October Classic: The World Series

This is what 30 teams started the season thinking about in spring training, but it’s down to only two: the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox/Tampa Bay Rays. The World Series starts today, Wednesday, October 22. While the Phillies have been off for a week, which never happens during the regular season even during the All-Star break, it will be interesting to see how they respond to the long lay-off. On the other hand the Red Sox/Rays have been playing like the regular season and will play after 3 days break. Here is a quick look into the series.

National League Champions

Philadelphia Phillies

Road to the World Series – regular season East Champs (92-70), defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the playoffs (3-1), and defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the playoffs (4-1).

The Phillies should be well rested by the time the World Series starts, as they have been at home a week awaiting the winner of the Red Sox/Rays game. The Phillies won’t change much as the skipper, Charlie Manuel, has decided to stick with the same rotation that has gotten him through the first two rounds of the playoffs; the rotation will look like this for games 1-4 in order of appearance, Hamels, Myers, Moyer, and Blanton. Hamels without a doubt has earned the first spot in the rotation, through the first two rounds of the playoffs he was a perfect 3-0, pitched 22 innings with 22 strike outs, and 1.23 ERA. The closer for the Phillies, Brad Lidge, has been in this position before with the Houston Astro’s, unfortunately he looked horrible, the Phillies are hoping they have a new Brad Lidge warming up t close out the games.

The Phillies big slugger, Ryan Howard, hasn’t really showed up in the playoffs, luckily they haven’t needed him, Howard has only 2 hits for extra bases, both of which are doubles, only 3 RBI’s, and 7 strike outs, but he also has 8 walks. Pat Burrell has 3 HR’s and 7 RBI’s with a .300 average. Shane Victorino has also been swinging a decent bat with 6 of his 9 hits for extra bases, 2 of which were homeruns, 11 RBI’s and 9 runs scored.

American League Champions

Boston Red Sox

Road to the World Series – regular season Wild Card Winners (95-67), defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first round (3-1), and defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the second round of the playoffs (4-3).

It seems the Red Sox have a thing for the dramatics. Down 3-1 the Red Sox once again found a way to prevail. In my mind it easily tops last years when they came back from 3-1 against the Indians, it might even top the 2004 showing when they came back against the Yankees down 3-0 to rewrite history. I can’t remember the last time I have seen such a comeback as the one in game 5, down 7-0 with just 7 outs left they prevail to win 8-7.
Jason Bay has all of Boston saying, “Manny who?”, he is batting .342 with 3 HR’s and 9 RBI’s. David Ortiz has been struggling with a .200 batting average, 1 HR, and 5 RBI’s. J.D. Drew hasn’t been that hot either but has key hitting with 2 HR’s and 6 RBI’s including the game winner for game 5. The starting rotation for the Sox are without doubt one of the best starting lineups in the league with: Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Daisuke Matsuzaka and having a proven closer in Jonathan Palbon is a big plus.

Tampa Bay Rays

Road to the World Series – regular season Eastern Champs (97-65), defeated the Chicago White Sox in the first round (3-1), and defeated the defending champions the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the playoffs (4-3).

The inexperience showed when they let the Rays come back in game 5. Luckily, they were able to beat the Red Sox one last time, and advance to the World Series in their first ever appearance in the playoffs. The Devil Rays have been swinging one of the hottest bats ever in the postseason. B.J. Upton is swinging .333 with 7 HR’s and 15 RBI’s. While Evan Longoria has 6 HR’s with 10 RBI’s. Carlos Pena is swinging a nifty .375 with 3 HR’s and 8 RBI.

The bullpen has been a big letdown for the Rays. The starting pitching has been decent with James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Andy Sonnanstine, and Matt Garza. One problem facing the Rays is that they have no established closer. So the question facing the Rays is, “Will the bats be enough to propel a championship?”