World Series Game 1 Foreboding?!

FACT:  Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia have never faced each other since they were teammates, fact. - BuDaMan

That's a true fact.  Irrefutable.  FALSE:  You would be foolish to believe such "facts".  I misled you to bring you back to the flock - follow me for a minute...

Thursday April 16, 2009 - Opening Day for the "New House", the New Yankee Stadium.  1:00PM/ET game time.  The New York Yankees host the Cleveland Indians.  On the hill for their respective teams, the squad's ace's:  C.C. Sabathia for the Yankees, and Cliff Lee for the Indians.


Prior to this game Cliff Lee was 0-2, and seemed to be mired in a Cy Young hangover.  Meanwhile, C.C. Sabathia seemed to be adjusting to the New York lights a little bit slowly, starting the season 1-1.

Both pitchers are known for being hard throwers, as well as having very good breaking balls (TWSS).  What they are also known for is their ability to go deep into games (TWSS).  On this opening day of Yankee Stadium, Cliff Lee pitched 6 innings, and C.C. Sabathia pitched 5 2/3.  I'd expect both pitchers to be going a minimum of 7 strong innings Wednesday night to being the World Series.

Here is the link to that day's events and subsequent story lines.  Bam.  Both pitchers gave up a run each, and Cliff Lee ended up acquiring his first win, as well as leaving the Yankees winless at home - that reign would be short lived as the Yankees became one of the winning-est teams at home, and their record on the road wasn't too shabby either.

I would argue that there was more hype surrounding that first game at Yankee Stadium than there is for this upcoming Game 1 of the 2009 World Series.  The Yankees going into that Home Opener were 5-4, without Alex Rodriguez, and still unsure of where their new acquisitions would take them: CC had yet to be dominant, Teixeira was mired in a slump until the day ARod returned in May, and AJ Burnett looked strong early.

This time around the pressure is equal, it's no day game, and it's the highest stage.

If I had to put my money on it I would say that the Phillies gut out a victory in Game 1.  Beyond that, I just don't see Pedro having the stuff to beat the Yankees, and I'm not convinced about the Phillies 'Pen.  Although Mariano Rivera is great, the bridge to Mariano is showing some stress fractures, according to other journalists.

Game 1 will be the toughest game either team has had to play as of yet.  The Phillies lineup is built like an AL lineup, and I don't see any quit in them.  Batters 1-4 might be the toughest in the league: Rollins, Victorino, Utley and Howard.  The Yankees 1-4 hitters have the potential to out-hit the Phil's, but with Teixeira batting the way he is, you have to give the edge to the Phillies.

So will history repeat itself?  Will Cliff Lee out-duel C.C. Sabathia in a highly anticipated opener at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx?  Again?!  Find out Wednesday night...