When Belief Becomes Bankable: The Rays Uprising

Carlos Pulido

Josh Spilker is a Tampa Bay Rays fan, and he's written here before about that and other things. He also has a novella out now (digital), which you should definitely check out (hard copy...scroll to bottom), but he's here today to talk about baseball, money, and miracles. Enjoy:

At this dinner meeting with people from church, with a small smoky fire, bratwursts and italian sausage, pumpkin bread, it was fall, near the end of September and the whispers of October hum on the horizon. Things turn inside and then wrap up, and the St. Louis Cardinal fan/homeowner turns on the television. St. Louis taking care of business, Braves stumbling, Boston in a rain delay and the Rays left for dead. A Red Sox fan looks at the TV-- “Call the game,” he says and “Yankees killing the Rays.” There may/

may not have been a high-five and I fell back into a recliner. The recliner sunk and sighed; relieving itself.

The Braves Collapse: The Epitome of Southern Anxiety

It grew out of it, so it must be a part of it, right?

Summer baseball, fall football, and church are pretty much the cliches that felt apart of my southern boyhood, and all those things taught me that most heroes are destined for tragedy: Moses couldn't reach the Promised Land. Jesus was crucified. Robert E. Lee surrendered. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Eric Zeier couldn't overcome Spurrier. Bill Clinton was impeached. And the Braves, well, the Braves pretty much lose (except for in '95) once autumn comes.

2010 MLB Playoffs: Who we're rooting for

The 2010 season was an ugly one for both Berndon's Cubbies and my Dodgers, the former was led by a manager who seemed content with cashing a pay check while the latter appeared to take their rightful place as the forgotten children of divorce. That leads us here with no horses in the race and no idea who to pull for to win the big one. So we got out our copy of Baseball Prospectus, a couple pads of paper, three pouches of Big League Chew and got to work, dutifully working on a formula to find the most deserving team of our fugacious praise. This formula consists of six categories; Team history, city, team finances, notable players, their fans, and lastly (but certainly not least), our biased hatred for the teams involved.

New York Yankees
Langston: They call the greatest city in the World home, their fans are myopic yet as loyal as they are plenty, and the squad is chock full of talent. However, the operating expenses and last years World Series eliminate them immediately from my fleeting praise.

Berndon: I used to really hate the Yankees, but this hatred is seemingly dying out each passing year as the Cubs spend more and more money. How can I hate on a team for buying championships when my boys unsuccessfully do the same thing each winter. This Yankee team really isn't that bad in terms of likeability. That being said, despite the fact that I like guys like Jeter, Cano, and Nick Swisher, I still can't stand ARod or Posada. I would like to see Kerry Wood, former Cubs wunderkind, get a ring. There fans are still obnoxious and they still get overhyped all the time, so I'm still rooting for the Twins to take them out in the first round.

San Fransisco Giants
Langston: They'll always be the Gints to me..

Berndon: I really enjoyed the Buster Posey experience, as he's potentially a keeper on my first-ever championship-winning fantasy baseball squad. San Fran seems like a cool city, and they did produce the Grateful Dead. I also really like their announcers, Jon Miller and Mike Krukrow. Ex-Cub Mike Fontenot factors into my decision of liking them to advance, and I'll pull for them if they knock off the Braves, but for reasons I will mention later, I'm rooting for them to lose to Atl. 

Philadelphia Phillies
Langston: The balance between their great city, good food, likable players, rotten fans and two straight triumphs over my Dodgers in the NLCS make this a tough decision. But being the most recent World Series Champion from the NL eliminate them from eligibility.

Berndon: Philly gets a bad rap as a city, but I enjoyed my experience there last summer when I caught a Phillies-Cubs game. It reminded me a lot of Chicago, albeit a slightly more obnoxious version where you substitute cheese steaks for pizza. As for their players, I don't dislike anyone, but don't really have any strong feelings other than the fact that Ryan Howard can hit a baseball further than Uncle Rico of "Napolean Dynomite" fame can throw it, which is enjoyable for everyone. I hope they take down the Reds and then lose after that.

