Bruan

If predicting sports games were my job, you could add me to the 9.5 percent of those unemployed in the U.S.

But with the World Series just around the corner, why not give it another shot? Third time’s the charm, right?

At this point, I should be picking the Yankees. With A-Rod playing the way he is and a top-notch three-man rotation, the Bronx Bombers might actually be able to pull this thing off. They made it look relatively easy –though the teams they played didn’t give them much of a challenge — and are finally back in the October Classic for the first time since 2003.

Well, you can say all the great things about the Yankees, but this year, just like every other since 2000, New York will not win a championship because, well, it’s not really the Yankees we’re talking about.

After spending hundreds of millions this past offseason, transactions that some people questioned obviously paid dividends, with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira all doing their parts in propelling the Yankees to the World Series.

But this isn’t anything new. Since their last championship in 2000, a team that consisted of home-grown talent like Dave Justice, Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter, the Yankees (or the Steinbrenners) have shifted their ways to instead buy their talent instead of find it.

The Phillies are seemingly the opposite. They aren’t under the wrath of an overpowering owner, and their players are, well, theirs. The Phils’ lineup, strong defense and drive to win will push them to a back-to-back title, incidentally, the first time since the Yankees did it nine years ago.

Bleach

It pains me to write this.

I have spent my entire fanhood rooting against the Yankees almost as hard as I cheer on the Brewers.

The pinstripes represent everything upsetting about baseball to a small market fan. They have ruined any semblance of competitive balance by buying up other teams’ free agents and by the amount of coverage they receive, I’m pretty sure George Steinbrenner secretly owns ESPN.

But the “just spend baby” approach will finally pay off for New York’s 27th World Series title as the Yankees have literally priced out the competition.

I was convinced the baseball playoffs were a crapshoot, but with a $200 million payroll finally allocated properly, the Yankees have bought every number on the board.

The combination of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte will overpower the Phillies hitters, especially lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

The deep Yankees lineup with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira will wear down all of the Phillies arms except for Cliff Lee — the second coming of Pettitte, sans HGH use.

And if you aren’t convinced yet, just compare Mariano Rivera to Brad Lidge. Stacking those two side by side puts things in perspective doesn’t it?

The Phillies have done a nice job reaching the World Series for the second year in a row. The Yankees have more money than several small countries. As usual, the wealthy corporation will crush the local businessman.