“It’s just weird because a couple of years ago we were talking about maybe pitching in a World Series together,” commented Sabathia Tuesday at Yankee Stadium about his former Cleveland teammate Lee. Now, though the last two American League Cy Young Award winners are on opposing sides and can set the table for something special.

It is the first time that former teammates have matched up in the World Series for different clubs since game 1 of the 2005 Fall Classic when former Yankee teammates Roger Clemens (Houston) and Jose Contreras (Chicago) met at the series opener in Chicago.

Joe Girardi debuts as a World Series manager, the fourth such Yankee who has played and managed in the Series having been a player under previous manager Joe Torre in 1996 and 1998-99. Plenty of history then for the Yankees, and Girardi is well aware of the pressures involved with his team as favorites to get their elusive 27^th world title.

“I was pretty aware of the pressures, because I think as players you understood what the deal was every year here, because of the way that Mr. Steinbrenner and everyone put the club together,” commented Girardi after his team concluded their workout on a misty field Tuesday.

Of course there is pressure. George Steinbrenner has less authority now as the owner. Hank and Hal will welcome their father to the new billion dollar stadium in the Bronx Wednesday evening and have made it known, getting to and winning the World Series is a necessity when you sign on and manage the Yankees.   They have come this far, and the Steinbrenner family wants nothing but the brass ring and a championship for New York.

And for Phils manager Charlie Manuel, the pressure does not seem to be an issue. He has guided his team to a second consecutive Series appearance, the first manager since Torre took his Yankees to four straight from 1998-2201.  The Phillies, perhaps are attempting to become a dynasty like the Yankees, as no team has won back-to-back championships since the Yankees did that with three straight from 1998-2000.

“We have no pressure as the defending champions,” said Manuel when it was his turn to take the podium. “They have to take it from us,’ he said. “The games are won on the field,” commented Manuel when asked his opinion about the Yankees being the favorites.  His Phils have more experienced Series experience, 17 have been there before to the Yankees nine.

A classic Series perhaps because Manuel has opted to go with Pedro Martinez as his game two starter Thursday evening over  last year’s Series MVP Cole Hamels.  Martinez returns to New York, once again on the big stage and this time at the new Yankee Stadium.

“This may be my last big stage,” said Martinez who had a serious look in his eye at one of the many booths set up in the Great Hall at the Stadium where media met the players.  Afterwards, fans peeking in from the closed gates taunted the 16-year veteran. He was receptive and Pedro put on a show before testing his arm on the field

There were some questions in early May, before Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup. After that the Yankees proved they were destined to get back to the World Series. They were the best team in baseball from then on, and now four more wins await them this time, before they can be called the best against the defending champions.

If Rodriguez continues his torrid hitting, which may be stopped by the numerous lefthanders the Phillies throw, well the Yankees could be in trouble.  If Mark Teixiera, who showed some signs of getting out of a horrid postseason slump at the end of the ALCS, then the Phillies will have their problems.

“Think we can put ourselves on the map to be the better team,” said the Phillies Shane Victorino who ignored a New York tabloid front page that mocked him. Victorino also pays no attention towards comparing his team and the Yankees. Getting 26 championships like the Yankees also can’t be compared, but consecutive championships would be an accomplishment especially going through New York.

“We want to put ourselves in that category,” he commented about a possible dynasty. “You know to win back-to-back would be fun.  They have power and pitching and ultimately it comes down to one game at a time.”

Both teams combined hit 468 home runs this season, and for the first time in 83 years the World Series features two teams with the most home runs hit in the Majors. Yankee pitchers will face a lineup of Philly hitters that have six players in double digits when hitting the long ball and they both have hit 14 home runs this postseason.

So there are some comparisons, and then there is the rooting interest of New York baseball fans. Martinez had a stint with the cross-town Mets and still respects that other baseball team in town. “They will get stronger and better,” he said, “and I know there fans won’t be rooting for us.

Of course not, because in New York a Mets fan has a dilemma. It will be heard. They despise the cross-town Yankees because they always get to this point of a baseball season. And the dreadful Phillies have become a nemesis taking the last three National League east division titles under Manuel, so a Mets fan may root for the Yanks.

But in baseball circles it does not matter who a fan roots for. Fans want to see a good World Series, so does everyone associated with Major League Baseball, and the Fox Sports Network may have a ratings buster due to the interest and magnitude of this series.

So when the Phillies Jimmy Rollins made a bold prediction, his team in five games that set the tone more.  Others believe it will be Yankees in six or seven games and a lot rides on how Girardi sets his roster. He may carry two catchers instead one instead of the three he has used in the previous postseason games against Minnesota and the Angels.

And the Yankees will probably use a game four starter. “You look at where you’re at and make decisions as you go,” says Girardi about who to start after Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.  “We have a plan of what we’re going to do and that plan can be adjusted depending on where you are in the Series.”

