If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
On Wednesday night, the first game of the 2008 World Series will be played. The baseball championship series will feature the Philadelphia Phillies against the Tampa Bay Rays. The game will be played in Tampa Bay and will begin at 8:00 PM ET.
Coming into the 2008 baseball season, experts never saw this series coming. Last season, the Rays finished dead last in the American League. In fact, Tampa Bay had never even come close to making the playoffs – or even finishing the season at .500. The talent was always there but the Rays couldn’t get it together on the field.
But early on in the 2008 season, things looked different for the Rays. Their youth had matured and they started winning games. Experts thought that the Rays would cool off and fade near the end of the regular season. That simply never happened. In the American League East, which is regarded as the toughest division in baseball, the Rays were able to hold off perennial powers such as the reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, the most successful team in the history of baseball.
The Rays have a young core but their ability simply cannot be questioned. Their star hitter so far in the postseason has been BJ Upton. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .304 with seven homers in 11 playoff games. To put things in perspective, Upton had only nine homers in 145 regular season games. His explosion at the plate has been a big reason why the Rays have made it to the World Series.
Another key player for the Rays is third baseman Evan Longoria. Not to be confused with Eva Longoria the Desperate Housewives star, this future star has made a huge splash during his rookie season. Not only is he a good fielder but scouts claim he is one of the best rookie hitters of the last decade. His potential has been very evident during this postseason run.
Carlos Pena, who at 30 years of age is considered one of the old men of the team, is arguably the team’s best hitter. Pena was a journeyman player before he got to Tampa Bay and finally lived up to his potential. Now he’s a middle of the lineup terror who has hit 77 home runs in his two years in with the Rays.
Other key hitters for the Rays include Akinori Iwamura, Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford and Dioner Navarro. Iwamura is the team’s Japanese second baseman who offers a good glove and a very quick bat. Bartlett is a slick fielding shortstop who has gotten some big hits in the postseason. Crawford is an outfielder who has been with the team six years – which makes him the team’s longest tenured player. Navarro is the Rays catcher who is regarded by many as an indispensable part of the team due to his defense and his ability to handle pitchers.
The ace of the Tampa Bay pitching staff is none other than James Shields. The 26-year-old right-hander from California is known for pitching well in big games. Matt Garza is another young pitcher who has been the team’s best hurler during the postseason. In the team’s American League Conference Series win over the Boston Red Sox, Garza was named the Most Valuable Player for two great performances during the series including a Game 7 victory. Scott Kazmir, 24, is an underrated pitcher who may have a higher ceiling than anyone on the staff. The bullpen is made up of veterans such as Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour, and young arms such as rookie David Price – who got the save during the Game 7 victory in the ALCS.
On the other side of the diamond, the Phillies certainly do not lack star power of their own. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia’s slugging first baseman, is likely the most dangerous player in the 2008 World Series. This National League MVP candidate had 48 regular season home runs to go along with 146 RBIs and 105 runs. For the Phillies to win the championship, he’s going to have to have a big series.
Second baseman Chase Utley is another certified star on the Phillies. During the regular season, Utley had 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Not only is he good at the plate, Utley is a fine fielder at second base and is speedy on the base paths.
Reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins is another headliner for the Phillies. Although he didn’t replicate his MVP success during the regular season, he has been a major spark for the team during the postseason. Rollins can hit for power but is also pleased with great speed. On the field, he’s a world class shortstop who can make difficult plays look easy.
The Phillies have many more solid hitters such as Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth. Burrell has always been regarded as a talented slugger and he has really started realizing some of that potential in the last few seasons. Victorino has led the team in RBIs during the postseason, even though he’s had to deal with a death in the family during the run. Werth is another talented outfielder on the roster who has an explosive bat.
The four-man pitching rotation for the Phillies during the playoffs has featured Cole Hamels, Jaime Moyer, Brett Myers and Joe Blanton. Hamels is obviously the most talented pitcher on the Phillies and he hasn’t disappointed at all in the 2008 baseball playoffs. With so many young stars in this World Series, the 45-year-old Moyer is an absolute marvel. While he hasn’t been as good during the playoffs, his steady hand during the regular season helped the Phillies get to where they are. Myers and Blanton have both had big moments during the postseason for the Phillies, including a legendary at bat by Myers that has been replayed across the nation. The closer for Philadelphia is Brad Lidge, who has five saves during the playoffs and is now 46-for-46 in save opportunities during the 2008 season.
Game 1 of the World Series will feature a pitching matchup of Phillies ace Hamels going against Kazmir of the Rays. Game 2 will pit Myers against the Rays pitching ace Shields. To be played in Philadelphia, Game 3 has old man Moyer going up against ALCS MVP Garza. Game 4 and Game 5 will also be played in Philadelphia, while the final two games of the series will be played in Tampa Bay – if they are necessary.
The winner of the 2008 World Series will be crowned after one of the team wins four out of the seven contests. The Rays have home field advantage due to the American League winning the 2008 All-Star Game. Coincidentally enough, Kazmir was the winning pitcher for the AL during the All-Star Game.
The betting community has this series very close, however the oddsmakers have made the Rays a slight favorite. The most likely outcome, according to the oddsmakers, is for the Rays to beat the Phillies in seven games to win the 2008 World Series and claim the baseball championship. However, while the Phillies may be the underdog, they certainly have the talent to end up as champions.
