Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a legitimate World Series for the first time since 2002. I know a Yankees-Phillies series isn’t going to rival 2004 or 2007 for Red Sox fans. However, this year is the first time a World Series has gone more than five games since the Angels-Giants seven-game set in 2002. The Yankees lead the Phillies, 3-2, but they showed flashes of 2004 on Monday evening when they failed to close the door on a fiery, never-say-die team. In case you’re late to the party, here are the key storylines heading into Game 6 this evening.

Does this look like the type of guy who can pitch on three days' rest? (AP)

1. Pedro Martinez is on the hill AGAIN in Yankee Stadium. When we assess the career of Pedro when it’s all said and done, we’ll likely remember a stretch from 1997-2002 when he was the best pitcher of his era. Then we’ll say 2003-04 was his last stand at Fenway. From 2005-08, we’ll say he was just trying to fit in with his teammates on the Mets. And by that, I mean he was trying to be a former star who underperformed while making a ton of money. But what if we have to add a final chapter, in which Pedro shows flashes of his prime during a 2009 postseason for the Phillies? He’s on his way to writing that chapter. He pitched seven shutout innings in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. He came back for Game 2 of the World Series and pitched an effective six innings, allowing three runs in a loss. How will Pedro react with his back against the wall this evening in Game 6? Will we want to read the final chapter in The Pedro Martinez Autobiography — One Flew Under the Mango Tree?

2. A 37-year-old, steroid-free Andy Pettitte will pitch on three days’ rest this evening. In all fairness, I don’t know for sure that Pettitte is steroid-free. That’s an unfair accusation to make without all the facts. But if you ask me, pitching on three days’ rest is like unexpectedly having to make a three-hour drive at 6 p.m. When you’re in college, you might receive a call from a friend who tells you he’s having a huge party in New York City that night. You think about it for a second, grab your toothbrush and head to your car. You’re there in three hours. After you turn 30, you think about that offer for a few more minutes, pack an overnight bag with contact solution, pajamas and a cell phone charger, and you probably make the trip in closer to four hours. When you’re 37 years old, you round up your wife and ask if she’s willing to split the driving. You call your parents to see if they can babysit the kids for the night. You pack two overnight bags, just in case you want to spend the next day sightseeing in New York. You might only make it an hour down the road before you pull off in Worcester to switch seats with your wife. Then you pass out in the passenger seat for the next three hours. In other words, I don’t see Pettitte getting out of the fifth inning tonight.

3. There is legitimate Game 7 intrigue. If Pedro can force a Game 7 tonight, we know the Yankees will bring back CC Sabathia for the third time this series. He’ll pitch his third game in nine days. That’s not to say he can’t do it. Sometimes he can, and sometimes he can’t. Over the last two postseasons, he’s broken down when he’s tried to pitch on three days’ rest in multiple starts. He was definitely better in Game 1 than Game 4. We can probably expect a good but not great Sabathia in Game 7. Who are the Phils running out to match up with CC? Good question. Things have gotten so bad for Cole Hamels this season, the Phils are considering shutting down the reigning World Series MVP for the remainder of the playoffs so that they can bring back Cliff Lee on two days’ rest. Not good for Hamels. Hamels displayed the opposite of intestinal fortitude following his Game 3 loss, when he said he just wanted the season to be over. In an attempt to earn himself a Game 7 start, Phillies good-guy Brett Myers started trash-talking the mental midget Hamels following the Game 5 win, taunting him in the locker room with: “Why are you here? I thought you quit.” So, if you ask me, I’m fine with the Phillies bringing back Cliff Lee on two days’ rest. The weather forecast for a potential Game 7 also is in the Phils’ favor. It may snow and rain in New York (and Boston) tomorrow evening, so Game 7 could be postponed until Friday. Then the Phils could bring back Lee on three days’ rest.

