World Series Preview Part I : Opening Thoughts
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, October 20, 2008 03:20 PM | Comments: 61
Posts
Here we are, the World Series. On one side is our Phillies, champions of the National League in a 7-2 run of the Brewers and Dodgers. On the other side is the Tampa Bay Rays, champions of the American League in a 7-4 run of the White Sox and Red Sox.
This was not the World Series most people picked. In fact, a good majority of baseball pundits had the Red Sox, Angels or Yankees coming out the American League, and the Mets, Braves or Cubs coming out of the National League. Phillies-Rays was probably in the bottom 50-percentile.
Still, this is your matchup.
Initially, the Rays come across as a young, exciting team. Their starting lineup features just two players (Carlos Pena and Cliff Floyd) at 30 or older, while their rotation’s average age is 25. Together, the Rays are about 27 years old.
Meanwhile, the Phillies feature a starting lineup where not one player is younger than 27. Instead, the Phils are decidedly /30 years old, right down the middle, or, at or near their peaks. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins are all in their peak years. On the pitching staff, just one player (Cole Hamels) is younger than 27.
Strengths & Weaknesses
What do the Rays do well offensively? They get on base (2nd, AL in walks; 4th, AL in OBP) and get to more bases (1st, AL in SB). They’ll also hit some home runs (4th in AL).
But, they strike out a lot (2nd, AL), they don’t get a lot of hits (13th, AL) and they actually don’t score a heck of a lot (11th, AL).
No, the Rays will beat you mainly on the hill. Their 3.82 team ERA was second in the AL. They don’t give up a lot of hits (2nd, AL), but if they do, it’s a fair amount of longballs (9th, AL). They will strike out hitters (4th, AL), but not walk so much (8th, AL).
So, if you’re just looking at statistical trends, I’d say the Phils match up very well. They don’t quite get on base, but knock guys home with the longball. They’re a very good pitching staff and are pretty good at limiting home runs. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t automatically give the Rays any upper hand.
Very Different Teams
Who would I have rather faced in the fall classic? The Rays. Why? Because the Sox have … experience, the matchups that hurt the Phils, extra-base hit power, a sterling bullpen. The Rays are going to play with fervor, which will help them, but very likely also hurt them. The Phils, with their business approach, may be the perfect antithesis to the Rays.
On the surface you have two younger teams with loads of stars. The Rays have Evan Longoria, BJ Upton, Dioner Navarro, Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza. The Phils have Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge. Both teams — their current representations — are in the series for the first time. Both teams played well all season and came out of their leagues as purely, the leagues’ best teams. There ain’t no 2007 Rockies, no 2006 Cardinals.
But the similarities end there. The Rays have played like your typical drama queen baseball club. They’ve soared with ups, they’ve crashed with downs. They played an emotional, spirited series with big-brother rivals the Red Sox. Meanwhile, the Phils have stood strong through a postseason without much challenge. While the offense has had dull moments, clutch hits have boosted the team. And pitching has been sensational. The Phils have looked like your typical championship club.
That’s not to say the Phils will win, or I think they’ll easily take the trophy. But at this point, going into the World Series, I can confidently say the Phils are my early favorite to take the series.
Posts: 0 RK
Cant these writers find anything new to write about. This guy says he used to live in Philly but is a Mets fan (go figure). I can not wait to see the place filled with Phils Fans.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/20/boston-philly-and-another-brand-obnoxious/
Posted: 03:24 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
Great post, Tim. Those couple of paragraphs listing the Strengths and Weaknesses have more substance than any other piece of writing I’ve seen so far.
Posted: 03:43 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
a poll on espn 62% pick rays. over 122,000 voted
Posted: 04:18 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
a poll on commonsense.com says that espn polls are rarely correct
Posted: 04:25 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chase Mutley
Good thing the Phillies have to play the Rays and not the people who vote in online internet polls then, right?
Posted: 04:27 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Gabriel I am only saying what I saw. didn’t know they are that bad.It kind of suprise me thought there would be closer vote then that.
Posted: 04:28 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Rays Non-Troll
See, this is why I was rooting for the Phillies to beat the Dodgers. Rays-Phillies promised to be a dramatic matchup favoring smart play, good pitching, and a decisive home run or two.
And since they’re both young teams, we’ll probably make a return trip or two each over the next few years. Give our cross-state team a few knocks on the head on the way, will ya?
Posted: 04:30 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 phan in TN
A poll taken of everyone sitting behind my keyboard said that Uncle Charlie will take care of everything. Both Hoss and Little Joe will take care of the homestead.
i’m ambidextrous about the peoples at the ESPN. I think I knows a girl that had ESPN cause she was always readin mah mind.
And there was my futile attempt to emulate my neighbors here in the mountains of TN.
