In the elders they trust, and lucky for us. In Game 6 we get the next best thing to a Game 7, in every way. Pedro pitching against the Yankees for the 40th time. Pettitte pitching in a postseason game for the 40th time. The World Series decided, be it Wednesday or Thursday, at Yankee Stadium (old and new) for the 17th time. It’s like a great bedtime story to a child. Tell me again, because it never gets old.

‘Course, those 40 numbers Verducci cites really indicate that both Martinez and Pettitte have been around a long time and aren’t quite as good as they were in their respective primes. As a friend of mine puts it, the Phillies are starting Pedro and have Johnny Whole Staff behind him. There’s no tomorrow for the Phillies.