(promoted to the front page--dajafi)

First off, I realize the Yankees haven't yet won their Series yet, but I've pretty much already penciled them in.  So just for fun (not trying to make any grand statement about who the better team is), let's take a look position by position at who we'd rather have (disregarding age, the future, etc - just for this series)... Oh, and no DH, because... well, the DH isn't really baseball...

1B - Ryan Howard vs. Mark Teixeira

Teixeira - .292, 39 HR, 103 runs, 122 RBI, 2 steals, and he is probably the best fielding 1B in baseball.

Howard - .279, 45 HR, 105 runs, 141 RBI, 8 steals, and although his fielding improved by leaps and bounds this year, he's still a below average fielding 1B, and certainly nowhere near the class of that of a Teixeira.

What a matchup - Obviously, these are 2 of the best players in the game.  Their regular season numbers are fairly even (I'll give the slight edge to Howard), although Teixeira is an elite fielder.  However, Teixeira has been abysmal so far this postseason, whereas Howard just took home some hardware for MVP.  I'm taking Howard.

2B - Chase Utley vs. Robinson Cano

Cano - .320, 25 HR, 103 runs, 85 RBI, 5 steals

Utley - .282, 31 HR, 112 runs, 93 RBI, 23 steals

Again, the numbers here are close, although Utley is having a much better playoffs.  Is it sacrilegious to not take Chase Utley in any 2B showdown?  Yes it is.  I'll take Utley.

SS - Jimmy Rollins vs. Derek Jeter

Jeter - .334, 18 HR, 107 runs, 66 RBI, 30 steals

Rollins - .250, 21 HR, 100 runs, 77 RBI, 31 steals

We all love Jimmy again after his immediately legendary Game 4 double off Broxton... Henry Hill was definitely fired up...

But let's get real here... Jeter in a landslide.

3B - Pedro Feliz  vs. Alex Rodriguez

Rodriguez - .286, 30 HR, 78 runs, 100 RBI, 14 steals

Feliz - .266, 12 HR, 62 runs, 82 RBI, 0 steals

I didn't realize how blah A-Rod's numbers were this year, but he's lighting it up in the postseason.  Feliz loves popping up on the first pitch.  Rodriguez... Next.

LF - Raul Ibanez vs. Johnny Damon

Damon - .282, 24 HR, 107 runs, 82 RBI, 12 steals

Ibanez - .272, 34 HR, 93 runs, 93 RBI, 4 steals

Wow, this was closer than I would have thought.  I like Ibanez's pop, and Damon's rag arm kills them in left.  I'm taking Raul, but just barely.

CF - Shane Victorino vs. Melky Cabrera

Melky - .272, 13 HR, 66 runs, 68 RBI, 10 steals

Victorino - .292, 10 HR, 102 runs, 62 RBI, 25 steals

Really no argument here, plus Shane is having a monster postseason.  Victorino.

RF - Jayson Werth vs. Nick Swisher

Swisher - .249, 29 HR, 84 runs, 82 RBI, 0 steals

Werth - .268, 36 HR, 98 runs, 99 RBI, 20 steals

Again, no argument here.  Werth is a better hitter, fielder, and I felt he had a l legitimate shot at MVP over Howard.  In fairness to Swisher, if I had a nickel for every time I heard how great a clubhouse guy he is, um... can't think of a funny way to end that sentence, but apparently he's a great clubhouse guy.  Werth by far.

C - Chooch vs. Jorge Posada

Posada - .285, 22 HR, 55 runs, 81 RBI, 1 steal

Chooch - .255, 9 HR, 32 runs, 43 RBI, 3 steals

Man, I'd love to take Chooch here.  Let me preface this by saying I base this on very little, but... Is there a bigger douche in baseball than Jorge Posada? I'd pay $100 to flick his ear just once.  Seriously, I would.  And how can anyone not love the Chooch?  He's WAAAY better with his pitching staff, but in the end, I begrudgingly give this round in a landslide to Jorge because of his offensive capability.

So that's it - 5-3 Phillies, although the 3 advantages for the Yankees are enormous ones.  Anyone disagree?