As I'm sure our very knowledgable readers are aware next week will start the World Series. An event so mind dazzling and important that it is worth more than 2,000 dollars to see live. While I'm not convinced anything is worth that much live (especially when its free on tv) it is an extrememly important event to all sports fans. It is the one-hundred and eighth anniversery of the first World Series. There have been certain years which were interrupted by chance, fate, and... other issues. These "other issues" most of us die hard fans refuse to acknowledge and would prefer to ignore all together. Baseball is the American past-time and it is has made it through the ages by alluring its fans with its relaxed atmosphere and easy going fans (for the most part). This is all gone in the post season. With the pressure of each game immense, the leisure of losing one game and having it mean nothing like the regular season is gone. With each loss a team's statistical odds decrease. Lose at home and you've nearly signed your death wish. With every pitch, every swing, and every out scrutinized it makes for one of the most beautiful spectacles on Earth.
The World Series is even more enjoyable if your favorite team is in it as I'm sure every fan that has had the privilige will acknowledge. This year the lucky backers for Texas and St. Louis will have the pleasure of watching their teams duke it out on baseball's biggest stage. Let's start with our analysis of the Texas Rangers. They are in the World Series for the second straight year despite losing out on the Cliff Lee bidding war that took place last off-season. The loss of their best pitcher seemed to put this seasons outlook hovering somewhere around bleak and abysmal. Texas executives hoped that the young pitching staff would be able to do enough to push their exciting offense into the playoffs again. I'm sure that they weren't going into the season expecting another World Series birth, but I'm also sure they aren't going to complain about it. For most of the year the Rangers were in a tight race with the Los Angeles Angels (I almost typed Anaheim) however, in my opinion the better team one the divisional race. The offense is superb, with huge bats like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Michael Young, and Ian Kinsler and the pitchers have made for a surprisingly good staff. Their team era of 3.79 was very good and C.J. Wilson's team leading ERA of 2.94 was outstanding. Wilson stepped up and is a huge reason for the Rangers 2011 success. Throughout the playoffs the Rangers have stuck to their guns scoring a ton of runs and limiting teams from putting up a whole lot. They have been very impressive so far in the postseason by quickly dispatching of their first two opponents, the Rays and Tigers.
Now onto the red hot St. Louis Cardinals. Barely squeaking into the playoffs wasn't enough for these upstart underdogs who had to rain the on the World Series parade for the Phillies and the Brewers, both heavy favorites. The Phillies were the team with the most hype coming into the playoffs due to their great pitching staff, but the Cardinals outhit and outpitched them for most of the series. The middle three in the Cardinals line-up Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday form a formidable trio to work around. Pujols, the most feared hitter in all of baseball, went through a down year. He merely hit .299 with 37 home runs and 99 RBI's. Not bad for an off year. I'm sure that most major league players would give an arm and a leg for those kind of numbers. His nickname says it all, he truly is a machine. Lance Berkman had been cast off and written off by most off baseball. The Cardinals felt he still had much to offer, however, and he didn't disappoint. He hit .301 with 31 home runs and 94 RBI's and won the National League's comeback player of the year award. Holliday struggled with some injury issues and didn't put up his usual numbers, but he is still one of the best hitters in baseball. The Cardinals suffered a huge loss when they found out one of their aces, Adam Wainright, would be out for all of the 2011 season. They worked through this though and Chris Carpenter, a former Cy Young Award winner, had another great year. He was helped by one of the brighest young stars in baseball Jaime Garcia, a lefty with a very bright future. These two helped to push the Cardinals into the playoffs and beat two of the best teams in baseball once they were there. The Cardinals are definitely the hottest team on the planet right now and thats what the playoffs are all about, getting hot at the right time.
This year's World Series should provide plenty of drama and excitement. The rich teams from the coasts were kicked out and its now left to two middle America teams to finish the season. In the end only one team can end its season with a win, though and I have to give my edge to the Rangers. I've doubted the Cardinals before and they continue to win, but my gut tells me that the Rangers are just too strong. Their line-up gives pitchers nightmares and their pitchers find ways to win games. Under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan the Rangers will win in 6.
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