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With World Series odds posted, we’re seeing every type of analysis you could imagine – breaking down the hitting lineups, bullpens, pitching staffs, fans, managers, and so on. One unsung hero in that regard, however, is team defense.

Does fielding really matter that much? The Red Sox won two World Series with Manny Ramirez out there in left field; if you have enough hitting and pitching, how much does “D” matter?

Well, know this: of the eight teams to qualify for the 2009 postseason, seven of them ranked in the majors’ top 10 in fielding percentage. Maybe defense matters more than many teams realize?

As a matter of fact, the Philadelphia Phillies committed the second fewest errors in the majors this season and tied for second in fielding percentage. In Shane Victorino, they arguably have the National League’s best defensive center fielder. Jayson Werth is an athletic right fielder with a good arm, Jimmy Rollins makes plenty of plays at shortstop and Chase Utley is a steady if unspectacular second baseman.

The Yankees’ “D” has overachieved admirably this season, with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez playing like they were 10 years younger. However, it remains to be seen if they can provide top-notch “D” in crunch time. Johnny Damon’s arm in center field is a noodle and Nick Swisher is a bit of an adventure in right field.

This will clearly be a close series so you have to overturn every last stone to find an edge. Maybe the Phillies’ superior defense and athleticism will be the difference maker.

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