May 22 -- BRONX BOUND

BY SCOTT LAUBER

NEW YORK -- So, we've arrived in the Big Apple, and in a little while, we will be taking a tour of new Yankee Stadium. I'll be sure to offer a full review. In the meantime, a few things:

1. Don't forget to vote in our little reader poll below: Who would you rather have as your shortstop and why: Derek Jeter or Jimmy Rollins?

2. Could there be two hotter teams in baseball right now? The Yankees have won nine straight games, while the Phillies have won six of seven, all on the road.

3. A little Yankees-Phillies history: Overall, the Phillies are 8-10 against the Bronx Bombers. They were 6-3 at the Vet, 1-5 in two series at old Yankee Stadium (1998, 2000), and they're 1-2 at the Bank. Nine Phillies players homered at old Yankee Stadium (Rico Brogna, Bobby Abreu and Mike Lieberthal had two apiece, while Pat Burrell, Brian Hunter, Ron Gant, Jon Zuber, Scott Rolen and Mark Lewis went deep once.) With the way the new Stadium is playing, nine Phillies could hit homers this weekend.

4. Trivia question: Who is the only Phillies pitcher to get a win at Yankee Stadium since inter-league play began in 1997?

5. Here's your Phillies-Yankees primer for the big inter-league showdown:

PHILLIES (22-17) at YANKEES (24-17)
Tonight, 7:05: RHP Brett Myers (3-2, 4.50) vs. RHP A.J. Burnett (2-1, 5.02)
Tomorrow, 4:10: LHP J.A. Happ (2-0, 2.49) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (4-1, 4.18)
Sunday, 1:05: LHP Cole Hamels (2-2, 4.95) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.43)
Hot: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins has hit safely and scored a run in nine of the last 10 games, going 15-for-44 (.341) with 11 runs; Phillies LF Raul Ibanez is batting .400 (12-for-30) with five homers, 14 RBIs and seven runs in seven games on the road trip; Yankees LF Johnny Damon is 25-for-67 (.373) with six homers and 18 RBIs in his last 16 games; Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira is 15-for-34 (.441) with four homers and 15 RBIs in his last nine games.
Not: Phillies C Carlos Ruiz has one hit in his last 16 at-bats; Phillies RF Jayson Werth is 5-for-25 (.200) during his last six games; Yankees DH Hideki Matsui is 5-for-32 (.143) with two RBIs in his last 10 games; Yankees RF Nick Swisher is in a 4-for-31 slump (.129) in his last 10 games.

6. Trivia answer: Dave Coggin on July 17, 2000, in a 10-8 Phillies victory.

Back with more in a bit.