World Series poll

Tampa Devil Rays baby all the way!

Not only are they riding a hot streak (and they don’t have the dreaded “rest vs. rust” to worry about), but I am slowly developing a man-crush on David Price. Sure, his future’s probably in the rotation, but right now, he looks like a hell of a bullpen ace.

I think Tampa Bay is the better team, but they lost some concentration in the middle of the Red Sox series and I think will take the Phillies lightly. If they don’t do that, they’ll win this series pretty easily.

but I think Philly takes it.

Frankly, the Rays bullpen just doesn’t cut it for me. I think they lucked out against a Red Sox team that was on its heels the first 4 games. Scary to say, but I think the difference between the two teams is Brad Lidge…

the Rays only because I’m a AL fan and I hate the Phillies.

but, I’d actually like to see the Rays win. They are pretty much everything we as fans of the Texas Rangers can only hope we’ll see from our team someday. My bitter and atrophied baseball heart just aches that we didn’t get there first.

Picture it, Rangers fans: Game Seven. The Ballpark. Rangers v. Red Sox. Bottom of the 9th. Two Out. Bases loaded. Neftali Felix.

It would be the most exciting moment of my sports life. I’d die a thousand deaths with each pitch and live again screaming as our young fire-baller leaps into the arms of Taylor Teagarden while our old fire-baller Nolan Ryan jumps up and down just like me. Chris Davis, Mike Young, Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler all converge at the center of diamond with a palpable explosion. And the wounds of the irrelevancy of this franchise would heal up as we watch Josh Hamilton soar to the top of the dog pile.

It is something every fan should get to taste. I just hope we aren’t the last fans to have that magical season.

But.. now that they are in the world series… ive switched to resenting them for being more successful than the rangers.

But.. now that they are in the world series… ive switched to resenting them for being more successful than the rangers.Go phillies! I was rooting for them when they had dellucci a few years back, Ill go with them.

WTF, AJM?

All that needs to happen is 1) Rays need to quit running into outs and 2) manage the bullpen decently. They’ve got the starters, the pen and the bats. Considering the Phillies basically managed to beat one person (Manny), I think the Rays lineup is going to cause them fits.

Rays in 5.

I’ll take Utley, Rollins, Howard, Burrell over any foursome the Rays have.

the Rays are running away with this poll.

Let’s analyze this for a moment:

Offense: Advantage Phils, but maybe not as huge an advantage as it might initially seem. Howard and Rollins really both underperformed in the NLCS (Rollins in particular, who was about useless) and if they continue to underperform in the world series, the Phillies might not have much of an offensive advantage at all over Longoria, Upton and the Rays.

Starting pitching: Advantage Rays, who had one of the AL’s better rotations this year. All the Phils really have is Cole Hamels, and then three sets of crossed fingers.

Bullpen: I’ll say advantage Phils, considering how bad the Rays bullpen was at the end of the ALCS. Balfour and Wheeler pitched like crap, and if they don’t turn it around bigtime in the ‘Series the bullpen could be what costs the Rays a title. The middle part of the Phillies bullpen didn’t exactly dazzle in the NLCS either, but they have what has been as a nearly bulletproof late inning combo in Madson and Lidge, the very thing the Rays lacked in the ALCS.

Conclusion: The only way the Phillies are going to win is if they outslug the Rays and get enough innings out of their mid-rotation starters to get to the good part of their bullpen. The Rays have a huge advantage in starting pitching and a good enough offense to keep up with the Phils if they need to, but they might have a glaring weakness in their bullpen (and their managers use of it). I look for this to be a pretty good World Series – FOX might not have gotten the teams they wanted, but they still have a great power against power matchup.

My prediction: Rays in 6.

Philly has the better pitching staff, especially their shut-down closers.
That’s what wins playoff games.
The overwhelming choice of the Rays explains a lot.

Since on any broad brush look, any of the top six American League teams should take any National League team to the woodshed.

Cole Hamels vs Scott Kazmir?

Brett Myers vs James Shields?

New England is kicking some Denver ass 34 -0. And all of ESPN said Denver was great.

Anybody get sick of ESPN? You know ESPN has completlt ruined Monday Night Football.

What we grew up on as Monday Night Football.. ESPN as screwed it all up.

but I hope to see some good post season drama.

The one thing I’ve become increasingly aware of during this post season is that I don’t think the Rangers have a manager who will be competent once they are ready to contend for/in the playoffs. Charlie Manuel and Joe Maddon… Joe Torre and Tito Francona… these men inspire confidence. They are assets to their ballclub. Ron Washington, I fear, is not and will not be that kind of asset.