World Series Prediction

The Rays have stood up to every single challenge so far. But this is the finals, its all brand new from here on out and this team is so different from every other Rays teams that there is just no telling what they've got left in 'em. They fucked around in game 5 against the Red Sox and the malaise set in, but they recovered nicely in game 7. Hey you can't let guys let Varitek and Ortiz get another shot, but in the end they were still slumping and the Rays endured. Last year, the Rockies got hot at the right time and went all the way through the NL playoffs only to turn back into a pumpkin at midnight; the Rays have played well all year long and there's a lot of strong talent that looks poised to compete in the rugged AL East for years to come. The Rays are not a fluke. But in a sense besting the White Sox and Red Sox may bring on a letdown, the World Series may seem anti-climatic now. I think they're good but I think the Phillies are better.

The Phillies rolled through the Dodgers because as much as everyone thought the Dodgers were the hot team, the sexy team, they frankly weren't a very good team. They were easily the 8th best team to make the playoffs and lucked out in drawing the hapless Cubs in the 1st round. The Dodgers vastly overacheived and the Phillies are left perhaps untested. But I like that lineup and that pitching. I think the Phillies were the best team in the NL (well, the Cubs were but they're allergic to success), and I liked them to win it all. They play good D, they play station-to-station style baseball with a healthy dose of power, and the bullpen has been effective.

As much as the talk radio crowd thinks this will be a ratings disaster, I think this will be a fine competitive series. And what do I give a shit about ratings anyway? I want to see a good Series and I think this may be the best since Yankees-D'backs.

Phillies in 7 (2, 3, 5, 7)