Tampa Bay Rays
Langston: Everyone, including the Rays, has been crushing the Tampa fans for not showing up the day they clinched their playoff spot. However this is a pretty ridiculous and shortsighted attack on the fanbase considering they never show up (23,024 average and 52.6% tickets sold for the season, good for 22nd in MLB attendance) and they play in the worst stadium (outside of Oakland) in the majors. Plus, after 81 games, can't the loyal 53% take a night off to prep for the postseason? Despite the unneeded chiding, they went to the series two years ago, so I'm ready for some new blood. Sidenote: They do deserve our scorn for DJ Kitty (aka meme that needs to die).

Berndon: Tampa loses points because I feel like their fans don't deserve a winning team. They can't even show up unless the Yankees or Red Sox are playing, and even then the crowd is mixed. I like their core group of players, although it's depressing to think that the squad will be broken up after this season. All in all though, it would be nice to see them get a crack at the Yankees in the ALCS, but I can't say I would mind if Texas took them down early.

Texas Rangers
Langston: This team has a whole lot of interesting subplots; from the drug histories of Ron Washington and Josh Hamilton to the change in ownership to the great Nolan Ryan to the down-and-up year of Vladimir Guerrero. They have a low payroll considering their exciting squad and lose points for terribly average attendance and lack of pitching. I want to root for them, I really do, but I can't root for a team that I can't answer the following question: Would anyone care if they won?

Berndon: Josh Hamilton is an inspiraton on a personal level, as anyone who read my Michael Vick story will realize. Other than that, I think the Vlad Guerrero comeback is a nice little story, and each game they win will be moving further in the postseason than they ever have. Seeing them battle the Twins in the ALCS wouldn't be the sexiest of matchups, but enjoyable nonetheless. I'd like to see them beat Tampa and lose to the Twins.

Cincinnati Reds
Langston:  There are three things that come to mind when I think of Cincinnati or the Reds; Firstly, Marge Schott, and her racist comments. Secondly, Ken Griffey Jr signing a massive contract, only to see him rarely display the skills we came to adore him for while collapsing into a career of injuries. And lastly, Pete Rose, the best hitter of all-time and an absolutely loathsome human being. Now, I understand I'm not giving Joey Votto and his teammates enough credit, but with those images in mind how can you blame for not rooting for them. Sidenote: They do fit most of the criteria for our formula, but Marge Schott dude. Marge Schott.

Berndon: I'm conditioned to hate the Reds, since they reside in the NL Central, but I really don't have it in me. I hate the Cardinals for obvious reasons, and even the Brewers get more venomous hatred than Cincy, more than likely because they haven't been relevant for a while now. I can't truly root against Dusty Baker, but then again, there will be some bitterness because I will feel like he should have done it in Chicago. I hope Philly beats them in round 1. Joey Votto should have given Marlon Byrd daps at the All-Star game, instead of having his immature little attitude about how he couldn't shake his hand because he hates the Cubs. I hate you too Joey.

Minnesota Twins
Langston: The Twins are the ultimate team to root for; a great underrated city, haven't won the big one in the past couple of years, likable players/style of play, loyal fans(100.7 % tickets sold this season), and no rivalry connection to my Dodgers. I'll be pulling for them to win the AL,  I would be pulling for them to win the series if not for the last team on our list.

Berndon: The Twins get 5,000,000 cool points for demolishing the White Sox. That goes far in my book. Minnesota is an awesome city, despite my hatred for all things Vikings. Michael Cuddyer is from the same zip code that I now reside in, and I've just always liked the way they play. They bring web gems galore, get just enough key hits, and Ron Gardenhire has them going hard until the last out. I hope they knock off the Yankees and make it to the World Series, where 3 of there home games will inevitably get snowed out.

Atlanta Braves
Langston: My father's side of the family is from Knoxville. This is where I get my love for the Vols, the blues, BBQ, and seersucker. During summer break I would spend my time at my Papaw Jackson's house. My days consisted of going to the lake, playing hoops at the rec center, church, and the Braves. While church and the lake happened occasionally, the Braves were unending. When we weren't watching them, me and PaPaw Jack would question Bobby's decision making on the deck over a Mello Yello and a Moon Pie. When we went to watch the Smokies, we would point out guys that would fit in well with the Braves. On our weekly fishing trips, we'd breakdown Bobby's most recent ejection. While eating breakfast we would debate who was better; Greg or Tom. Looking back, the Braves were as big a part of the summers as my family, I was engulfed. So, for my Papaw, I will continue my tradition of rooting for the Braves when the Dodgers are out of the race. It's a sentimental pick, but it's not like our formula is a law.

