the hottest cheerleader for each NBA team.

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- PHILLYBURBS has the story of a Phillies fan so desperate to get tickets to the World Series that she was willing to trade sexual favors. It’s a shocker that this didn’t end well.

- DEADSPIN describes how Antoine Walker burned through more than $55 million in his career. Sigh.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS discusses how a movie adapted from one of Rick Reilly’s books might save the world. Not really.

The Philadelphia Phillies will have the opportunity to defend their World Series title.

Jayson Werth powered the Phils past the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night by hitting two of the club’s four home runs in a 10-4 victory. Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino also homered for Philly, as they easily disposed of L.A. in five games.

The Phillies’ offense shined in the NLCS, racking up 35 runs in seven games. Thus far, Werth has five dingers in the postseason, while Victorino has three. Philadelphia will now await the winner of the Yankees-Angels series to see who will oppose them in the World Series.

A potential Phillies-Yankees matchup would be entertaining considering how well both clubs are hitting the ball right now. Watching CC Sabathia take on Werth, Victorino, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley would be incredibly fun to watch and should draw decent ratings given how big of a market the Yankees play in.

It’s amazing how the Phillies were overlooked before the season. While everyone talked about the Mets, Dodgers and Cubs, the Phillies flew under the radar for the most part and then once again took care of business once the series started.

The Dodgers must be praying they never have to face the Phillies after these last two years.

Pitcher Brett Myers is upset that the Phillies left him off the NLCS roster after he spent most of the regular season rehabbing from a hip injury so that he could re-join the club in the postseason.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“I’m upset,” the pitcher said before Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.

Myers, 29, had hip surgery June 4. At the time, team officials thought his season was over. The righthander stayed dedicated to a rehabilitation program and made it back in early September. The club hoped Myers could help in the bullpen, but he had a 6.43 ERA in eight games. He pitched just two-thirds of an inning in the division series.

“It’s tough going through all that [rehab],” Myers said. “This is the whole reason I tried to get back, to be in the postseason. Now they took that away.

“They said I wasn’t sharp. I disagree. They told me my curveball was sharp. That contradicts itself. But whatever. I’ll stay around and support my teammates.”

Manager Charlie Manuel said: “I look at this as almost spring training for Brett. He had a very serious injury, came back, and maybe it was too early, I don’t know.”

I don’t think the Phillies (or any team for that matter) would want a player that wasn’t upset about being off the playoff roster. But the reality of the situation is that Myers was coming off a serious injury and didn’t pitch well upon his return. The Phillies need reliable players and Myers isn’t one of them right now.

It’s highly unlikely Myers returns to Philadelphia after this season. He becomes a free agent in the winter and I would have to imagine that if the Phillies make the World Series and he’s left off the roster, he’s bitterness towards the club would motivate him not to re-sign.

Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez hit three-run homers as the Phillies beat the Dodgers 8-6 in Game 1 of the NLCS on Thursday. Ryan Howard also hit a two-run double and closer Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless ninth to protect a two-run lead.

Since the NLCS moved to a seven-game format in 1985, the team that takes a 1-0 lead has won 16 of 23 series, including 14 of the previous 16. In fact, eight of the 10 National League teams that took a 1-0 lead on the road have reached the World Series, including the past seven times.

Usually teams in the playoffs look to, at the very least, earn a split when they’re on the road. For Philadelphia to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the NLCS is huge, especially considering how good their bats looked.

Game 2 is set for 4:07 p.m. ET on Friday and will feature Pedro Martinez vs. Vicente Padilla. It’s kind of amazing that Martinez is back pitching in a championship series again and hopefully for the Phils’ sake, he produces some of the magic that made him a lights out pitcher in Boston.

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba’s two-run homer helped the Rockies edge the Phillies 5-4 on Tuesday to even up the NLDS at one game apiece.

From MLB.com:

Ace Aaron Cook pitched five strong innings before turning the contest over to a bullpen that was constructed solidly, if on the run. Carlos Gonzalez had three hits (after two hits in the first game), Dexter Fowler drove in two runs on sacrifice flies, and Yorvit Torrealba knocked a two-run shot — his first home run in five months.

