Cliff Lee made it look easy, whether it was mowing down Yankee hitters, catching pop ups, or fielding grounders behind his back.  (Bummer about not landing Roy Halliday, huh?)  Game One goes to the Phillies…  Sabathia was solid enough, but Chase Utley pounded two homers – one a gargantuan shot – and the bullpen let the game get away in the eighth inning.  (On the other hand, Damaso Marte struck out Chase Utley looking in that inning without throwing a single pitch in the strike zone based on the Fox strike zone box…)

Tonight the Phillies send Pedro Martinez to the hill against A.J. Burnett and the Yankees.

For a nice breakdown of the two teams, depend on Sports Illustrated.  Ted Keith does a nice job here.  For 15 other interesting aspects of the series, check out John Heyman’s article, too.

For a really cool breakdown of how the Yankees and Phillies assembled their teams, check out this MLB article.  It covers salaries, trades, and what not.  Proof that you need money and a diverse plan for acquiring talent…

Suzyn Waldman is the first woman to call a World Series as a radio broadcaster.  I occasionally listen to John Sterling and Waldman broadcasts while driving home in my car; I like her better than Sterling.  Let’s start with Sterling having scripted all of his home run calls.  Sheesh.

And in other news…

The sale of the Chicago Cubs to the Ricketts family is complete.  Chairman Tom Ricketts says he’s going to set upon “…building a championship tradition the fans so richly deserve.”  [ESPN]

They wanted Manny Acta, but Acta signed with Cleveland.  So, Houston signed Boston bench coach Brad Mills.  (I think Mills got a Topps card back in 1981 or 1982 when he was with the Expos.  I’ll have to check that out as I am sorting cards later this month.)  [SI]

The Tampa Rays signed utility outfielder Gabe Kapler to a one-year deal.  [SI]

Rusty Greer was loved in Texas, and now he might be a hitting instructor.  I like it!  [ESPN]

Some couples can’t help but have their affairs spill into the public arena, but the McCourts are going to be an interesting diversion for baseball fans who also like reality TV…  Only in LA…  [SI]

Happy Birthday!

Charles Ebbets was born on this day in 1859…  Others celebrating with cake or cards include:  Solly Hofman, Cubs utility player of the early 1900s (1882), Earl Yingling (1889) – I write about him in chapter nine of Rube’s biography, Jim Bibby (1944), and Dana Eveland (1982).

Afterthoughts…

And what would YOU do to get World Series tickets?  This woman got arrested for offering, um, a few of her assets (allegedly).  [ESPN]