Berndon: I kind of disliked the Braves as a child, because pre-Nats, TBS and 90's success spawned a lot of Fredericksburg Atlanta Braves fans. Two key factors make me want to root for Atlanta(although I did just bet a co-worker 20 dollars tonight that they would lose in the 1st round). One is the fact that Derrek Lee was one of the classiest and best Chicago Cubs over the middle part of the decade. D. Lee is definitely one of my favorite Cubs players ever, as he consistently went about his business as one of the best first basemen in team history. I'd love to see him get another ring after suffering through Cubs ineptitude for a while. Secondly, Bobby Cox getting a ring in his final season would be a great story in a postseason that seems a little lacking in terms of sentiment. He's only won one ring, but could very well had 4 or 5. Jason Heyward could prove to be the next Griffey, Omar Infante continues to prove to everyone he was actually a good All-Star pick, and the likable core of vets like Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson, and Billy Wagner make the Braves my pick of who I'm rooting for.

In terms of actual predictions: I'm going with Philly vs. San Fran in the NL, with my preseason pick for the World Series being the Giants winning the pennant. Despite Philly's big 3, I feel like the Giants have both the starters and the bullpen to make it through. In the AL, I think it's going to be Tampa vs. the Yankees, with Tampa Bay running their way into the Fall Classic with Posada's arm practically falling off after Crawford, Upton etc. run wild. I think the Giants will knock off the Rays in 7, with their pitching again carrying the load. Atlanta-Minnesota would be nice to see as well. And if this works out like my NCAA tourney "Who to Root for," it'll be the Yankees and Reds battling it out.

Riot time in Philly

I don't want to judge others, but I never understood the reasoning behind rioting in the city that you love after a big win or loss. Take College Park, Maryland for example.; One year they blow it in the Final Four. The students react by rioting, flipping cars, burning couches, and smashing shop windows . Next year they win the championship, town reacts by rioting, flipping cars, burning couches and smashing shop windows. The only plausible excuse could be, well its the only night we could do this and get away with it. Of course there is no etiquette book on the nuances of rioting which gives us the correct circumstances on when to riot. But that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a guide for this maniacal behavior.

The most raucous atmosphere I have been a part of was Knoxville 2004, after UT narrowly beat Florida with a game winning field goal. After the game I went through with my usual routine; I went to the strip to eat a late dinner, then went to Carrie and C.J.'s house for some beirut, and then head back to the Pong house for the band and after-party. But something happened, people started to literally lose their mind. I believe it happened due to a mixture of copious amounts of whiskey, the pressure of classes being released, and the fact that UT had just escaped a loss to the Gators. The scene was pure insanity. Computer monitors were being throw off of houses, couches were being burned in the middle of the road, and just absolute anarchy was about.

The thing I remember the most was talking to my old roommate Trey while drinking my typical makers on ice and debating what that guys first thought is going to be in the morning, post-riot. We discussed this guys eventual morning haze for a good thirty minutes, guessing that he would wonder where all his stuff went and then decide to go get the morning paper, to find all of the smashed and/or burnt remnants of his stuff on Highland ave. Or maybe he thinks to himself that he should update his away message but his monitor has gone missing with no clue of where it is. That's the one thing that sticks out to me, the thought of hungover people questioning what happened last night. Going from friend to friend to try to piece together the carnage they were a part of last night.

Last night the citizens of Philadelphia were able to let loose a lot of frustration. After all its been months since the city last enjoyed victory in a championship game. The Philadelphia Soul are this years Arena Bowl champs. These two championships should help the town get over Rocky's recent fictional loss to Mason Dixon.

The aftermath of the celebration; 15 people made trips to the emergency room (11 trauma cases), 76 were arrested, businesses ended up with smashed windows, stores were looted, and some poor soul's car was flipped. Seriously if this is what happens when finally winning after 28 years of futility, I shudder to think of what would happen in Chicago if the Cubs every won one.

Link Scrap

MLB verifies that game 5 of the World Series will be played tonight. The game is set to resume at 8:37 p.m. Wednesday and the game time temperature was forecast to be about 40 degrees—with a wind chill about 10 degrees colder.

