Last year, Dye didn’t live up to expectations with the White Sox. He hit only .250 with 27 homers and 81 RBIs. In 2008, he hit .292 with 34 homers and 96 RBIs.

Throughout Dye’s career he has had many ups and downs. When teams take a look at him during the offseason, he may land a big contract from a team that hopes that Dye has a few more of those up seasons.

There’s even a possibility that Dye will return to the White Sox. He’s a popular player in Chicago and the team will likely have a need for either an outfielder or a DH.

At 35, Dye probably won’t be able to land a long-term contract. That said, getting or three-year contract isn’t out of the question.

Jermaine Dye - Chicago White Sox (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Hideki Matsui, who was named the World Series MVP, was the big bat in New York’s lineup in Game 6. He drove in six of their seven runs on the night. He started things off with a two-run blast in the second inning. In the third, he hit a two-run single. Finally, in the fifth inning, Matsui hit a two-run double.

Getting the win was Andy Pettitte. In 5.2 innings of work, he gave up three earned runs. Mariano Rivera got the final five outs to cement his legacy as the best closer in the history of baseball.

For the Phillies, it was close but no cigar. They put up a great fight in making it back to the World Series, however they just didn’t have quite the talent that the Yankees boast in nearly all facets of the game.

After an offseason that saw the Yankees spend hundreds of millions of dollars to bring a winner back to the Big Apple, the only thing that can be said is mission accomplished.

The New York Yankees are Champions for the 27th Time (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

After Alex Rodriguez put the Yankees on the board first in the top of the first inning via an RBI double, Utley smashed a three-run blast in the bottom of the first inning. In the seventh inning, Utley hit a solo homer to give the Phillies a 7-2 lead.

Utley now has five homers in the World Series, which ties Reggie Jackson for the all-time World Series record. On the night, he was 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, three runs and four RBIs.

Despite Utley’s power display, the Phillies had to hold their breath near the end of the contest. Rodriguez had a two-run double in the eighth inning to make the score 8-4. Later in the inning, Robinson Cano’s sac fly made it 8-5.

In the ninth, the Phillies decided to turn to Ryan Madson instead of Brad Lidge — who has given up three runs in the previous night. Madson got in a jam but got Derek Jeter to ground into a double play and then struck out Mark Teixeira to end the inning.

The World Series now heads to New York for Game 6 with the Yankees up 3-2. The Phillies are a longshot to win both in New York but as this team proved in Game 5, they still have a lot of fight left.

Chase Utley has authored a historic World Series (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Derek Jeter began the game with an infield single. Johnny Damon then hit a double off of Joe Blanton. With runners on second and third, Mark Teixeira hit an RBI groundout. After Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pinch, Jorge Posada hit a sacrifice fly to left field to extend the Yankees lead to 2-0.

However, in the bottom of the first inning, the Phillies quickly got back into the ballgame. Shane Victorino and Chase Utley hit doubles on consecutive at-bats to trim the lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ryan Howard led off the stanza with a single. Howard then stole second base and ended up scoring on a two-out single by Pedro Feliz to tie the game at 2-2.

In the top of the fifth, the Yankees struck back. A Derek Jeter single scored Nick Swisher. The next batter, Johnny Damon, hit a single to score Melky Cabrera. In the bottom half of the inning, the Phillies got their first two batters on base … but Sabathia worked out the jam and got out of the inning.

The Phillies then tied the game thanks to the long ball. In the bottom of the seventh, Utley hit his third solo homer of the series off of Sabathia. In the bottom of the eighth, Feliz hit a solo home run off of Joba Chamberlain.

With the game tied 4-4 and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees had a championship-like rally. Damon battled Brad Lidge and then got a single. After Teixeira got hit by a pitch, A-Rod hit a run scoring double. Posada came up next drove in both Teixeira and Rodriguez.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mariano Rivera got three straight outs to pick up yet another postseason save. With the Yankees now leading the World Series 3-1, New York will try to wrap up the 2009 baseball championship in Game 5 on Monday.

Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

The New York Yankees could have easily folded but instead they battled back. Alex Rodriguez, who had been struggling during the World Series, hit a two run homer in the fourth to start the rally. Andy Pettitte helped his own cause with an RBI single, then Johnny Damon hit a two RBI double.

In the top of the sixth, Nick Swisher hit a solo shot to give the Yankees a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Werth hit his second solo home run of the game.

