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Steve Phillips

  (1:01 PM)

And then there were two! I think it's gonna be a great World Series. What's on everyone's mind?

Mike (Philadelphia, PA)

Steve, how do you think Charlie will handle the DH in the World Series. Dobbs is the obvious answer against lefties. But what about righties? Bruntlett? Coste? So Taguchi? Using your only bench catcher could be risky but what about using Pat Burrell as the DH and putting Bruntlett (the better defensive player) in left? Your thoughts?

Steve Phillips

  (1:03 PM)

I thought he would play Bruntlett in left and DH Burrell, but they have concerns about Burrell off the bench, both physically and mentally. It appears that Burrell will be in left and DH Coste. I like the Phillies bench, but if they have a weakness, they don't really have a right-handed threat to send to the plate. I'm not overly concerned about having the backup catcher serve as the DH, as it is highly unlikely that anything will happen to Carlos Ruiz. If it does, it does, and they'll adjust accordingly. But you can't manage in fear.

Michael, Altoona Pennsylvania

Who do you feel has to have the biggest offensive series for each team in order for them to win the series.

Steve Phillips

  (1:04 PM)

Great question. I think Ryan Howard is the key for the Phillies, as he'll have to provide some power and production, particularly against left-handed pitching. On the Rays' side of things, I think Carlos Pena will have to deliver as well, as he is sandwiched between Upton and Longoria. The better he performs, the less likely the Phillies are to pitch around those two.

Joe (Bosto)

Hey Steve...with the lefties Tampa can bring out of the bullpen, shouldn't Manuel split up Utley and Howard? Maybe put Utley in the 2 hole and Werth in the 3?

Steve Phillips

  (1:06 PM)

I understand the logic to that, but I just couldn't do it. Ryan Howard hit .357 against lefties after August 27th--he seemed to find his swing. Utley has shown the ability to hit lefties as well. I'd still want my best hitter overall in front of my best power hitter.

Joe (Tampa)

Only a Philly native or an NL honk would pick the Phillies. Rolling the Brewers and Dodgers is on par with beating the Jays and Twins. If Hammels doesn't get the W tonight this is a four game series.

Steve Phillips

  (1:08 PM)

I'm actually going to go with the Phillies in seven, and here's why. Cole Hamels is critical to the Phillies' success, there's no question. He is the best SP for either team. The Rays have an advantage in SP depth in games two, three, and four, but none of the Rays' pitchers are shutdown guys. I expect this to be a series won by the best bullpen, and the Phillies' bullpen has a slight edge in my mind. I love what David Price did in Game 7 of the ALCS, and that narrows the gap in the differential between the two pens, but I have to go with Romero, Madson, and Lidge. Look for the Phillies to steal at least one game in the series after the sixth inning.

Gianni ( St. Louis)

Steve do you think David Price will be the Rays closer in this series? I know he is young but, Joe has to have a lot of confidence in him after what he did in Game 7.

Steve Phillips

  (1:09 PM)

I don't expect for Maddon to name him a closer specifically, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't come in with the lead in the ninth, unless Utley and Howard are up in the eighth in a critical situation. Price has the best stuff in the Rays' bullpen. It'll be interesting to see what he can do in the WS.

Lyle (Phoenix)

Am I missing something on the Peavy talk? I keep seeing the Braves giving up Kelly Johnson and two good prospects, but haven't seen either Escobar or Jason Heyward's name mentioned. How in the WORLD could the Padres do this without one of those guys being involved?

Steve Phillips

  (1:11 PM)

When trades in the media look lopsided, you should assume that the rumors started with the team getting the better end of the deal. Kelly Johnson is a nice player but he is absolutely not the lead player in the Jake Peavy trade. Stay tuned, because I expect Peavy to bring as much in return or more that Dan Haren brought the A's. Nothing I've heard comes close to that yet. There's no "deal" on the table right now.

Jeff (Chicago, IL)

We all know domes are generally bad aesthetically, but do you think they're bad for fair play? Seems like every couple of years, a dome team rides home field advantage into the playoffs, and sometimes clear through. Tampa Bay did it this year, Houston did it in '05, Minnesota did it... well, a lot, most famously in '87 when they only won 31 road games all year INCLUDING the playoffs.

Steve Phillips

  (1:13 PM)

I don't think it's that significant of an issue. The reason the Astros went to the WS had more to do with Clemens, Oswalt, and Pettitte than it did the dome. The Rays' success at home had less to do with the stadium than it did with the comfort level of these young players, not having to travel and play on the road. It'll be interesting to see how the Phillies respond to the tTop, as they have not played on turf since mid-2006. This is the squishiest infield turf I've ever walked on, and what the players are saying is that it slows the ball down, but when it hits the clay surface, the ball then returns to normal speed. It should be interesting to see how it comes into play, but I doubt it will.

Jack New Haven CT

What do you think the Red Sox will do with Jason Varitek? Are there any good young catchers that they could get if they decide not to resign him?