That relates also to the bullpen where the Series can ultimately be decided. Girardi still has plans to use Phil Hughes in a set up role, along with Joba Chamberlain. And one thing is certain, the Yankees have Mariano Rivera and the all-time best closer in postseason baseball just about assures a Yankees win.

The difference from Rivera and other postseason closers, you are seeing Cy Young and not Mel Rojas or Armando Benitez two former New York Mets who had no consistency when closing an important game. And don’t be surprised to see Girardi call his closer for a six out save like he did Sunday in the ALCS clincher against the Angels.

A classic in the making for all baseball fans the next week or so for sure.  In the end, home runs from both sides including Ryan Howard of the Phillies. “Just try and take advantages of some mistakes they may make,” he says about ways to overtake the Yankees.

.“Don’t know a thing about them, don’t know much about them,” said the captain Derek Jeter when asked about the Phillies in the new spacious Yankees clubhouse that got another dose of champagne Sunday evening. Jeter is a part of that core of four with Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte who now go to their seventh World Series.

Who is better, Jeter or the Phils Chase Utley? In a matter of hours, the Yankees will know more about the Phillies than they did in the three games they played against each other earlier this season. Then the Phils took two of three in the Bronx.  They were good games then, and expect the same now.

Yankees have home field advantage.  That helps also and in the end they get their 27^th world championship in the Bronx next week in six games.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“It felt like the old place,” said Jeter who reached base safely four times as the New York Yankees took game one of the American League Division Series with a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. “We couldn’t have drawn it up any better for us,” he said. The Yankees win marked two years to the day of their previous postseason win, an 8-4 victory on October 7, 2007 in game three of the ALDS against Cleveland.

Jeter would tie the score 2-2 and starting pitcher CC Sabathia earned the win snapping a three-game post season losing streak. The Yankees bullpen took over for Sabathia after

6 2/3^rd innings and it reminded everyone of how the Yankees did it in the postseason when they won four world championships under then manager Joe Torre.

More importantly, Rodriquez snapped a 0-for18 career postseason mark with runners in scoring position and two outs. He was 2-for-3, all two out hits that included an RBI single in the seventh inning that drove in Jeter who scored three runs.

“It definitely felt good,” commented Rodriguez who was the center of attention when he came to the plate for the first time. The Yankees failures to advance past the first round of the postseason against Cleveland, and in their previous appearance in 2005 and 2006 partly was attributed to Rodriguez and his failure to get runners home from scoring position.

So Rodriguez getting the pos t season monkey off his back, Jeter doing his usual postseason heroics and Sabathia doing what he came here to do was definitely what the Yankees needed as they look to take game two Friday evening in the Bronx. In that game A.J., Burnett gets the start for New York, and they could go for a sweep Sunday with Andy Pettitte on the mound at Minnesota for game three facing former Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano. .

“This is what you come here for,” said Sabathia. “It was electric tonight,” he said about the ovation he received with every pitch and when manager Joe Girardi removed him from the game after throwing 113 pitches. “The place got loud,” added Sabathia. “Him (Jeter) starting out the game with a single and then tying the score right back. It just made me want to go back out there and get three quick outs.”

The Twins, who clinched the American League Central division the evening before at home in an extra inning tie breaking win over Detroit, were not blaming their late arrival in New York as the reason as to why they lost game one.  The loss was attributed more to Sabathia on a night when the wind was blowing to all sides of the field.

“I kind of think CC Sabathia stress,” commented Twins manager Ron Gardenhire when asked if the late night arrival of his team had an effect on the game. “That was what we envisioned when we signed him, that CC would be pitching in October and November,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi who got his first postseason win as a manager.

Added Gardenhire, “I think the big thing is you get a two-run lead quick and as soon as you get back out, it’s a 2-2 ball game with a homer. That’s a little deflating. When you get a lead, you want to go back out there and shut them down. And Jeter does what he does best. He got his team right back in it.”

Designated hitter Hideki Matsui hit his seventh career postseason home run, his third in the postseason against the Twins. That came in the fifth inning with one on and opened a 6-2 lead for New York. And of course, Mariano Rivera would close the game and lowered his all-time postseason ERA 0.76.“

Everything worked to perfection for the Yankees, just like it has the entire season. With the exception of a couple of passed balls that got by catcher Jorge Posada, it was the first of hopefully ten more wins that will get the Yankees their 27^th world championship.

“We wanted to come out here and set the tone,” said Jeter. They certainly did that Wednesday evening and as Jeter said, “we have to come out with the same intensity and win game two,”

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Years later it hasn’t changed much, even though Rivera may be a little older and has had some recent struggles. So it figured that Rivera would be the story Sunday evening at Citi Field. The Yankees swept the three game series from the Mets 4-2 in the finale of the annual six game series and took five of the six games.

Rivera came in the game for a four out save, significant also because it was a milestone, number 500, which is now second to Brewers and former San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman. And, Rivera contributed at the plate, sort of, in the eighth inning with the bat.

