How Good was Cliff Lee last night?

Phenomenal pitching performance by Cliff Lee to lead the Phillies to a 6-1 victory in game one of the World Series last night.

As the poll on the right proves, a lot of people that read this blog are picking the Phillies to win. I think that's largely because we consider ourselves fans of the National League, or more importantly, haters of the Yankees.

However, if you look at the national scope, virtually everyone is picking the Yankees (look at yesterday's post where I linked to the ESPN.com writers picks).

That doesn't make sense to me. I realize the Yankees won more games this season, have the highest payroll, and they are the Yankees for crying out loud. But why is everyone forgetting that we are talking about the Phillies -- THE TEAM THAT WON THE WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. This isn't David vs. Goliath. It's Goliath vs. Goliath.

I realize the Yankees have the more impressive pitching staff and perhaps New York proves that over the next 2-3 games to get the series back on track. However, I'm just amazed at how everyone is sleeping on the Phillies this year. I can't think of another time in history that the defending champs are considered this much of an underdog.

Anyhow, enjoy the Series over the next few days. I am spending Halloween with my adorable 3-year old twin nieces, so the blog is going to get a few days off. I'll be back on Monday with more World Series thoughts. Don't eat too much candy this weekend!

Odds and Ends

A few baseball-related links for you today:

-The Astros have hired Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills as their new manager. For those of you lifelong Midwest League fans, Mills managed Peoria in 1989.

-Former Silver Hawks pitcher Brian Bruney has been added to the Yankees World Series roster.

-ESPN's Jayson Stark tells us that this World Series will determine the Team of the Decade.

-Everyone at ESPN.com is making their World Series predictions, so I will make mine as well. I like the Phillies in 6.

World Series is Set

Well, it's going to be the Yankees and Phillies battling it out for baseball supremacy.

I'm excited about this matchup for a number of reasons:

1) You have the Phillies trying to become the first National League team to win back-to-back titles since the Big Red Machine of the mid-70's.

2) The Yankees are trying to reclaim their magic and win for the first time since 2000.

3) There are former Silver Hawks on each roster: Scott Eyre with the Phillies and Brian Bruney with the Yankees (Note: Bruney has not been on the postseason roster, but even still, if you are a part of the team, you get a ring).

4) It's the World Series. As baseball fans, this is what we all live for.

Make your predictions for the outcome in the poll to the right. In the last poll, only one person of the seven that voted wanted the Yankees/Phillies matchup. The winner was three people who would have liked to see the Yankees/Dodgers.