Steve Phillips

  (1:15 PM)

The Rangers have a number of good young catchers. It appears there are a number of teams with interest in Taylor Teagarden or Jarrod Saltalamacchia. I suspect that the Red Sox will swallow hard and step into the post-Jason Varitek era next year. They've made the tough decision in the past, and I expect they will make it again. Varitek's bat has declined to the point where you have to wonder whether his outstanding game-calling and leadership makes up for the difference.

Ryan (Astoria, NY)

Steve - you think Manny is a Met next year?

Steve Phillips

  (1:17 PM)

I think Manny's a great fit for the Mets, but I just can't picture him in a Met uniform next year. I would have thought the Mets would have made a play to get him at the deadline this July, as they desperately needed a corner OF. The Red Sox were inclined to try to dump him on the Mets, but they just did not show interest. From my experience, it makes me think ownership told Minaya that they did not want to deal with Manny's antics and what he put the Sox through. If that is true, it seems unlikely they will make a play for him as a free agent.

Pete C Newark DE

Steve, should the Phillies fans worry about a meltdown from Lidge like Mitch Williams did in 1993? He was outstanding all season until that series too.

Steve Phillips

  (1:18 PM)

I assume you're a cynical Phillies fan, so I somewhat understand the question. The big difference between Lidge and Williams is that Lidge throws far more strikes than Williams ever could. Lidge may not be perfect, but have no doubt that the Rays would much prefer to have Brad Lidge pitching for them than against them. You couldn't go into a World Series with a more predictably good closer than Brad Lidge right now.

Michael (Evansville, IN)

Hey Steve, If you were Jim Hendry, how would you make the Cubs more left-handed? Or, do you even agree that it's absolutely necessary? Would you trade DLee and sign Tex?

Steve Phillips

  (1:20 PM)

I would not trade Derek Lee, no. I think that the Cubs have a very solid nucleus, but they could be a bit more left-handed. I wouldn't take away core pieces of their team to do it, though. Unfortunately, Fukudome really tailed off and made the Cubs more vulnerable to righties. I think they will have to look to find those lefty bats in center or right. I just wouldn't trade away a productive player just because he is right-handed.

Rob (New York, NY)

Steve, lots of talk about Teixeira to the Red Sox. Where do you see him landing this offseason?

Steve Phillips

  (1:21 PM)

I don't see him going to the Sox. It doesn't make sense to me--they have Mike Lowell under contract at third, and Youkilis in the fold as well. What would they do with Youkilis if they signed Teixeira, and Lowell comes back healthy and productive. I don't see Boston as an outlet for Teixeira. That doesn't mean they won't show interest in him, at the very least to drive up the price.

Norberto Paulino (New York)

Who you got tonight and why?

Steve Phillips

  (1:22 PM)

I think the Phillies win tonight, because Hamels will outpitch Kazmir. The Rays will be in the bullpen in the sixth inning, as that has been Kazmir's M.O. for most of the season.

Ken (Baltimore)

Hey Steve, who is next year's Tampa Bay Rays?

Steve Phillips

  (1:24 PM)

It depends on who you would classify in that regard. The Twins will be competitive, as will the Indians. I don't see teams like the Pirates, Royals, or A's going to the playoffs next year. Oakland has the best talent of those three, but they're too young and inexperienced to be a playoff team so soon. A team like the Rays only comes around once a generation. They had the 29th-ranked payroll in the league.

R-Mack (NYC)

Hey Steve, it's no secret the Mets bullpen needs a complete makeover. Is it safe to assume K-Rod is #1 on their shopping list?

Steve Phillips

  (1:26 PM)

A lot depends on how Mets ownership looks at Billy Wagner's contract. They are going to collect 80 percent insurance for Wagner, as he will be lost for the year. The issue is whether ownership still assigns Wagner's contract value to the budget, or whether it will be free for Minaya. If they have the money, K-Rod is the target.

Paddy (St. Louis)

Hey Steve, Any word on the Dodger Free Agents? I'm hoping they keep Furcal and go after CC.

Steve Phillips

  (1:27 PM)

The Dodgers will pursue Rafael Furcal and I expect will make offers to Manny. They will lose Derek Lowe and Brad Penny, so they will need to replace some starting pitching. Sabathia has built a home in SoCal and would like to play nearby. I'm just not sure the Dodgers have the money to pay both Manny and CC. If the Dodgers act like a large-market team, the money will be there for Furcal, Manny, and Sabathia. I'm just not convinced they will be that aggressive.

Dan (Buffalo, NY0

Steve, rumors have the Indians going after Street hard this winter. Will they make any regulars available (i.e. Garko, Marte, Barfield, Gutierrez, etc.) to get some bullpen help and possible a power bat?

Steve Phillips

  (1:29 PM)

It'll be interesting to see how they look at Garko. Kelly Shoppach certainly makes you think he could be an everyday catcher. That would free up Victor Martinez to go to first, and would reconfigure the Indians. I'm just not sure how much value Garko brings back--I think Oakland would like him, as he was a college player at Stanford and fits the Oakland mold, offensively. Cleveland has to be open to all kinds of ideas, even if means reconfiguring their club. I'm just not convinced Street is a safe option long-term, as he is injury-prone.

Steve Phillips

  (1:29 PM)

Looking forward to Game 1 tonight, and what I think will be a very interesting series. Tune in to SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight for all the analysis.