Phillies Preview: World Series Rotations

2009 World Series
Philadelphia Phillies (93-69) v. New York Yankees (103-59)

The pitching matchups in this World Series will be key to the success of both ball clubs. With the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees featuring the top offenses of their respective leagues, how deep the starters go will be pivotal. Both teams have toyed with the idea of having their ace pitchers go on three days rest in an effort to make them available for three starts, should the series go the full seven games. However, beyond the aces, both teams have question marks at the starting pitcher spot. It should be interesting to see how these starters compare to each other. It can be said that whichever team gets the best starts will win the 2009 World Series.

Potential Starters: New York Yankees

CC Sabathia, LHP - CC Sabathia was a major free agent signing by the Yankees prior to the 2009 season. He earned his huge contract this season, winning 19 games and accumulating 230.0 innings. The big 28-year old has enjoyed his best post-season ever, carrying the Yankees team to another World Series appearance. Sabathia is a dominant left-handed pitcher with ace-caliber stuff and the ability to pitch deep into games and shut a team down. He is hands down the best pitcher that the Yankees have and will pitch on short rest if needed.

A.J. Burnett, RHP - A.J. Burnett was the second half of the Yankees' big off-season pitching enhancement, as he signed around the same time as Sabathia. Burnett's career has been wildly inconsistent, as he has shown flashes of brilliance and periods of ineffectiveness. He is a strike out pitcher but suffers from poor command and composure. The big righty won 13 games in his first season with the Yankees and tossed 207.0 innings for them. With nearly a strike out per inning, Burnett must limit contact in order to be successful.

Andy Pettitte, LHP - Andy Pettitte is the veteran presence in the Yankees' rotation. The elder statesman of the group, Pettitte has seen and done almost everything as a starter in the postseason. His career 16 wins is first all-time in postseason play and the crafty lefty still has some juice left in the tank. Pettitte pitches primarily to contact at this point in his career, but controls the running game very well with a great pickoff move. The 37-year old won 14 games for the Yankees this season, while logging 194.2 innings.

Other Candidates - Chad Gaudin, RHP, Joba Chamberlain, RHP

Potential Starters: Philadelphia Phillies

Cliff Lee, LHP - Cliff Lee was a mid-season acquisition for the Phillies and he didn't disappoint. Since the Phillies acquired him, the 31-year old lefty won seven games and struck out nearly a batter per inning. Overall, Lee is a pitcher that can dominate and go deep into games, which will help the Phillies' bullpen. He tossed 231.2 innings, marking his fourth 200-inning campaign in the last six seasons. Still, Lee has no post season experience and has not proven whether he is a big-game pitcher or not. He has emerged as the clear ace of the Phillies staff in this postseason, with dominating performances against both of the Phillies' National League opponents.

Cole Hamels, LHP - Cole Hamels struggled through a hangover season from 2008, in which he battled injuries and inconsistency all year long. Still, he is the Phillies' starter with the most playoff pedigree and was able to win 10 games. In 2009, Hamels' innings were down to 193.2 and his strikeout numbers were also down, though he has the ability to miss bats. Hamels' achilles heel has always been the long ball, so if he can keep the ball in the park, the 25-year old is very tough. Hamels will likely be the Phillies' second or third starter.

Pedro Martinez, RHP - Pedro Martinez was another late-season acqusition for the Phillies, as they signed the free agent to finish the 2009 season with them. Martinez has shown signs of his former self, now that he is healthy. And not having pitched the first half of the season means he is fresh for the playoffs, with only 44.2 innings. Most importantly, the 37-year old veteran righty has a lot of post season experience and is known as a clutch performer. While it has not been determined when Pedro will start, he still has the ability to miss bats and shut down an opponent.

Other Candidates - J. A. Happ, LHP, Joe Blanton, RHP

Pitching Primer: New York Yankees

CC Sabathia: (19-8) 34 G, 230.0 IP, 3.37 ERA, 197 K, 18 HR

2009 Home Splits: (7-2) 15 G, 105.0 IP, 3.17 ERA, 83 K, 6 HR

2009 Road Splits: (12-6) 19 G, 125.0 IP, 3.53 ERA, 114 K, 12 HR

2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 1 G, 8.0 IP, 3.38 ERA, 4 K, 0 HR

Postseason Career: (5-3) 8 G, 47.2 IP, 4.72 ERA, 44 K, 5 HR

Career vs. PHI: 118 PA, .275 BA, .322 OBP, .495 SLG, 3 HR, 26 K

A. J. Burnett: (13-9) 33 G, 207.0 IP, 4.04 ERA, 195 K, 25 HR
2009 Home Splits: (5-3) 16 G, 105.0 IP, 3.51 ERA, 104 K, 13 HR
2009 Road Splits: (8-6) 17 G, 102.0 IP, 4.59 ERA, 91 K, 12 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (0-1) 1 G, 6.0 IP, 7.50 ERA, 7 K, 3 HR
Postseason Career: (0-0) 3 G, 18.1 IP, 4.42 ERA, 13 K, 0 HR
Career vs. PHI: 184 PA, .265 BA, .326 OBP, .476 SLG, 8 HR, 41 K