Kissing Suzy Kolber unveils its week 8 edition of LOL NFL.

"Cowboy" a deceptively learned individual and southern gentlemen shares his thoughts on the Crimson Tides recent victory over Tennessee (spoiler: clip features mullet and beautiful 70's era porn stache)

Greg Oden made his long awaited debut last night for the Blazers, only to play in the first half and leave the game with another injury

Sons of Steve Garvey give Dodgers owner Frank McCourt some helpful hints on ticket options and pricing.

Philadelphia Phillies #2 pitcher, beater of significant others, and all-around douche nozzle Brett Myers has a penchant for shooting heavy artillery.

World Series: Game 5

Game 5 started off strong for the Phillies when Shane Victorino knocked in two runs with a double. The rain started to pour and in the bottom of the fifth something terrible was coming into play; Would MLB and Bud Selig possibly let the Phillies win the World Series on the five-inning mother nature rule? Thankfully they were let off the hook when BJ Upton scored in the top of the sixth to tie it up, essentially forcing MLB to suspend the game until sunnier skies appear in Philadelphia. Phils fans will have to wait at least another night to complete Game 5 of the World Series. A wet, muddy field logo tells the story of Game 5’s rain delay. MLB has announced that Game 5 has been delayed until Wednesday. The announcement was made as the Philadelphia area continued to be pounded by rain, wind and even snow in some areas. Whenever the game continues the Phils will be coming to bat with the game tied 2-2.

The number of the day is:

47, as in Brad Lidge recorded his 47th save in 47 chances. The once unreliable closer has become the best closer in baseball, well for this season. I know every time he comes in I am thinking the same thing, when will he blow another one. I remember him better for the meltdown in Houston and the hang-over he pitched with the next season. But I should probably readjust my thoughts of the closer, since arriving in Philadelphia he has been the most reliable pitcher in all of baseball. It really is one of the more impressive turnarounds that I can remember.

The Phillies won last night 3-2 thanks to a great performance by Cole Hamels, a two run home run by Chase Utley, Ruiz knocking in Victorino, and two great innings from Madson and Lidge. Game 2 is tonight at 8:29 on Fox. If you didn't watch the first game or you tuned in late, you missed Fox's introduction to the World Series. The narration is done by Michael Douglas and includes our two Presidential candidates.

Well done Fox, well done indeed. Clip thanks to AA

World Series: Who I'm rooting for

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies are ready and roaring to face-off in this years installment of the October Classic. The two teams have a combined total of one World Series Championships. Tampa Bay has never won one, they have only been around since 1998 and this is the first time they have been to the playoffs let alone the World Series. The two championships for Tampa Bay were won by the Buccanneers in the 2002-2003 season and the Lightning(Thanks Smitty for the reminder) in 2003-2004. The Phillies won their lone World Series Championship in 1980 against George Brett and the Kansas City Royals. The only championships Philly has seen since, include an NBA Championship by the Sixers in 1983 and an Arena Bowl in 2008. Throughout the day I have been pondering on which team/city I should root for. The following list helped me decide;

• Better Fans: The city of Brotherly love or the Sunshine City; Philly has obnoxious fans, but they are about as loyal as they come. The Rays can name all of their loyal fans in about five minutes. They also finished 26th in attendance. (Phils +1)
• Tougher Road to the WS: The Phillies tore through the playoffs, crushed their competition and it ended with them being champs of the NL. The Rays are a young and exciting team, and has had to play two teams with recent World Series championships to get where they are now. (Rays +1)
• Salaries: Now it may sound absurd coming from a Dodger fan (seeing as they have one of the higher payrolls in the bigs) but when I decide on alternative teams to root for I tend to go for the team with the lower payroll. Everyone loves an underdog right? The Phillies payroll is ranked 13th at a modest $98 million, pretty close to the league average. However the Rays are ranked 29th at a ridiculously efficient $43 million. (Rays +1)
• Players to root for: The Phillies may have the impossible to hate Shane Victorino , but I went to middle school with BJ Upton (Rays +1)
• Ballpark: The Phillies play in one of the nicer ball parks in all of baseball while the Rays play in a glorified warehouse. Seriously why build a dome in Florida? (Phils +1)
• Better Food: Each baseball stadium has food that is unique to that city. In Boston its Fenway Franks, in Baltimore its Boog's BBQ, and in DC its Bens Chili Bowl. The Phillies have Rick's Steaks and the Rays have Ybor City Cubans. Rick's steaks is run by the grandson of the owner of Pat's King of Steaks. The biggest debate over the years in Phily has been "Pats or Genos?" and apparently the Phillies chose Pats. The grandson of the king will clearly win this battle, yet I can always go for a good cuban. (Phils +1)
  