4. There is an enormous mismatch in the matchup between the bullpens. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is the best relief pitcher in postseason history. Phillies closer Brad Lidge is the equivalent of a friend who shouts out every funny line in a movie the moment before it’s actually said. He’s the human spoiler. Stay away from him, Charlie Manuel. Why do I envision a Game 7 moment in which Charlie stumbles out to the mound and points at Lidge in the bullpen?

5. The managerial matchup is like comparing David Gray to Rage Against the Machine. Charlie Manuel might fall asleep during Game 6. He might not. He doesn’t really care. He’s just going to run his guys out there, avoid overmanaging at all costs, and let the chips fall where they may. There wasn’t even any debate in Philadelphia about bringing back Cliff Lee on three days’ rest in Game 4. Charlie said no, and that was final. Meanwhile, Joe Girardi has been sitting out in his bullpen before each game, evaluating whether that night’s starting pitcher looks strong enough to pitch on three days’ rest. He blew it with A.J. Burnett, who was awful in Game 5. He’s running out guys such as Brett Gardner and Jerry Hairston Jr. just to make moves. In my opinion, the biggest difference between these two managers lies in the fact that Girardi is happy to join Joe Buck and Tim McCarver for the in-game interview and Charlie Manuel has never agreed to a single one. Girardi takes advantage of the time to let everyone in the world know how smart he is. Manuel hands the headset to one of his assistants, allowing them to audition for their next job while he continues to allow the top rail of the dugout to support his body weight.

6. Alex Rodriguez is teetering between being off the hook for eternity to having the longest postseason of his life. Look, there’s a Mr. November lurking in this series. It could be A-Rod if he finishes with the same clutch heroics he demonstrated during this year’s ALDS and ALCS. He’s been a relative force all postseason. But if the Yankees lose, A-Rod may want to take a trip to Nowhere, Antarctica, for the remainder of the offseason. Otherwise, he can expect to spend the offseason hearing, “You’ll nevah be a Yankee, A-ROID!” In fact, A-Rod, if you leave the country, do us a favor and bring Kate Hudson with you. Nobody likes her movies anyway. And if we’re taking bets, I like Chase Utley’s chances to earn the title Mr. November. But don’t count out Ryan Howard. There’s no way he goes this entire series without doing anything.

By the way, I will be speaking about online media as part of the Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series tomorrow night (7 p.m.) at the Pollard Library on the UMass-Lowell campus. Admission is free, and Game 7 of the World Series will start immediately following the talk. Please join me if that sort of thing interests you.

9 Comments for “Reasons to join the World Series party”

1. Because I Can Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 8:35 am

   Ryan Howard has been lying in the weeds. He’s going yard tonight.

2. B Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 8:46 am

   Game 7 of the World Series is something that interests me. Watching a guy from Philadelphia talk at a library named after the guy that took out Tom Brady last year at 7 pm on a Thursday night does not. Unless there will be hoagies. Please include in tomorrow’s plug whether or not there will be hoagies so I can make a fair assessment.

3. Primo Deano Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 9:55 am

   That picture of Andy is pure gold. Hahaaa. I was dying when I saw him running with the jacket on…

   Big night tonight. Yankee bats need to come alive against our self-proclaimed son.

4. Daryn Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

   Is this game on local radio in Boston?

5. Dan Guttenplan Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 12:28 pm

   Daryn — I’m pretty sure it’s on WEEI, which is 850 on the AM dial.

6. Jon Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

   Pedro! Pedro! The thought that Girardi possibly has set his pitchers up to all have to pitched gassed on 3 days rest just makes me smile. Tonights game once again will be worth watching.

7. Lowellian Says:
   November 5th, 2009 at 9:42 am

   Pollard Library is in downtown Lowell.

8. UP Says:
   November 5th, 2009 at 9:48 am

   Hoagies??
   What we really what is the Old Worthen

9. bialko Says:
   September 30th, 2011 at 4:41 am

   Loving the information on this website , you have done great job on the articles .

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