Who Will Win the World Series

With both the National and American League championships set to start Thursday, October 11th, the baseball world finds itself scratching its head wondering who will rise above the rest in this post season. There have been a great many surprises so far, and it appears that choosing one team amongst the four remaining may be a bit more challenging than we ever would have thought.

This has by far been the strangest post season I have ever experienced. It all started with the end of the regular season, as both the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies both overtook the teams in front of them (San Diego Padres and New York Mets respectively) on the last day of the season.

The Rockies required a one game playoff, and won it in controversial fashion; did Matt Holiday actually touch home plate on Jamey Carrol’s sacrifice fly? That is now in the past, and though I suspect that Padres fans will remember the questionable call for years to come, no one is questioning the prowess of Colorado.

If their winning streak to end the season did not prove enough, the Rockies’ post season play up until now has illustrated just how hard this team can battle. With MVP candidate Matt Holiday, veteran Todd Helton and newcomer Troy Tulowitzki, accompanied by what has recently been a lights out bull pen, the mountain gents are making their bid at what would be their first World Series title in franchise history. They beat up the hot Phillies like a schoolyard bully stealing lunch money.

Anyone who tells you that they predicted the Rockies would make it to the NLCS is lying; no one could have possibly foretold the unfolding of the events surrounding this mile high team.

But don’t think assume that they will make the big show easily. Their next opponent, the Arizona Diamondbacks, have proven all season that their fantastic pitching can beat almost anyone. They easily swept the Cubs, who once again failed to bring home a ring to the windy city. Brandon Webb is quite possibly the best pitcher in baseball, and has proven all season that he is not afraid to start the big games.

Their closer, pitcher Jose Valverde is the break out reliever of 2007, earning a whopping 47 saves while maintaining a more than respectable 2.66 ERA. They are a team that does not require a great number of runs, but with players like Eric Byrnes and rookie center fielder Chris B. Young, they have the potential to score when they need to. The battle between these two teams will be epic, and almost feels like the final showdown between great pitching and stellar hitting.

The Yankees post season ended Monday in a heart breaking loss to the Cleveland Indians. Once again, no one could have predicted this outcome, and anyone who says otherwise is lying a second time. Even with their 1-2 punch of C.C. Sabbathia and Fausto Carmona, the Yankees still should have won this series. But the tribe not only pitched exceedingly well, they also hit in the clutch tantamount to the Yankees dynasty from the 90s. With a batting average of over .500 with two outs and runners in scoring position, it might not have mattered who they were playing.

While the Yankees will be watching the rest of the playoffs from the comfort of their own homes, their arch-nemesis the Boston Red Sox will continue on in their quest for a second World Series title since 2004. After enduring an 86 year World Series drought, it appears that the fans in New England may get their second taste of victory in three years.

Now, on to what we all want to talk about; after all of the craziness that has ensued so far in just the last week, who will emerge victorious? I believe that though Arizona has been great this year, they will be overtaken by the Rockies in six games. The Cleveland Indians proved that they can beat one of the big boys, but I don’t believe they will do it again. The Red Sox pitching staff is just as good if not better than Cleveland’s, and let’s be honest, Big Papi is wearing a Boston uniform. That may be all they need to clinch yet another pennant. I predict that the Red Sox will beat the tribe in five games. They may very well sweep Travis Hafner and his club, but I think it is safe to say that the Indians can maybe steal one from the sox. Either way, do not expect there to be an extended Tea Party this year in Boston.

The World Series will see Boston vs. Colorado, and I believe it will be a good one. However, as much as I hate to say it (especially since I’m a Yanks fan), I predict the Red Sox will come out on top. Their pitching is superior to that of the Rockies, and their offense is just as good (and probably better). I expect the Rockies to put up a pretty decent fight, but they will be defeated in six games.

As much as I would love to see this upstart team win its first World Series, I believe their magical run will end at Fenway. Not that any of this actually matters; as far as I’m concerned as a Yankees fan, it’s all about next year. But as a fan of the sport, I believe we are in for one hell of a conclusion to the wackiest season in quite some time.