He drew a bases loaded walk off Francisco Rodriquez in the ninth, the Mets closer who established a season record 62 saves last season with the Angeles. The at bat by Rivera forced in a needed insurance run for the Yankees and was Rivera’s first run batted in as a hitter in his third career at bat.

Rivera was more excited about the RBI and how he hung in there against Rodriguez. “I had one thing in mind, just try to do something.” he said about his at bat. He also recorded his 18th save of the season, received congratulations from first baseman Mark Teixeira who handed him the ball that will probably be sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame up in Cooperstown New York.  And it was Teixeira who got the Yankees started again at the plate with a two- run double in the first inning.

The entire Yankees team would meet and greet Rivera as he left the field and he also heard the cheers from the many Yankee fans remaining at Citi Field by the Yankees dugout.

“Don’t get me wrong it is definitely special,” added the 39-year old relief specialist about the record. Rivera started his career with the Yankees as a set up man out of the pen for John Wetteland and the rest is history as he also holds the record for most post season saves with 34.

“I wasn’t applauding him for that,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel about Rivera easily stopping his Mets in the ninth inning to close the game. Instead Manuel was clapping because of the accomplishment that Rivera achieved at the Mets new home ballpark. “You have to applaud that,” he said about the record.

It was the Yankees fifth consecutive win in a season that has had its ups and downs. And for the Mets, the puzzle continues as their fans hope and possibly await some roster moves that can possibly produce some offense for a team that is next to last in baseball in the home run category. It was the first three-game series sweep from an opponent in the brief history of Citi Field.

.In all three games this weekend, the Yankees scored first. The anemic hitting of the Mets continued with a make ship lineup that Manuel has to assemble because of the various injuries to players that have dominated the first half of this Mets season. The Yankees out hit the Mets in the three games 26-4 and the Mets were outscored 17-3.

It has Manuel perplexed and trying to find the answers. The Mets are in desperate need of a power hitter because the injured Carlos Delgado is not expected back any time soon. And one of their leading home run hitters last season, David Wright in particular, has four as the month of June comes to a conclusion and instead is hitting for average.

“We have to find a way,” was all Manuel could say about how his team continued to be shut down at the plate in the three games from Yankees starting pitchers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Chien-Ming Wang (1-6) who started the final game Sunday evening won his first game since June 15 of last season

“We have to play somewhat error free and fundamentally sound,” added Manuel. “We get the big hit, we get the big play but we have to compromise to put ourselves in that position,” he said.

Manuel was referring to the better infield play Sunday of his team, though Daniel Murphy continues to make blunders at first base dropping a ball and throwing a ball to third base that moved Nick Swisher to third base in the first inning. Overall Manuel got another effective outing from starter Livan Hernandez, (5-3) who settled in after the first inning. Hernandez was removed after seven innings after allowing three hits and five walks and got the loss.

The Yankees moved to a season best 11 games over .500 at 43-32, and for the first time since last July, the Mets are once again a .500 team. But the evening belonged to Rivera as city baseball bragging rights once again belong to the Yankees.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

A Yankees opening day in the Bronx has always been special. An event that sometimes outshines what will happen on the field. This time there were more legends that usually are a part of opening day festivities. Bernie Williams on the guitar and among the 40 distinguished Yankees alumni.

The best, Yogi Berra, who threw out the first pitch as the boss George Steinbrenner who made this new ballpark a reality observed the festivities in a wheelchair.  CC Sabathia, a part of that half billion dollar investment of new Yankees threw the first official pitch at the new ballpark and didn’t last more than five innings.

And the ovation, just like it always was across the street came the first time when Jorge Posada hit the first official home run at Yankee Stadium. A staple of those Yankees championships under manager Joe Torre, was Posada, who rightfully so christened the new ballpark.

A special and emotional day for the 48,271 who were fortunate enough to be a part of history, as were the  fans who attended opening day on April 18, 1923 when the Yankees initiated their second home with a win over the Boston  Red Sox.

Still there was that aura of the old Stadium that still sits across the street. The difference, are better views from all angles, better concession stands, plenty of restaurants and a state of the art building that Steinbrenner wanted to have for his fans.  The history hopefully, in due time will be carried over.

But it wasn’t the old comeback game that Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and the captain Derek Jeter used to have in the old ballpark. Even the fans gave up hope. The mystique that always hovered around the old stadium wasn’t there as the Indians would score 9 runs in the seventh inning.

They started to leave after the Yankees bullpen once again failed them in the early season. “The bullpen has to get more consistent,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi who specifically referred to Phil Coke, Jose Veras and Damaso Marte, responsible for that devastating inning.

“Yeah but it was a part of history and a great day for a ballgame,” said Phil Newberger as he continued to take in the scenery. “It is still Yankee Stadium,” he said looking across the street where demolition has started towards converting all that history to a huge park.