Posted: 04:35 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
HAH funny stuff there phanTN…
hey anyone know the drill if there’s a home rainout for games 3 thru 5? i have game 5 tix but… if it rains ahead of time will the games just get pushed back? they wouldn’t possibly do a world series doubleheader would they?! someone help! i’m just trying to cover all the angles here…
Posted: 04:43 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Robbi P
not only does ESPN polls disfavor us but vegas does too!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3654004
I guess its over now for sure since Vegas had the Rays at a 200-1 shot of making it to the world series. Damn why even watch anymore? lol I find it funny that Vegas and Gambling made it to ESPN who always goes anti-betting (see Donaghy, Rose) Whatever. If i was 21 I would bet on the Phillies whatever the odds.
Posted: 04:44 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 ashley
I like the way you think, Tim.
Posted: 04:47 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
AHHHHHH i cant wait anymore!!!
i stood in line yesterday w/my 7yr old brother to get shane vic’s signature (turns out its more of an initial than a signature…)
Posted: 04:56 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
Gabriel… please don’t suggest rain this weekend? Is it supposed to rain, or are you just planning ahead? If it rains on Saturday for Game 3 (which I have tickets to and is my birthday) I will be so utterly disappointed.
I too, am favoring the Phillies to win it all.
Posted: 04:59 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Real Mets Fan
Hey Phillies Phans, once again congrats on making it to the World Series. Forget about who is the best team in the national league(Obviously the Phillies are). On paper they are not. But there was one thing that the Phillies have that NO TEAM in the national league has. What’s that you ask? Its B-A-L-L-S. Pure and simple, no other team has played with the amount of B-A-L-L-S the Phillies have. It has nothing to do with talent, nothing to do with chemistry, nothing to do with heart. It all about HUGE B-A-L-L-S. They’ve played this style of baseball all year. With that said. the Phillies now have the dubious task of playing a Rays team that has even bigger B-A-L-L-S than the Phillies do. Yes Phillies are the better team on paper. Ask yourself do they have a bigger pair? That’s what your going to need to win this World Series. Good Luck.
Posted: 05:03 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
MP, just covering all the angles.. happy early b-day! and what a way to celebrate btw… if it is your 21st then you are the luckiest philly phan since Phil ‘the phillie’ Phanatic (fictional person)!
Posted: 05:11 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff A.
Just thought I would throw some fuel on the fire for those of us fed up with the obvious dismissal of the Phillies in the NLCS and now the World Series. Rosenthal wrote an artical like this one for the NLCS about how the Dodgers were he clear favorites. We all know how that ended. These are truely to very evenly matched teams and yet we, the Phillies, are being made out to be such and inferior team. Let’s use this and prove everyone wrong again.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8684190/Rays-must-guard-against-complacency
Posted: 05:13 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
No it is my 23rd but it will probably be the greatest birthday of my life. It’s funny how things work out, my postseason tickets came and it just so happened that the world series game they gave me was on my bday!
here’s hoping it does not rain at all in the next 2 weeks!!
Posted: 05:16 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Real Mets Fan, I think that should be a new way to gage a team. BALLS.
You know how with pitchers they refer to them as having “stuff?”
Same thing with “BALLS” now.
Posted: 05:20 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Robbi P
FYI Lucky guys who are going there are chances that it might rain Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Guy on Comcast said good news since Hamels can rest and get out there!
I think ill quote from the Waterboy.
“Last Game of the year Brent, can’t hold anything back now!”
Posted: 05:21 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Sully
This die hard Red Sox fan is becoming an honorary Philies fan for the next 10 days.
GO PHILLIES!
Philadelphia deserves a winner.
Posted: 05:43 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Sully
Last night I talked 1950s Phillies baseball with an old timer in Pasadena California.
Seeing that I am 36 years old, I had no memory of it myself but I know my stuff.
That old Phillies fan was pretty excited for Hamels and company and so am I
Kick Tampa’s butt
http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-made-old-phillies-fans-night-in.html
Posted: 05:44 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Sully
As an outsider I think it huge that players like Rollins, Howard, Utley and Hamels get a World Series ring early in their careers… get that weight off of their shoulders early.
Who knows which one will remain a great player and possibly a Hall of Fame candidate? But it will help to take the “He never won a Ring” argument off of the table early.
Besides, you never know when you are getting back in!
Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken all won World Series early in their careers… and neither made it back to the Fall Classic.
Seaver, Aaron and Mays all won their only rings very early in their career.
Posted: 05:58 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Karch
Regarding that “More Obnoxiousness Awaits” story from the Tampa Tribune… of course he had to write this:
“Philly fans hate everyone and everything, but nothing as much as themselves.
