Hoping the Phillies can beat the Yankees

As I write this, I’m waiting patiently for Game 1 of the 2009 World Series. Actually, I’m not all that patient. This year’s baseball postseason has been ridiculous in terms of time.

California Angels manager Mike Scioscia was right on target to complain about eight postseason games in 20 days. How does it make sense to drag out playoffs in a sport where 162 games are played in about 185 days?

This is like watching paint dry.

It’s yet another homage to the almighty dollar. By spreading the playoffs out, there are more opportunities for TV time and more ads to sell. It’s all about the Benjamins when it should be about the Toriis, A-Rods, Coles and Mannys. If you’re not a baseball fan, those are the first names of four of the biggest stars who made it to one of the two league championship series.

Now it’s down to the wonderful Philadelphia Phillies and the despicable, detestable, disgusting, vile, godless, greedy, humorless, egotistical New York Yankees.

Guess which team I’m rooting for.

It’s no secret that I hate the Yankees. In my life, only Thurman Munson and Jim "Catfish" Hunter wore the pinstripes and counted me among their fans.

Don’t get me wrong, I can respect Yankees and not like them. After all, this is fandom, not a realm where logic has any notable role. Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and a few others have my respect.

Some players were on my A-list right up until they signed to play in the Bronx. Think Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira — and I’m not even a Rangers fan.

If Charles Manson put together a prison baseball team and played the Yankees, I’d be a neutral observer.

Luckily I have the following reasons to be rooting for the Phillies:

>> Ryan Howard. I joined Howard’s fan club when he was still in the minors and Jim Thome was playing first for Philadelphia. I stashed Howard away on my fantasy team, a move that now pays big dividends each year.

>> Cole Hamels. Another guy who crossed my radar as a minor leaguer. He’s been a member of the Showboats ever since.

>> Pedro Feliz. One of the things about fantasy baseball is that you look for consistency and role players. I’ve returned to Feliz several times over the years since 2003. Somehow he became my favorite player when he was still with the Giants. I guess because nobody else seems to care about him.

>> Jayson Werth. I found this guy playing outfield once for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played 100 games or so and put up mediocre numbers. For some reason I kept drafting him in late rounds and now he’s a powerhouse.

>> Shane Victorino. His great last name is reason enough to root for him. He plays the game with passion and energy and is just plain fun to watch.

>> Brad Lidge. How can you not love a guy who reclaimed his career last year after the Houston Astros gave up on him.

>> Joe Blanton. I saw him pitch in Midland in 2003. Enough said.

So I’ll be the one in Cubs hat rooting for the Phillies. Or anyone other than the Yankees.