Biggest advantage in this world series for the Yankees was they got to square off against Phillies pitching. Which, after Cliff Lee, is a patchwork quilt of inconsistency that Manuel did not/ could not fix throughout the season.

Biggest disadvantage for the Phillies was having to face the quality lefthanders in the Yankees rotation. Who kept Utley under control enough that he only won them (along with Cliff Lee) 2 games, and turned Ryan Howard into the early-season strike-out machine is always is in April. (Look out, Ryan! Here comes another 2-strike breaking ball way outside!)

As a result of these advantages, most of the games weren't close (often throughout, but most often, by final scores): Phils losing games 3, 4, and 6 by scores of: 8-5, 7-4, and 7-3. And the Phils winning games 1 and 5 by: 6-1 and 8-6 (when the Yankees had been down 8-2). Phils couldn't win unless they got a big lead that their (iffy iffy) pitching could hold. (They blew a 3-0 lead in game 3, and 4 runs of a 6 run lead in game 5.)

While the Yankees had a better season, and a deserved (well-bought) title, this series would have been much more interesting for all baseball fans involved if the Phils pitching even remotely approximated what they had last year in their championship season.

This season Lidge and Madson combined for over 20 blown saves. Which has to be a league record? Testiment to how good the Phillies line-up is. Would the Yankees have made it this far with that many blown saves?

Again proves the old obvious adage: pitching wins titles.

Just the perspective of a Phils phanatic.