My World Series Prediction?

Several readers have asked me to predict the outcome of this world series.

Now, I do dearly love the Yankees, and it is true that Hillary Clinton is no longer NY’s senator, (having moved on to become a truly DREADFUL SecState), so her “I’ve always been a Yankees fan” curse may have finally been lifted (we have not won the WS since she was sworn into the Senate in 2001), and of course, I am rooting for them.

But, the Phillies are a scrappy young team, and the defending champs. And the Yanks have a lot of people on the team who seem like they’re intimidated by the post season, and a few too many hothouse flowers who wilt in the heat.

Before last night, I was saying “Yankees in six.”

Now? I dunno. I am not as confident as others that we will win tonight simply because the Phillies are playing Pedro. AJ Burnett is such an emotional guy, I worry that he’ll curl into a fetal position with his thumb in his mouth in the third inning. Joba isn’t much better. Bring him in for relief if the situation is tough and we might have two basket cases. And Girardi, bless his heart, he’s really hung up on the scouting books.

Have you ever noticed that if you put a curly blonde wig on Joe Girardi, he’d look exactly like Harpo Marx?

So, I don’t know. I’m thinking it’s either going to be Yankees in 7 or Phillies in 5.

I’m hoping for Yankees in 7, of course. There cannot be too much baseball, and it’s nearly over.

My favorite player? Still Jeter, natch, but Tex is an awfully good first baseman, and Sabathia is truly a charmer. Nick Swisher -in our house- is referred to as the “Agent of Chaos,” because so often we just don’t know what will happen when he goes after a ball, or runs a base. His body often appears to defy the laws of physics. He makes the game fun.

Archbishops Justin Rigali (Phillies) and Timothy Dolan (Yankees) have a friendly wager in play:

A joint press release from the Archdioceses of New York and Philadelphia reports that Archbishop Timothy Dolan will send Archbishop of Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali a dozen bagels if the Philadelphia Phillies win. If the New York Yankees win, Cardinal Rigali will send a box of Tastykake pastries to New York.

Hmmm…we want Dolan to live a good long time, so the Tastykakes are troubling.

And yet…I still want the Yankees to win.

Bless me father, for I have sinned…I’m putting baseball before the health of a favorite priest!

Last thought. Someone who remembered an old rant about A-Rod that I can no longer find, asked me what I think of him this year? I think his tough early season humbled A-Rod and made him remember what he loved about the game. I think it turned him into a better player and a better team mate. I think A-Rod is finally a Yankee.

For your viewing pleasure: Great plays in post season including Jeter’s famous “flip” to Posada.

For your reading pleasure: an all-time great baseball story. Enjoy.