They even pelted Santa with snowballs.”
Why is it so hard for these stupid reporters to let go of that Santa thing?!?! It wasn’t even a Phillies game, geez.
Also… it’s not obnoxious, it’s called passion. Philly fans are passionate about their team – a team with a rich 126-year history. Meanwhile, the TB Rays have NO history whatsoever, therefore, no passionate fans. If you’re a Rays fan, you can’t even say you’ve been a fan your whole life. At some point, you were rooting for someone else unless you’re 11 years old.
Posted: 06:14 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
Agreed, Karch! I admit, here in Philly we’ve done some crazy things. The Santa thing is not even true, and no one bothers to look up facts on anything regarding this city, our teams, etc. I like in the Burbs, and at times loathed everything about Philly, (except the Phils of course) and have thought some unkind things about our fans at times, but I’ll tell you these last few weeks, I have never been more proud to live here. Everywhere I go in my Phils gear, people are say hello at random, give high fives to strangers, it’s really nice. It got under my skin a few weeks ago how they were further tarnishing our reputation in Philly, but you know what? When this team wins it for us, it’s not going to matter what everyone thinks. I don’t think we’re going to remember all of the awful things in the papers, we’re going to remember this season and these last couple weeks as one of the most amazing times in Phillies history – that’s what it will come down to – that this team won us a championship after all these years.
Posted: 06:22 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 tuan
2003 Tampa Bay Bucs at Philadelphia Eagles W 27-10
2004 NHL Playoff Tampa Bay Lighting Vs Philadelphia Flyers W 4-3
See the trends here philly fans? On the way to our Championships we’ve make you guys our bitch. And this year wont be any different. Go Rays. BTW I’ve been the Philadelphia and I can understand why people are piss off all the time. I would to if I have to wake up in that dumb.
Posted: 07:11 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Bobby in Boston
Where the heck did David Price come from? Those young TB pitchers are impressive, but the Phils will win this Series in six games. I have to give the Rays a slight edge in starting pitching, but overall, the Phillies are more balanced and experienced. The Rays have proven to be susceptible to post-season yips. Witness “Big Game” James Shields failure to win in the ALCS, the bullpen blow-up in game 5 of the ALCS, and the fact that TB, despite being a solid defensive team, has shown that it can, at times, look surprisingly erratic in the field. Conversely, the Phillies are, at the moment, putting forth their most balanced, cleanest attack of the season. Consider this: The Phils are 7-2 in the postseason, despite the fact that our number 2 and 3 starters have been hit HARD and Ryan Howard has nuthin’ but a few singles. I look for Jamie Moyer to come up huge against these young, fastball-hittin’ Rays and for Ryan Howard to have a big series. He really seemed to get his stroke back in the last couple of games of the NLCS and I believe he’s going to hit 2-3 bombs in the WS. Go Phils! Rays, you will get your chance again next year . . . though I’d still rather see the 1915 rematch.
Posted: 07:12 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Bobby in Boston
Oh, and tuan, give me a break. You down in TB have been Rays “fans” for all of five weeks. Nice attendance this year, you loosuh. We Philly fans are loyal. I have been a devoted Phillies fan for at least 2-3000 of the Phillies 10K losses. The Rays would be better off if they moved to Tennessee and left you guys with your precious Buccaneers and Lightning. You don’t deserve baseball down there, buddy boy.
Posted: 07:17 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Nah_Roots
“I would to if I have to wake up in that dumb”. The epitome of you’re own stupidity.
Posted: 07:20 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 tuan
Hey Bobby, what does me being a “fan” have anything to do with the Rays kicking the Phillies ass?
Posted: 07:23 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Phillyguy
Tuan, I’ve lived in Florida and I will tell you there’s no worse dump then that state. Get real! here’s Florida’s state motto Florida–if you think we can’t vote wait till you see us drive!! Tampa is the shithole of the universe.
Posted: 07:26 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 phan in TN
@Bobby in Beantown,
All of us Phillies Phans in TN don’t really need the Devil uh Rays or just Rays in TN. thankyouverymuch
i have met the other Phillies phan in TN and he says hello.
having a TB fan taunt you is like having a toddler hurl expletives at you. Somehow, you are supposed to be offended but its just so cute!
Posted: 07:27 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 tuan
2003 Tampa Bay Bucs at Philadelphia Eagles W 27-10
2004 NHL Playoff Tampa Bay Lighting Vs Philadelphia Flyers W 4-3
2008 World Series = ?
rofl god I love those facts. I’m sorry, I don’t like to talk much. I just like to look at the facts. And the fact is Philadelphia = Tampa bitch this decade.