What it adds up to is a golden chance for the Rockies to add to an improbable story that started with them going 18-28 out of the gate and replacing manager Clint Hurdle with Jim Tracy. After escaping Philadelphia and its raucous crowds — 46,528, which topped Wednesday’s Citizens Bank Park record — with a split, the Rockies will be greeted by their own wild crowd at Coors Field on Saturday night and Sunday.

The Phils cracked Cook in the sixth when Shane Victorino and Chase Utley singled, and Ryan Howard doubled for one run. Jose Contreras replaced Cook, fanned Jayson Werth and gave up Raul Ibanez’s two-run single. Pedro Feliz singled, but Contreras worked Carlos Ruiz into a double-play grounder.

Ryan Spilborghs led off the seventh with a double, and would score on Fowler’s one-out fly ball. The Rockies missed a chance to add to the lead in the eighth, when Phils lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo fanned pinch-hitter Jason Giambi with the bases loaded to end the inning.
However, the Rockies’ bullpen kept the lead. Matt Belisle, who spent most of the season in the Minors but earned a playoff roster spot with a strong final three weeks, threw a perfect seventh. Rafael Betancourt, acquired from the Indians in July, gave up a Werth two-out homer in the eighth. But Franklin Morales, who also spent time in the Minors, ended the threat by coaxing an Ibanez grounder.

This was a huge win for the Rockies because they’ve played so well at home this year, and rather inconsistent on the road at times. To earn a split (especially in the second game) on the road was big, because now the momentum favors Colorado and puts pressure on Philadelphia to go cross-country and play well on the road.

Torrealba has been a nice role player over the years and it’s nice to see a guy that plays the game the right way get some recognition for his efforts. He’s a tough-nosed player and a fierce competitor. His play today no doubt lifted he and his team’s confidence.

Phillies’ starter Cliff Lee went the distance on Wednesday in Game 1 of Philadelphia’s 5-1 victory over the Rockies in the NLDS. Lee had a shutout heading into the ninth, but Troy Tulowitzki broke it up with a two-out double to score Colorado’s lone run.

Lee, making his postseason debut, allowed six hits in going the distance. He retired 16 consecutive batters until Garrett Atkins hit a two-out double in the seventh inning. He even became the first pitcher in Phillies history to steal a base in the postseason when he stole second base in the third inning.

Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez cruised through four innings before he struggled with his command.

Jimenez walked Jayson Werth to lead off the fifth inning. Raul Ibanez then ripped a 3-1 changeup into the right-field corner to score Werth to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Pedro Feliz’s fielder’s choice advanced Raul Ibanez to third, and Carlos Ruiz worked an eight-pitch at-bat, hitting a 3-2 slider for a single to give the Phils a 2-0 lead.

Jimenez finally got out of the inning, but not until he threw 35 pitches.

After getting to just one three-ball count in the first four innings, Jimenez had four in the fifth.

Jimenez’s problems continued in the sixth as he allowed a single to Utley, a double to Ryan Howard and a triple to Werth to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead. Rockies manager Jim Tracy pulled Jimenez for left-hander Joe Beimel to face Ibanez, who singled to right to score Werth to make it 5-0.

What a great addition the Phillies made at the trade deadline by acquiring Lee. He struggled a bit heading into the postseason, but he was incredible today. He has been well worth the compensation that Philadelphia had to part with to acquire him from Cleveland.

Out of all the postseason teams, only the Twins had a worse road record (38-43) than the Rockies (41-40). So it’s no surprise to see Colorado struggle in Philadelphia to start this series.

It’ll be interesting to see how Cole Hamels fairs tomorrow after posting a lackluster regular season in which he finished 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA. In his final outing before the playoffs, he lasted just three innings, giving up three runs and walking two in a loss. The Phillies need their former ace to give them a 2-0 advantage before this series shifts to Colorado on Saturday, where the Rockies have been practically lights out.