Final score 3-3. Its a wash, but I think we are all winners since we don't have to endure another year of annoying S.I. ads that involve the Red Sox. It should be an exciting series to watch and I look forward to it. The World Series kicks off Weds. from Tropicana at 8:35 on Fox.

Phillies 4 LA 1

Congratulations to the Phillies, they were the better team and are deserving of whats ahead of them. Even with the disappointment this series has brought, it has been a terrific year watching the Dodgers play. Torre has been a stabilizing force, something that has been lacking since Tommy reitred. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier evolved into everyday players, while James Loney is getting better with each at bat. Manny helped revive the team, like no other could. Even if he never plays another inning in Los Angeles, I will be a fan for life. I know the way he ended up playing for the Dodgers wasn't the right way, but I didn't mind it much when he put the team on his back for the final stretch of the season.

No one believed they could be playoff contenders, let alone have the ability to reach the NLCS. Not when the biggest off-season acquisition showed up looking like the Michelin man, not when the Diamondbacks were the best team in baseball, not when Furcal went down to injury and what seemed like the rest of the team soon followed, and not even when they won the division. The Dodgers did a lot of things to prove their doubters wrong, and even though they are not in the World Series they have something to build upon.

The core of the team is young and should get better with age and their new found playoff experience. This was a great season to be a Dodger fan. I am happy they finally won a playoff series in my adult life. I'm also elated that my best playoff memories of the team involve more than Jose Lima. I can't wait to see who they sign and who they keep. But most of all I can't wait until spring training to see how the big blue wrecking crew shape up, just so I can start this roller coaster all over again. Go Dodgers!

Philly 3 LA 1

Last nights game will be now known as "the game of which we do not speak" as it was amazing at times and soul crushing just moments later. Game 5 will be played Wednesday at 8:22 on Fox. Cole Hamels will start for the Phillies while Chad Billingsley will start for the Dodgers. I am still thinking blue, and I think its time we bring some mojo back to the big blue wrecking crew. So with that, its time for some Ozomatli...

Philly 2 LA 1

Must win, won. Statement made. Game 4 tonight at 8:22 on Fox. Derek Lowe will start for the Dodgers while Joe Blanton will pitch for the Phillies.

Phils 2 Dodgers 0

First of all I want to offer my condolences to Charlie Manuel and his family, for the loss of his mother. Secondly let me say that tonights game was tough to stomach. Former Dodger minor leaguer Shane Victorino came up huge for the Phils, three times. In the second he hit a single that scored Myers and Rollins. Then in the third he hit a triple that scored Myers and Ruiz. In the seventh with the score 8-5, he made a soul crushing catch in deep center to end the inning. If not caught, it would have easily been a double and quite possibly a triple. Basically the flyin' Hawaiian and Brett Myers were Dodger killers tonight. Seriously 3-3 and 3 RBI for BRETT MYERS. Yeah he is the same guy who had a total of 4 hits, all season.

However I am an optimist and there were a few bright spots for the Dodgers. Unsurprisingly Manny was one of them. Hitting a three run home run that barely cleared the wall in left. That home run gave the Dodgers a chance to come back, but no luck. The Dodgers kept Ryan Howard hitless for the second straight game and Jimmy Rollins got the golden sombrero, striking out four times. Luckily for the Phils everyone else was hitting and we all know its just a matter of time before Howard starts hitting jacks again, hopefully for the Dodgers' sake that won't be until next spring. Clayton Kershaw pitched an inning and two thirds, and only allowed one base runner via base on balls. James McDonald came in the game when they needed someone to stop the hemorrhaging. He did just that, pitching three and a third innings, striking out five, no runs, a walk, and two hits. He is the only reason I didn't feel absolutely terrible for Sandy Koufax having to sit through the beat down. I honestly think a star may have been born tonight in the 6'5 pitcher from Long Beach, Ca.