Posted: 07:28 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 dan
tuan, let’s talk baseball buddy. we all really could care less what you have to say about the eagles or flyers. please say something, i don’t know…meaningful about the world series or the phillies or rays or baseball. you’re making us all feel dumber.
Posted: 07:32 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 tuan
Florida vs Pennsylvania (sport champtionships in last 10 years)
FL = 1 NFL, 1 NHL, 1 MLB, 1 NBA, 1 NCAA Football, 2 NCAA Basketball, 2 NCAA Baseball
Pennsylvania = 1 NFL
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH
Posted: 07:37 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 dan
Tampa IS NOT Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, or any other bullshit cities you have down there. Just like Philly isn’t Pittsburgh. Oh and by the way, we know how many championships we have won. There’s no need to tell us. You’re just further proving your incompetence.
Posted: 07:41 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Phillyguy
Tuan you’re a dumb southerner, go reenact some stupid civil war battle – you southerners like doing that so much one would think you won it, and then hand a cowbell on your ass. The reason Tampa uses cowbells instead of rally towels is because people there are so dumb they’re like cows… they only respond to the cowbells.
Posted: 07:42 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Phillyguy
and grow some teeth while youre at it
Posted: 07:43 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 phan in TN
never underestimate the power of stupid. The ability to either count to ten or perhaps to one repeatedly is a powerful skill. Engaging in imbecilities on another team’s website is a tremendous asset that both of the other TB fans should emulate.
I can only sit in abject consternation insofar as I have no witty comeback and await the next rejoinder.
and now for baseball…are we going to have Myers as our DH?
Posted: 07:43 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Krysti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy7KvihyShU
For those looking for a song to rally around…
Posted: 07:59 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Bobby in Boston
OK, phan in TN, I apologize. We’ll keep the Rays out of your beautiful state. Boy, this blog got ugly in a hurry. Thank you tuan, presenter of all irrelevant nonsense.
Myers as DH? Absolutely. Certainly makes more sense than Taguchi! Love that shot of him in the dugout covering his eyes while swinging the bat. The guy’s a whack job, but if he can repeat his NLCS game 2, he’s golden.
Guys, who DO we want to have DH against Kazmir? I’d really like to see Chris Coste get some ABs.
Posted: 08:06 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 karch
Oh. My. God. Here’s another gem from douchebag Ken Rosenthal on fox Sports:
“The Rays are the better team and should expect to win the World Series. But Ken Rosenthal issues a warning to Joe Maddon’s crew.”
Posted: 08:13 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Stark wrote another good article.
Five Reasons to Embrace Phillies/Rays Matchup
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3653757
Posted: 08:22 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Bobby in Boston
Wow. I just read the Rosenthal column. He really doesn’t know anything about baseball, does he? He picked the BREWERS to beat the Phils? Oops. He must, like most national broadcasters, not think much of the Phillies. Buck and McCarver didn’t show us much love, either. And thanks, TBS, for giving us the Brewers play-by-play guy for that series. Oy. The Rays are the popular choice, I suppose because of homefield advantage and vaunted AL superiority, but it seems clear that these two teams are evenly matched and it should be a tight 6 or 7 game series. With the Phillies winning, of course.
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Ryan
LET’S GO PHILLIES!
I want to be there for a Phillies sweep in game 4!
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
There is no one who loves florida more than me. The only reason I didn’t move there is my wife hates the heat. but I have friends there and up until recent times would go down there 5 or six times a years. But if you want to see a toilet its tampa bay roaches are as big as rats, I would never go back .
Posted: 08:39 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Its great Tuan must be one of the two or three dozens fans the rays have. they needed bells to get the cows who live there. to go to the games they thought they were dinner bells. the dopes.
Posted: 08:42 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chase Mutley
I don’t know about anyone else but I’d love to hear more from Tuan. He sort of puts into perspective how much more there is to life than sports. When you ride around on the back of a truck all day picking grapefruits, I suppose it is that easy to wear sports statistics and the accomplishments of others as your badge of honor.
Posted: 08:57 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Joephilly
the espn poll says the rays will win? then its a good thing its play on the field that decides it not opinions of people who dont know crap about the team weve watched for the past 7 months. thet picked the dodgers too didnt they?
Posted: 09:17 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 phan in TN
is this site slowing down for anyone else?
Posted: 09:22 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 JT
Typical Philly front yard = http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/87061203_bab1f3f3f8.jpg?v=0
MY St Petersburg front yard = http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/emanji/front.jpg
Typical Philly back yard = http://mccammon.ucsd.edu/~dminh/nyphilly/images/nyp-15.jpg
MY St.Petersburg back yard = http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/emanji/mypool.jpg
BTW if you think my pictures are hax job. I have this to say to you.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/emanji/IMG_2131.jpg
Posted: 09:25 PM on October 20, 2008