Yankees suddenly in charge of World Series (cont.)

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In the comparison of Holliday and Bay, while the power and production numbers are close (Holliday is averaging 30 home runs, 110 runs and 112 RBIs over the past four years to Bays' 31, 98 and 103), Holliday has a distinct advantage in batting average (.325 to .272). Holliday was also the cleanup hitter on a playoff team while Bay sometimes batted sixth for one (though he's good enough to bat in the more treasured 3 or 4 spots). The small knocks on Holliday are that he played most of his career in Coors Field (though he actually hit better in Busch Stadium) and wasn't as good his first two months in Oakland before adjusting to playing for an also-ran in an expansive ballpark. But Holliday's .357 second half, most of it as Albert Pujols' lineup protection in St. Louis, makes a great boost heading into free agency.

Holliday carries a sabremetric defensive edge, as well, with a UZR (ultimate zone rating) of plus 5.3 compared to minus 13.9 for Bay. Urbon discounts the defensive metrics, which he said are difficult to counter since they are based on "proprietary information'' and he believes may be biased against players manning Fenway Park's small left field. He pointed out that Bay was the first outfielder to since Carl Yastrzemski to make no errors and lead the league in assists.

Urbon's comment about Bay doing it on the big stage is a worthwhile observation after a productive season and a half in pressure-packed Boston. But to imply he beats Holliday on this score may be a reach. While Holliday's 2009 postseason included a memorable error, he was the main face of the youthful Rockies' incredible late 20-1 run in 2007 run (his all-out, head-first slide that got them into the playoffs is an indelible picture), and he did carry that young team to the World Series as an LCS MVP, something Bay has yet to accomplish.

It's fair to say both stars should benefit from a market where they are by far the two best everyday players (John Lackey is easily the best free-agent pitcher). But it's generally presumed that most teams would favor Holliday, who at 29 is a year younger than Bay, for his slightly higher percentages (his career OPS is .933 to .896 for Bay), better defensive metrics and more obvious gung-ho clubhouse personality (the Mets do favor Holliday, for instance).

Holliday would rather be compared to Teixeira and his known market value of $180 million. Perhaps a more apt comp for Bay could be Alfonso Soriano's $136 million, eight-year contract. But for now, Urbon keeps tying him to Holliday.

"Matt and Jason are going to give you the biggest bang for the buck because they are the least risk,'' Urbon said. "They are multidimensional, consistent, durable productive everyday players who are great in the clubhouse.''

Urbon contends it's not a stretch or a strategy to keep comparing Bay to Holliday. But it certainly can't hurt.

Notes

• There is progress being made in talks to return GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy to the Rockies, and it's possible something could be announced regarding contracts for the two men following the World Series. Tracy will almost surely be named NL Manager of the Year while O'Dowd could easily be Executive of the Year. So there was no way the Rockies wanted to let either man go.

• Manuel is taking a big risk by going to Blanton Sunday night in Game 4. "That's good for us,'' one Yankees person said. "We killed him when (Blanton) was in Oakland,'' another noted. Manuel explained that Lee had never pitched in short rest before and that Sabathia is bigger (plus, Sabathia pitched on short rest many times). But the call to bypass Lee until Game 5 would feel better if Manuel had a better option for Game 4. One Phillies person said early Saturday he could see Blanton splitting Game 4 with rookie left-hander J.A. Happ, but that was before Happ was needed in relief in Game 3.

• Ryan Howard followed his huge NL playoff performance with a lot of swings and misses. He has now struck out in seven of his last eight at-bats.

• Hamels' rep has taken a hit this postseason, a year after he was World Series MVP. Not only has he posted four mediocre or worse performances, he looked foolish complaining about having to pitch during the day in the NLDS (he happened to be 0-6 in daytime games this year) and throwing a mini on-field fit after an errant Chase Utley throw cost them in Game 1 of the NLCS.

• Jimmy Rollins' streak of right predictions ended when the Yankees ensured the Phillies wouldn't win the World Series in five games, as Rollins said they would.