JIMMY ROLLINS has some audacity - and his premonitions never seem to stop coming to fruition.
In the May edition of Playboy, Rollins responded with the following when asked to give his prediction for the 2009 World Series:
"The Fall Classic? I see our boys vs. the Yankees," Rollins told the magazine. "They spent all that money. They've got to be there. We've got a title to defend, so we're going to be there."
Well, Jimmy, you were right once again. The Yankees are the team the Phillies must beat to repeat.
The Bronx Bombers finished with baseball's best record in the regular season (103-59) and have steamrolled through the postseason, just as many predicted. Now the Yankees will meet the Phillies in the World Series.
More than pride is at stake. It's "How U' Doin?" vs. "Yo!" It's pizza vs. cheesesteaks. It's Broadway vs. Broad Street. It's the Statue of Liberty vs. the Liberty Bell. It's anything. It's everything. And it all starts Wednesday night with Game 1 in the Bronx.
But before you begin debating which team will be singing along with Sinatra when it's all said and done, here are 20 things on the Yankees:
1. After missing the postseason for the first time in 13 years, the Yankees spent approximately $420 million to bring CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira to Gotham. According to Forbes magazine, 16 of the 30 MLB teams are worth less than what the Yankees paid for that trio alone.
2. Move over Mr. October, here comes A-Rod. Alex Rodriguez has carried the Yankees during the postseason, hitting .438 with five homers and 12 RBI.
3. A-Rod's turnaround is even more remarkable considering the following: Before the 2009 playoffs, he was hitting .136 in his last 56 postseason at-bats.
4. Captain Clutch. Mr. November. Call Derek Jeter whatever you want. His career average in the Fall Classic is .302 with three homers.
5. Yankees pitching has been stellar throughout the postseason with an earned run average of under 1.90.
6. The Bombers used the $1.5 billion bandbox in the Bronx to their advantage, belting a team-record 244 homers (136 at Yankee Stadium), tops in the majors during the regular season.
7. He might be large, but Sabathia has been in charge all year. He tied for the MLB lead in wins (19) during the regular season and has been next to unhittable in the postseason (3-0, 1.19 ERA).
8. A.J. Burnett leads the majors in walkoff whipped-cream towel slams to the face. He's landed 17 throughout the regular and postseasons.
