A season has come. And a season is a mere 7 games away from completion. This year of baseball has been one of surprises as well as upsets. This Fall Classic couldn't demonstrate both any better. It is out of this world that the Tampa Bay Rays have turned their franchise around and made it to the final dance in October and can possibly be crowned the finest team in baseball. The Phillies are the same story. They made the playoffs last year but did not show a lot of promise. This year is a different story. With one of the most prominent bullpens in the game, the Phillies are looking to take out the young guys from the sunshine state. But who will prevail?
The Breakdown:
Game 1
Hamels vs. Kazmir
Out of all the games that are most important if there is such a thing in the World Series, it is game 1. The last 5 years, the team that has taken game 1 has moved on to win the Fall Classic. This lefty-lefty match up is probably going to be the one and only pitchers dual we will see in this possible 7-game series. Hamels is 3-0 in the postseason with a 1.53 ERA with his counter part Scott Kazmir standing in at 1-0 with a not so impressive ERA being over 4. Cole Hamels has one luxury against Kazmir that he does not have. A bullpen. The bullpen of the Phillies is going to lead them to victory in this game. It will be a pitchers dual through 7 but look for B.J. Upton or Evan Longoria to get the Rays the lead early. The lineup for the Rays is primarily right-handed while the Phillies are predominantly lefty. I see the Rays taking game 1 of the World Series by a slim margin but get out on top early and carry that lead all the way to the end.
Rays over Phillies 4-2
Game 2
Myers vs. Shields
This is the chance for the Rays to really take it to the Phillies. "Big Game James" Shields is listed as the Rays ace and has been the teams top starter throughout the regular season. Myers has not impressed me as of late. He did pitch well in the NLCS but in the last leg of the regular season, he slid back down to under average performances. The thing that the Rays need to do is keep the bullpen fresh. With David Price and J.P. Howell as your lefty specialists and Wheeler and Balfour as the righthanders in the pen, this team needs to keep these go to guys fresh and not over use them in these first couple games. This game 2 is another that is weighted in the favor of the Rays due to their explosive lineup and dominate starting pitching. Sorry Philly, your amazing bullpen won't need to get the save for the second game either.
Rays over Phillies 7-3
Game 3
Moyer vs. Garza
This is the turning point of the series. Game 3 I also believe will go to the Tampa Rays. I must be sounding like a broken record but I cannot look past the dominant starting pitching. Garza, the ALCS MVP, is on the hill for the Rays but the one thing against the Rays in this game is that it is moved back to Philly. Games 1 and 2 were in Tampa and in front of the home crowd it is easy to perform but on the road, things get interesting. This could possibly be a shootout. I am not convinced and sold on either starter in this game. Garza is solid and Jamie Moyer's numbers prove to be, but the thing is, he is old. Age is one thing but with age must come experience and I do not believe that Moyer is the old-wise experienced pitcher that will lead a team out of a 2 games to none deficit.
***Could see extra innings***
Rays over Phillies 11-9
Game 4
Blanton vs. Sonnanstine
This is for all the marbles. After a long time contemplating and deciding what i really think is going to happen in this possible elimination game for the Phillies, I am thinking we have seen the end. David Price is going to close out the series just like he did in the ALCS. For Rays fans, get your party hats because the Fall Classic is home in Tampa. The Phillies will have to wait yet another year to get a ring. Enjoy it Tampa!!
World Series MVP: B.J. Upton
No comments:
Post a Comment