Rain-out may help Phillies' chances

NEW YORK - Since winning their second consecutive National League pennant Wednesday night, the Phillies have said all the appropriate things about their potential World Series opponent, straddling the possibilities.

Last night's Game 6 of the American League Championship Series between the Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium was postponed until tonight because of rain, with New York leading the series, three games to two.

Meanwhile, the Phils have been dutifully polite in saying that it doesn't matter which team they play.

If it's the Yanks, it would be a chance for the Phillies to measure themselves against the team with the best record in the big leagues.

If it's the Angels, well, that's a team that never quits, and they'd offer a chance to beat the team that defeated the Yankees.

Both are great teams with dangerous lineups. Regardless of which team it is, you still have to win four games.

But in their heart of hearts, the Phillies wouldn't mind seeing the ALCS drag on as long as possible so their opponent won't be able to line up its pitching rotation to its liking.

Well, the Phillies haven't played in four days, and things still seem to be going their way, considering the Angels' victory in Game 5 that kept them from elimination, and now the rainy weather in New York.

The Yankees had hoped to wrap it up last night so they could set their rotation for the first game of the World Series, which will begin Wednesday either in the Bronx or in Anaheim. If the Angels even the series tonight, Yankees ace CC Sabathia will pitch Game 7 tomorrow, which means he would not be available until Game 3 of the World Series, and he would be limited to two starts.

Sabathia has been on top of his game so far in the postseason. He is 3-0 in three starts with a 1.19 earned run average and has allowed 17 hits in 222/3 innings. Sabathia beat the Angels in Game 4 on three days' rest, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi said last night he would stay with Andy Pettitte for Game 6 rather than bring back Sabathia again on three days rest.

"We like the guy going tomorrow," Girardi said after the postponement was announced nearly two hours before the scheduled start. "CC has been great, but Andy will pitch tomorrow."

Pettitte is 15-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 37 postseason starts, the most of any pitcher in history. With 15 wins, he is tied with John Smoltz for the most in postseason history.