We’ve all heard the slogans and saw the t-shirts when the Yankees came in for Interleague play this summer. “Hey New York, We Want Our Trophy Back!”
Well the Yankees held up their end of the bargain thus far, sweeping the Minnesota Twins in a 6-1 win last night. It was New York’s ninth win in a row in postseason play against Minnesota, the longest active stretch of dominance between any two playoff clubs.
The Yankees are the class of the American League until further notice. They dominated the Twins in the first round of the ALDS. Whether it was a close game, a come from behind victory or a brute bludgeoning, it didn’t matter. The Yankees won, and are the cream of the AL right now.
The Phillies know they have to keep pace. Who cares if they aren’t in the same league? What the Yankees do is as important to this team, fans, and city, as every opponent in the NL.
Since the 2009 World Series, Philadelphia fans have kept one eye on our opponent and one on the Yankees this season. Because as much as a 2010 World Series win would be sweet, it would be sweeter if it came by defeating the Yankees.
This is act one of the sequel.
In tonight’s Game 3 of the NLDS Phillies lefty Cole Hamel’s will start against Reds Pitcher Johnny Cueto. Hamels, who has a lifetime record of 6-0 against the Reds is sure to be on his A-game against a team he has handled thus far in his career.
If the Phillies want to prove they are the class of the NL they need to match what the Yankees did last night. They need to sweep the Cincinnati Reds. This needs to be a statement game, the kind that says “We saw what you did, now watch this.”
We need dominance tonight. This can’t be a come from behind game, or a small ball victory.
We need swagger.
We need a confident Ryan Howard hitting a no-doubter home run of about 450 feet.
We need the fist pump of Cole Hamels after throwing a fastball or change up to retire the side.
We need that smirk and shrug of Jimmy Rollins as he flashes the leather on a jaw dropping double play.
We need it all.
If we get all that tonight, it’s only a matter of time before our trophy is back.
Wow, the title of this article is 100% incorrect. The Phillies only ‘need’ to beat the Reds in the series which is extremely likely. If the Phils lose today (and we all know that only a moron is picking against them), but clinch the series in the next game, the total # of people who will be comparing the series to the Yankees sweep will be equal the amount of Brian Westbrook rushing yards so far this season – 0.
How does doing all of that mean that it’s only a matter of time before the pills get their trophy back?