So here we are. The final two teams. It was a long road, a long season, but we have arrived at the World Series. I don’t think anyone is shocked by the two teams left standing – the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies, who’s pretty much had the same team as last year, but added Cliff Lee as the big difference maker at the trading deadline. And the New York Yankees, who’s off season spending spree landed them two difference makers in CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira – as well as AJ Burnett, it just depends on which AJ shows up on a given night.

I’m not going to lie, my pre-season prediction of Yankees v. Dodgers was looking pretty good up until last week, when the Phillies turned them into little leaguers, but here we are. When looking at these two teams, its not surprising that they are the last two standing. Both teams have powerful line-ups, both have talented starting pitchers (with the edge going to the Yankees), both teams have good bullpens, with the Yankees having the best closer in probably baseball history. Both teams weren’t/aren’t intimidated by the opposition.

Here are just a few questions that may arise during this series:

Can A-Rod keep his playoff magic going?

Will the New York crowd, the aura that is Yankee stadium scare the Phillies?

Will the Yankees go after Ryan Howard? Or will that attack Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez?

Which Brad Lidge will show up?

The Yankees, 51 come from behind wins – The Phillies, 43 come from behind wins… if either team falls behind, can they do it again in the World Series?

Let’s face it though, the World Series – its another season, within the season. Anything can happen. One thing that should and hopefully will make this a 7

game series, is each teams ability never to quit, come from behind, no matter what the situation is. They possess toughness too not be intimidated by their opponent. The Yankees have had that fearlessness about them for a long time, and over the last two seasons, the Phillies have shown the same calm composure.

Prediction time! I have gone back and forth with this one – the Yankees clearly have the edge in many categories but the Phillies have a swagger about them and won’t go quietly.  Since Gearupforsports.com is about the fans perspective, I turned to some experts for their opinions – No, not Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, or Jayson Stark. But some real experts… My friends! Here are their thoughts:

Bob LaRue – Yankees in 7

They are too good all around and too deep especially offensively. I think it will go 7 because Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels are strong and the Philliess have a good offense. If the Phillies can steal one in NY, I actually give them the edge. Ultimately yanks win because of CC

Will Russell – Yankees in 6

Phillies won’t go quietly into the night, but A-Rod’s gonna be unstoppable, plus he’s gotta win it for K-Hud!

Sean Haneberg – Phillies in 6

All they have to do is channel the fighting spirit of Rocky Balboa

Mike Alley – Yankees in 6

It pains me to do this but I think finally that money is buying a ring for New York.  I think their starting pitching is too much and if A-Rod does what he’s been doing they are tough to stop.  It’s also almost impossible to repeat in baseball, so I don’t like the Phillies chances.

Dave Fox – Yankees in 6

Best infield, best player (a-rod), best clutch pitcher (Andy Pettitte), best closer…only reason they lose 2 is Ryan Howard.

Dave DeMarzo – Phillies in 6

It’s going to be a tough series but the Yankees pitching rotation on short rest is going to come back and bite them in the butt. Plus, all of those Latino players are going to freeze playing in November. Although, I am secretly rooting for them. – - (Thanks Dave, I guess)

PJ Cummings – Yankees in 7

Both lineups are stacked and both have pretty good starting pitching, but the Yankees have 3 things on their side….

1. Home Field- Not a huge advantage, but still an advantage. The Phillies took 2 out of 3 in Yankee Stadium this year, but I think this will prove to be a big deal.

2. Bullpen- The Yankees have a much better bullpen and the best playoff closer of all time. The Phillies might have one of the worst closers in baseball in Lidge. He blew 11 saves this year alone. I see the Yankees coming back at least one or two times on the Phillies bullpen.

3. The Yankees are hungry- The Phillies won it last year. NY hasn’t been to the WS since ’03 and hasn’t won since 2000 over the Mets. AROD, Teixeira and Sabathia have never been there before and they want it more. For that reason I think they win, but it will be a close series. – - (Thanks PJ, its a blog, not a book)

Brian Sisson – Yankees in 7

Classic Series.  A-Rod finally earns his money and Sabathia proves he is worth it.  MLB ends on a good note after a rough time of it this season. – - (Rough time?  Brian’s a Cubs fan)

Todd Murray – Phillies in 7

Difference Maker is Cliff Lee. Phillies grab game 1 and steal home field advantage… I’m a Phanatic!

My prediction – Phillies in 7

The key to the series is the Phillies confidence and swagger they have been playing with for 2 years now. They’ve added Lee and he needs to come out and compete tomorrow night. If they play scared and sloppy, this series will be uglier than Craig Sager’s suits that he wears on national television. My heart says Phillies in 7, my head says Yankees in 5.