Any blogger living in their mother's basement or Red Sox beat reporter can give a simple breakdown of the Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies series which begins tonight at Citizen's Bank Park.
It's a possible World Series preview (fingers crossed) so it deserves more than a simple player by player matchup. Nope, with a best friend from college that hails from suburban Philadelphia and an ex-girlfriend from South Jersey, I feel like I'm better suited than most to compare and contrast these cities, fan bases, food, universities, etc.
The Red Sox check in at 45-32, half a game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.
The Phillies have the best record in MLB, 49-30, and they lead the National League East by 4.5 games.
Best local food: Cheesesteaks (Phi) vs. Clam Chowder (Bos)
Everybody does cheesesteaks but they're truly a delicacy in Philly. Boston's clam chowder is delicious but there's only so much of it you can possibly eat.
Edge: Phillies.
Tonight is Josh Beckett (6-2) vs. Cliff Lee (8-5). Tomorrow night is John Lackey (5-6) vs. Vance Worley (2-1) and Thursday afternoon is Jon Lester (9-4) vs. Cole Hamels (9-4). There's something for everyone as the series opener and finale promise to be likely pitcher's duels between some of the best pitchers in the game. Tomorrow will probably be a shootout as both pitchers will get shelled.
Catchers: Carlos Ruiz (Phi) vs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Bos)
Ruiz is better although Salty has come on after a disastrous start to the 2011 season.
Edge: Phillies
Home Parks: Citizens Bank Park (Phi) vs. Fenway Park (Bos)
Both are hitters park, no questions asked but at least Fenway isn't a complete launching pad (other than the Green Monster). Citizens Bank is a glorified Little League World Series field but it's a modern stadium that's much more comfortable than the theme park known as Fenway.
Edge: Fenway for players, Citizens Bank for fans
1st base: Ryan Howard (Phi) vs. Adrian Gonzalez (Bos)
Two of the best first basemen in baseball, both can hit homers and extra base hits every time they come to the plate. However, Gonzalez is a more complete player (Gold Glover) and doesn't have as many holes in his swing.
Edge: Red Sox
Local Beers: Yuengling (Phi) vs. Sam Adams (Bos)
Two of my favorites so it's impossible to choose one over the other.
Edge: Push
2nd base: Chase Utley (Phi) vs. Dustin Pedroia (Bos)
Again two of the best at their respective position. Utley missed most of the season so far with an injury but he's back and seems to be himself again. Pedroia has gotten off to somewhat of a slow start but he is the heart and soul of the Red Sox.
Edge: Push
Overrated summer destinations: Jersey Shore (Phi) vs. Cape Cod (Bos)
Each have their charms but the traffic going to the Cape is brutal. Yet I can't choose the home of MTV's Jersey Shore over any other place in the world. A toxic dump that deserves to be paved over immediately.
Edge: Red Sox
Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins (Phi) vs. Marco Scutaro (Bos)
Probably the biggest positional mismatch. Rollins is an All-Star while Scutaro is a journeyman in what has been a revolving door for Boston since Nomar Garciaparra was traded to the Cubs in 2004.
Edge: Phillies
Ivy League Universities: UPenn (Phi) vs. Harvard (Bos)
Let's be honest, I wouldn't have had a prayer to get into either one but that won't stop me from saying Harvard-the World's Greatest University-is light years ahead of UPenn.
Edge: Red Sox
3rd base: Placido Polanco (Phi) vs. Kevin Youkilis (Bos)
Polanco is a solid pro, good in the field and at the plate but Youk is a little bit better in both ways.
Edge: Red Sox
Trademark movies: Rocky (Phi) vs. Good Will Hunting (Bos)
Absolute classics and two of my favorites of all-time. Still, I grew up around Boston and I'm not a working class Italian boxer.
Edge: Red Sox
Left field: Raul Ibanez (Phi) vs. Darnell McDonald (Bos)
This is a mess since Carl Crawford is on the DL for the Red Sox. Ibanez is washed up but McDonald hasn't had a pulse this season.
Edge: Phillies
Top musicians: The Roots (Phi) vs. Aerosmith (Bos)
Ugh, for a city that has a great music scene, Boston falls way short in this category. Unless you're a middle-aged dirtbag living in the North or South Shore, Aerosmith is a joke these days. Roots all day.
Edge: Phillies
Center field: Shane Victorino (Phi) vs. Jacoby Ellsbury (Bos)
Two of the most dynamic leadoff hitters in MLB. Electric is the best way to describe both. They have each earned All-Star spots if they keep up their fine play.
Edge: Push
Famous chicks: Heather Mitts (Phi) vs. Maria Menounos (Bos)
With my apologies to the fine people in the Keystone State, I couldn't think of any natives that are famous for their beauty. I'm sure I'm overlooking some. So give me Medford Maria in a heartbeat.
Edge: Red Sox
Right field: Dominic Brown (Phi) vs. Josh Reddick (Bos)
Two young guys that haven't proven much at the Major League level yet. Brown is the more hyped prospect but so far in a limited role, Reddick has been better.
Edge: Red Sox
Managers: Charlie Manuel (Phi) vs. Terry Francona (Bos)
Francona is a former Phillies manager that had no success in the City of Brotherly Love. Manuel is a lovable redneck. They're both baseball lifers.
Edge: Push
With no DH, David Ortiz is sitting to start tonight although Twitter is saying he'll get the start tomorrow night at first base with Gonzalez in the outfield. We shall see.
Fanbases: Philly lowlifes vs. Red Sox pink hats
Since they are the two most passionate and devoted fanbases in all of North American sports, it's easy to poke fun at both groups. However, Philly has more passion now that the Red Sox have won two World Series titles in the past seven years.
Edge: Phillies
Bullpen: Antonio Bastardo, Danys Baez & Michael Stutes (Phi) vs. Daniel Bard, Matt Albers & Jonathan Papelbon (Bos).
Clay Buchholz and Roy Oswalt are on the DL but the Phillies still have a better rotation. However, with Jose Contreras, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge all on the DL, the Philadelphia better hope they get long outings this series because their bullpen is a complete joke at the moment. The Red Sox only have two reliable guys in the bullpen (Bard and Papelbon) but that's two more than the Phillies.
Edge: Red Sox in bullpen, Phillies in rotation
Place in American history: Liberty Bell (Phillies) vs. Freedom Trail (Red Sox)
The two most important cities in American history so this is the definition of an even matchup.
Edge: Push
So yeah, let's hope this is a World Series preview. There would be nothing better than October baseball with these two great, historical cities going face to face for a World Series title. The ratings and interest would be off the charts. Enjoy the games everyone, go Red Sox!
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