Utley led the Phillies to a Game 1 win.

After two games in the Bronx, what I’m most impressed with was the quality of starting pitching on both sides. All four starters, Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett pitched into the 7^th inning with success. Pedro and CC gave up solo shots, but neither allowed any significant offensive rally. A.J. pitched strong and fooled Phillies hitters while Cliff Lee pitched one of the best games in World Series history.

The Yankees big sluggers of Teixeira and A-Rod are 1-15 with a Teixeira HR in the World Series. Granted it’s just two games, but in a seven game series, you can’t afford any type of slump. The Yankees bats need to come alive soon, because unless CC or Mariano Rivera is on the mound, the Phillies have a serious threat to score. It doesn’t help the Yankees offense that Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jose Molina are getting at bats, but Damon, Cano and the two big boppers need to start mashing. For the Yankees hitters, seeing Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton in Games 3 and 4 should be enough to turn around those bats. Hamels hasn’t too great this season, or postseason for that matter and Blanton is serviceable, but not great. The Yankees want to get into that bullpen early and so far, they haven’t.

The Phillies are averaging seven runs per game at home this postseason and they have serious HR power in that lineup. The Phillies (53) were second to the Red Sox this season with most games with four or more extra base hits while the Yankees were 4^th with 49. With Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Werth and the suddenly hot Carlos Ruiz, Philly matches up with the Yankees O. The Yanks will toss Andy Pettitte then CC for Games 3 and 4. The Philly pitching has avoided going deep into their bullpen, which is exactly what they wanted to do. Their confidence in Brad Lidge is low, and at some point he will pitch this series and Philly fans will have to hold their breath.

In my opinion, Philly has the advantage at this point, because the Yankees bats haven’t awoken yet. The Phillies and Yankees are 6th and 7th respectively in W-L record this season when teams score at least five runs in a game. Thus, the pitching holds the key to the rest of this series, and so far, the Phillies hold the upper hand.