The Fall Classic

Who would've thought? I wonder what the Rays odds were of making the World Series back during spring training were. Oh, and the Phillies, everyone thought they would be good, but World Series good. I am not so sure. Here we are though, this is who we have and I love it! The Rays might be the most feel good story of all-time in baseball and the Phillies might give Philadelphia what they have longed for, for many years. A Championship in something other then an arena sport.

If you are a baseball fan you knew that Tampa was going to be good soon! I expected it was going to be two years from now as long as they didn't trade all the young talent away. That young talent, Longoria, Upton, Garza, Shields, Price, and Navarro didn't give the front office a chance to ruin it. They got down to business and did it this year! And for the two guys that have been there the whole time, Crawford and Baldelli, what a feeling they must have right now! This is an amazing team with an amazing story. I really hope they finish it out and win the whole darn thing!

Then you have the Phils. This team can hit! They have the past two NL MVP's on the team and a player in Utley who could very well win one or two before he is done. Its hard not to root for a guy like Shane Victorino, who is one of those guys that will do anything to help the team win. Brett Myers is the comeback story of the year after being sent to the minors because he was pitching terrible and now he has been rock solid for them in the playoffs. The bullpen has been amazing the whole season with Lidge and Madson. Lidge has not blown a save the entire season and that includes the playoffs. They make it a 7 inning game which makes this team very hard to beat.

I am going to tell you who I think has the edge in all the important facets of the game in this series.

Hitting: I give this to the Phillies barely. This hit for more power but that may only be because of the park they play in. They have five or six guys that can hit it out regularly and the Rays in my opinion only have three.

Running: You have Rollins and Victorino on one side and Crawford and Upton on the other. I think those are the only real base stealing threats on each team so I give the edge here to Tampa barely.

Fielding: Tampa wins big here. They have speed in the outfield and Longoria is an amazing defensive third baseman. Utley is shaky at second but Iwamura isn't. If the series comes down to defense, the Rays will win.

Starting Pitching: I give this one to the Rays based solely on depth. Hamels and Myers are right there with Shields and Kazmir but after that the Rays are much better. Moyer and Blanton just don't do it for me and we all just saw how good Garza is.

Bullpen: Phils in a landslide. Not saying the Rays are bad with Balfour, Price, and Howell but the Phils are just lights out. Madson and Lidge and Eyre are really really good. If the Phils get a lead early its going to hard for the young kids to fight back.

Intangibles: I give this to the Rays because they are feeling no pressure right now. These kids just want to go out and play and have a good time. After almost losing to Boston but winning an amazing game seven, they now are going to realize how close they are. Tampa gets the edge here.

Coaching: This is my one and only push. These guys are both amazing at what they do. Maddon should win coach of the year in the AL and if the Cubs didn't have such a good season in the NL Manuel might have won it in the NL. Manuel is one of the best hitting coaches in the league and Maddon is an amazing strategizer. I can't pick a winner here.

Now, Who do I think will win the series?

I am going to say that the Rays win in 7. That's right, I am going to say that this series is going to go the distance and I think the Rays will win it 4-3 in game 7 to complete the most improbable story in baseball history!