Five reasons why the Phillies could pull off a shocking comeback

PHILADELPHIA -- While the Yankees have to be considered a fairly heavy favorite with only one win needed as they head back to the Bronx, the Phillies still have some characteristically serious fight in them. Until last rites are read to the Phillies, they should be assumed to have plenty of life.

Here are some reasons this World Series is far from over ...

1. The Phillies aren't called the Fightin' Phils for no reason. And they aren't the defending champs for no reason, either. As Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, "We're playing the world champions, and it's going to take a world-championship effort to beat them." Being down 3-2 isn't going to faze the Phils. They create comebacks without the fanfare and cream pies that have marked the Yankees' wonderful season, but the Phillies did post a National League-high 43 come-from-behind wins. Manager Charlie Manuel considered talking to them as a team before Game 5, but Jimmy Rollins said Manuel merely threw up his hands when it became clear the Phillies were as focused as ever. According to Rollins, the only major change they made going into Game 5 was to remove Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind from their pregame clubhouse soundtrack. (Not sure if Elton John's Philadelphia Freedom is a worthy replacement, but New York-based songs are definitely not the way to go.)

2. They are road warriors. The Phillies were a baseball-best 48-33 on the road this year.

3. Chase Utley is currently unstoppable.Reggie Jackson couldn't be found for the first time this Series on Monday, but it would have been interesting to see what he would have had to say about Utley tying Jackson's World Series record with five home runs. Utley's five have come in one less game (five to six) and mostly against left-handers (four of five were vs. lefties, three vs. CC Sabathia). "He's not missing pitches. He's tough," Sabathia said. "He's not missing, so you have to make (all) quality pitches."

4. The vaunted, balanced Yankees lineup isn't all that balanced right now. Back home they'll get the benefit of a hot Hideki Matsui (.556, two homers) in the lineup, and with A.J. Burnett done now, Jose Molina is through hitting, so that's another plus. Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez are at the top of their game now, but two Yankee stars -- Mark Teixeira (2 for 19) and Robinson Cano (3 for 18) -- currently look slightly lost at the plate. They're so cold even Nick Swisher looks hot compared to them.

5. Cliff Lee may not quite be through. Philly has some issues of its own, what with their own pitching miracles needed the next two games. After Pedro Martinez tries to beat his "daddy" in Game 6 (I wouldn't put it past him), the Phillies have posted a TBA for Game 7 if it's needed because no perfect choice exists for them. The most likely option to start a Game 7 may be 2008 hero/2009 goat Cole Hamels, who seemed to suggest he wished the season was over in quotes a couple days ago (the humorous Hamels told Manuel on Monday he didn't mean it, then admitted to writers he is sometimes prone to putting his foot in his mouth -- "It's hard to talk and play baseball at the same time," he said with a smile). Hamels has yet to post a good start in four tries this postseason. But Lee isn't counting himself out of the mix. Thursday is his throw day, so perhaps he can put in a few more innings. "I'm available. I think I'll be fine," Lee said. "If it's going to help the team win, I'm in."

As usual, the Phillies are in it to win it. The odds are against them, but this resilient bunch can never be counted out.

Longtime Yankees postseason star Andy Pettitte told several teammates he had absolutely "nothing" after hanging in six innings to win Game 3, and now he is being entrusted to summon something better with only three days' rest in Game 6 Wednesday. Pettitte is the all-time winner in postseason play with 17 victories, but if a younger A.J. Burnett lost so much in the three days from Game 2 to 5, there is wonder even within the Yankees clubhouse about how this will all work out.

Pettitte won more respect from teammates for hanging tough in a game where he not only didn't have his best stuff but by his own private accounts to longtime friends actually had zero. Zip. Nada.