Then the Yankees were able to break the game open. Jorge Posada hit an RBI single in the top of the seventh. The top of the eighth saw Hideki Matsui hit a pinch hit solo homer.

With an 8-4 lead, the Yankees only gave up a Carlos Ruiz solo shot and won the contest 8-5. The Yankees are now up 2-1 in the World Series. For the Phillies to have a legit shot at winning back-to-back championships, they desperately need a victory in Game 4.

Stay tuned to see if the Phillies can stay alive or if the Yankees will take a stranglehold on the series.

Alex Rodriguez is a hero once again (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

While I don’t think it’s literally a must win, there’s no doubt this is an important game. And, yes, chances are high that whichever team wins Game 3 will be the 2009 baseball champion.

For the Yankees, the reasoning is mostly related to pitching. In Game 3, they have Andy Pettitte on the mound. If they don’t win the game, they’ll have to count on CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett in the next two games. Though they are both good pitchers, leaning on a pair of pitchers who will be throwing on short rest is risky.

Additionally, the Yankees hitters need some momentum. Someone like Alex Rodriguez needs to break out of his slump — and a Game 3 win will likely make that easier.

For the Phillies, it’s about protecting their home field. A loss in Game 3 would send the World Series back to New York. It would also make it mandatory to win Game 4 and Game 5 to have a chance.

We’ll see what happens but if you are going to watch any game in the World Series this year, be sure to make it Game 3.

Can Alex Rodriguez come to life in Game 3? (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Lee has been very good in the postseason but he has no professional experience starting on only three days rest. Apparently, Manuel didn’t want to see whether or not Lee can be effective on short rest. Instead, Lee will get the baseball to start Game 5.

Going with Blanton isn’t without risk. Against the New York Yankees in four starts, Blanton has an ERA of 8.18 and a record of 0-3. Both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira have had much success off of Blanton.

The Phillies are banking on Blanton’s recent success in Game 4 outing. In fact, last year in the World Series, Blanton got the win against the Tampa Bay Rays to help the Phillies extend to a 3-1 series lead.

The Yankees are likely to make the opposite decision. CC Sabathia, who has already started on short rest during this year’s postseason, will probably start Game 4 on three days of rest.

Joe Blanton - Philadelphia Phillies (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

In the fourth inning, Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run to tie the game. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Hideki Matsui hit a solo blast to put the Yankees up 2-1. New York would never trail again.

On the mound, Burnett was dominant. He struck out nine batters in his seven innings of work. Burnett gave up only four hits and two walks. Mariano Rivera pitched the final two innings to pick up another postseason save.

For the Phillies, starting pitcher Pedro Martinez wasn’t bad. He gave up three earned runs in six innings, while striking out eight batters. However, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were a combine 0-9 at the plate.

The World Series now travels to Philadelphia for Game 3, Game 4 and Game 5. Game 3 will be played on Saturday night and will feature Cole Hamels on the mound for the Phillies and Andy Pettitte on the mound for the Yankees.

AJ Burnett was fantastic for New York (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Lee, who the Phillies traded for during the middle of the season and quickly became the squad’s ace, was outstanding. He pitched all nine innings and didn’t give up a run until the ninth inning. When it was all said and done, Lee had given up six hits, no earned runs, no walks and struck out ten batters.

Utley hit a solo homer in the third inning to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning, Utley hit another solo shot off of C.C. Sabathia to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. The Phillies added two runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth to coast to a relatively easy victory.

In Game 2 of the World Series, the Phillies will send Pedro Martinez to the mound. The Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett. If the Phillies can take another game at Yankee Stadium, New York would be in a world of hurt. Stay tuned for a must-see Game 2 that promises to be a thriller!

The Cliff Lee trade has been gold for the Phillies (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Many experts though the Phillies would go with Cole Hamels in Game 2. However, manager Charlie Manuel said that he wanted to split up his left-handers and thought that Martinez was a good choice to pitch in New York in what promises to be a key contest.

In Game 1, both team’s best starting pitchers will be on the mound. C.C. Sabathia will go for the Yankees, while Cliff Lee will be on the mound for the Phillies.

Going against Martinez will be A.J. Burnett in Game 2. Game 3 will feature Hamels versus Andy Pettitte.

The World Series begins on Wednesday at 7:57 PM ET.

Post from: Knuckle Curve