Andy Pettitte: (14-8) 32 G, 194.2 IP, 4.16 ERA, 148 K, 20 HR
2009 Home Splits: (6-4) 16 G, 100.0 IP, 4.59 ERA, 74 K, 14 HR
2009 Road Splits: (8-4) 16 G, 94.2 IP, 3.71 ERA, 74 K, 6 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 1 G, 7.0 IP, 5.14 ERA, 5 K, 2 HR
Postseason Career: (16-9) 38 G, 237.1 IP, 3.83 ERA, 154 K, 26 HR
Career vs. PHI: 148 PA, .230 BA, .267 OBP, .353 SLG, 4 HR, 26 K

Chad Gaudin: (6-10) 31 G, 147.1 IP, 4.64 ERA, 139 K, 14 HR
2009 Home Splits: (3-6) 15 G, 66.2 IP, 5.00 ERA, 61 K, 7 HR
2009 Road Splits: (3-4) 16 G, 80.2 IP, 4.35 ERA, 78 K, 7 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: n/a
Postseason Career: (0-0) 4 G, 4.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR
Career vs. PHI: 51 PA, .372 BA, .451 OBP, .651 SLG, 2 HR, 9 K

Joba Chamberlain: (9-6) 32 G, 157.1 IP, 4.75 ERA, 133 K, 21 HR
2009 Home Splits: (4-3) 19 G, 90.1 IP, 5.28 ERA, 84 K, 14 HR
2009 Road Splits: (5-3) 13 G, 67.0 IP, 4.03 ERA, 49 K, 7 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: n/a

Postseason Career: (0-0) 9 G, 7.0 IP, 3.86 ERA, 7 K, 0 HR
Career vs. PHI: 13 PA, .273 BA, .385 OBP, .273 SLG, 0 HR, 3 K

Pitching Primer: Philadelphia Phillies

Cliff Lee: (14-13) 34 G, 231.2 IP, 3.22 ERA, 181 K, 17 HR

2009 Home Splits: (6-8) 16 G, 110.2 IP, 2.85 ERA, 96 K, 7 HR

2009 Road Splits: (8-5) 18 G, 121.0 IP, 3.57 ERA, 85 K, 10 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: (1-1) 2 G, 12.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 9 K, 1 HR

Postseason Career: (2-0) 3 G, 24.1 IP, 0.74 ERA, 20 K, 0 HR

Career vs. NYY: 224 PA, .285 BA, .345 OBP, .475 SLG, 8 HR, 32 K

Cole Hamels: (10-11) 32 G, 193.2 IP, 4.32 ERA, 168 K, 24 HR

2009 Home Splits: (7-5) 17 G, 105.1 IP, 3.76 ERA, 103 K, 14 HR

2009 Road Splits: (3-6) 15 G, 88.1 IP, 4.99 ERA, 65 K, 10 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: (0-0) 1 G, 6.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 5 K, 1 HR

Postseason Career: (5-2) 9 G, 56.1 IP, 3.36 ERA, 49 K, 8 HR

Career vs. NYY: 66 PA, .290 BA, .333 OBP, .500 SLG, 3 HR, 11 K

Pedro Martinez: (5-1) 9 G, 44.2 IP, 3.63 ERA, 37 K, 7 HR

2009 Home Splits: (2-0) 5 G, 24.0 IP, 1.88 ERA, 22 K, 4 HR

2009 Road Splits: (3-1) 4 G, 20.2 IP, 5.66 ERA, 15 K, 3 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: n/a

Postseason Career: (6-2) 14 G, 86.1 IP, 3.13 ERA, 83 K, 7 HR
Career vs. NYY: 442 PA, .242 BA, .319 OBP, .383 SLG, 11 HR, 116 K

J.A. Happ: (12-4) 35 G, 166.0 IP, 2.93 ERA, 119 K, 20 HR

2009 Home Splits: (5-2) 17 G, 71.0 IP, 4.18 ERA, 61 K, 11 HR

2009 Road Splits: (7-2) 18 G, 95.0 IP, 1.99 ERA, 58 K, 9 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: (0-0) 1 G, 6.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4 K, 1 HR

Postseason Career: (0-0) 6 G, 6.2 IP, 5.40 ERA, 6 K, 0 HR

Career vs. NYY: 22 PA, .238 BA, .238 OBP, .429 SLG, 1 HR, 2 K

Joe Blanton: (12-8) 31 G, 195.1 IP, 4.05 ERA, 163 K, 30 HR
2009 Home Splits: (7-4) 16 G, 105.0 IP, 3.77 ERA, 87 K, 16 HR
2009 Road Splits: (5-4) 15 G, 90.1 IP, 4.38 ERA, 76 K, 14 HR
2009 vs. Yankees: n/a
Postseason Career: (2-0) 7 G, 28.2 IP, 3.45 ERA, 23 K, 5 HR
Career vs. NYY: 128 PA, .269 BA, .320 OBP, .546 SLG, 9 HR, 13 K

Phillies World Series Previews
Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters, Benches

Game Previews: One, Two, Three

Game Recaps: One, Two, Three