Mariano Rivera’s liquid brown eyes went cold when asked about Jimmy Rollins’ bold prediction that the Phillies will whip the Yankees in the World Series that opens tonight at Yankee Stadium.
“I could care less what he said,” Rivera stated with the same death stare he fixes on hitters from the mound. “That’s not what is going to happen.”
Appearing on Jay Leno’s show Monday night, the talkative Phillies’ shortstop and leadoff hitter predicted Philly fans will witness the Yankees getting run out of Philadelphia.
“Of course we are going to win. If we are nice, we will let it go to six,” Rollins said. “But I am thinking five, close it out at home.”
Rivera said Rollins has the outcome wrong.
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“That’s what he says. What he says and what’s going to happen is far from that. You know what I mean?” Rivera said. “That’s the way it is. Coming from him, I would expect nothing less. We’ll see what happens.”
Bold predictions by Rollins about New York teams aren’t new. In the spring of 2007, Rollins predicted the Phillies would beat the Mets in the NL East and was correct, thanks to the Mets’ collapse down the stretch.
The Yankees get their first chance to make Rollins chew on his words tonight in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Series. It features ace lefties, former Cleveland teammates and close friends CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee.
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Las Vegas, which isn’t buying Rollins’ rap, has installed the Yankees as a minus-$210 favorite to win their 27th World Series title and first since they battered the Mets in 2000.
Not every Yankee took Rollins’ comments as serious as Rivera.
“I know Jimmy and Jimmy is very confident,” said A.J. Burnett, who will start Game 2 tomorrow night. “In my mind that’s not a knock at us. It’s him having confidence in his team.”
Johnny Damon wasn’t shocked by Rollins statement.
“What do you expect him to say and what do you expect Phillies fans to expect?” Damon asked. “I wish he had predicted it the other way, but then there would have been a lot of angry Phillies fans.”
Of course, there will be more to the Series than Rollins’ mouth. Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard are expected to stage a power shower. Sabathia and Lee will try to stifle bats in ballparks that are hitter-friendly.
Will the Yankees start Sabathia in Games 1, 4 and 7? What about long-time enemy Pedro Martinez starting Game 2 tomorrow night? Then there is Rivera against Brad Lidge. The match up of closers is the reason why the Yankees are favored.
“This is going to be a great series, both teams hit home runs, but at the end of the day pitching wins out,” Mark Teixeira said.
According to Howard, the noise coming from the stands won’t be for virgin ears.
“This is going to be one of the rowdiest World Series just because of the fans,” Howard said.
Rollins’ words barely made a ripple in the defending champions’ clubhouse.
“That’s Jimmy being Jimmy, no one has a problem with it,” Chase Utley said. “He said something he believes.”
george.king@nypost.com