The World Series....Game 6? And the Ex-Cub Factor.

I've been following this year's World Series much closer than I have for any World Series in quite a while.  I'm not sure why.

Anyway, I had this feeling before game 5 that if the Phillies were able win that game, they had a huge edge to win the whole series, even after falling into a 3-1 series hole against the Yankees.

Here's why:

The Phillies are using a 4 many starting rotation in the playoffs.  This allows their starters to have the standard 4 days rest between starts.  The Yankees are using a 3 man starting rotation.  That means each of their starting pitchers, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and A.J. Burnett are pitching on short rest.

During game 4, it was apparent to me that CC Sabathia was starting to run looking rather run down.  He was not nearly as effective as he had been earlier in the playoffs.  With the Yankees using this 3 man rotation throughout the playoffs, I really feel like their starting pitchers are running out of steam.

Monday's game, A.J. Burnett was down right awful.  Tonight, I expect Andy Pettitte to struggle as well.  And if the Phillies win tonight, I really think they will be able to just pummel CC Sabathia tomorrow, who will be making his 3 start of the series and I think is running on fumes right now.

The key for the Phillies will be to have their starting pitchers, who should be much fresher, go deep into the game, so to avoid a lot of innings to be pitched by their rather suspect bullpen and to really be aggressive offensively against those tired Yankees starting pitchers.  The Phillies do also have the advantage of having Cliff Lee available, at the very least tomorrow night, to come out of the bullpen...arguably their best pitcher right now. 

Tonight...

Pedro Martinez vs. Andy Pettitte

It should be good.

And  as far as the Cubs related slant on the game...

Currently the active rosters for both the Yankees and Phillies have 2 ex-Cubs on them...Chad Gaudin and Jerry Hairston Jr for the Yanks, Paul Bako and Matt Stairs for the Phils...

Jamie Moyer is not on the Phillies' playoff roster if you add that and Davey Lopes, first base coach, that is 4 ex-Cubs for the Phillies...

Sergio Mitre is not on the Yankees' playoff roster, and Joe Girardi, their manager, and Mike Harkey, bullpen coach, give the Yankees 5 ex-Cubs.

So with 5 ex-Cubs for the Yankees, the ex-Cub factor indicates that the Phillies will win!

UPDATE:
As the Phillies are about to lose...

I need to make a correction, Scott Eyre is a former Cub (I try to block that out of my head)...this pushes the total of ex-Cubs on the Phillies active roster to 3...that puts them over the edge.