The Phillies take the 2-0 lead to Los Angeles, where the series will start back up on Sunday with the game starting at 8.

Philly 1 L.A. 0

Things we learned from game 1:

• Philly is really good at hitting it really far. Chase Utley and Pat Burrell both hits soul crushing blasts
• Win or lose for the Dodgers, this will be a great series to watch
• Manny Ramirez is still raking. In the first, he hit an RBI double that just missed being a two run homer. He finished 2-4.
• Cole Hamels has the ability to win games on his own. He pitched 7 innings, struck out 8, allowed only 6 hits and 2 runs.
• Derek Lowe is still pitching fantastically. Before giving up the two home runs, only one ball was hit out of the infield.
• The teams are as evenly matched as we expected
• The Phillies bullpen is as good as advertised. The Dodgers failed to make a real run at a comeback, thanks to the fantastic pitching of Ryan Madsen and Brad Lidge
• Last but not least, So Taguchi should never be asked to bunt

Game 2 is today at 4:30 and can be seen on FOX and heard on ESPN radio.

Link Scrap: Dodgers- Phillies

So we have had to wait a grueling 5 days or so to see the start of the NLCS. I figured that this would be a great time to check in on what the local papers are saying about the series.

L.A. Times:

• T.J. Simers writes about the Phillies' fans and their 10,000 reasons to be bitter
• Bill Plaschke chronicles Cory Wades transition from Double A-Jacksonville to the Dodgers
• Kevin Baxter examines how the Dodgers will pitch to Ryan Howard

Philly.com (Daily News and Inquirer)

• Bill Conlin writes about the failures of the Dodgers in the '83 playoffs.
• Pat Gillick enjoys his last hurrah by Phil Sheridan
• Rich Hofmann writes about the relationship between Manny Ramirez and Charlie Manuel that started in the Indians organization. Manuel thinks of Manny like a son

The number of the day is:

4, for this being the fourth time the Phillies and Dodgers have met in the NLCS. Which is the second-most frequent NLCS match-up of all-time behind Cincinnati-Pittsburgh. The Reds and Pirates have met in the NLCS five times (1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1990), while the Dodgers and Phillies will have met four times (1977, 1978, 1983, 2008). No other match-up has occurred more than twice. This will be the first time the Dodgers have met the Phillies in a best-of-seven NLCS, the three previous meetings were all best-of-five, and each of the three went four games. Dodgers won in '77 and '78, Phillies won in '83.

The two teams split the season series 4-4, with both clubs sweeping their home games. This series has the potential of being a fantastic one, with both clubs matching up well throughout their respected lineups.

Dodgers win, sweep Cubs

If the Dodgers going to the NLCS feels this good, I can't even begin to imagine what eight more wins would feel like. What an amazing night. Broxton came through in the ninth, Russell Martin is cash money, the Kemp catch was bonkers, and Kuroda was simply amazing. I am still in a little bit of shock because this type of thing happens for the Lakers not the Dodgers.

I love this feeling..

I saw this on Dodger Thoughts, and I don't think I could say it any better than this:

October losses make me feel my age. October wins make me feel like a boy again.
I like feeling like a boy.

I also want to take this time to congratulate my sister and her husband Eric. My niece Lelia Alysa was born last night in the bottom of the 7th, at 11:20 p.m.

Major League Baseball Playoffs (ramblings)

When your team finishes 72-90, the Major League Playoffs can feel more like a reminder of how bad your team is than a display of the game's best teams going against each other. One can grow jealous, frustrated, and indifferent, watching teams that stayed healthier, developed their farm systems better, and managed their money better than the team one dedicated a whole summer to supporting. One can begin to feel like the kid who missed the first word in the spelling bee and now has to watch the rest of it.

If one's own team is not in the playoffs, then one has to find other plot lines to follow; other cars to bark at and chase down the street. Here are the shiny objects that have me barking this fall:

AL Divisional Rounds
ANGELS vs. RED SOX

People keep telling me the Yankees missed the playoffs, but I swear I saw Dice K slated to pitch on Friday. Wait, what? He pitches for Boston, not New York? Those are different franchises? I thought the Rays beat the New Boston Yank Sox for the division title? Seriously, the histories of New York and Boston are so intertwined they should be contracted into one franchise. Also, that would open up a lot more games on ESPN and FOX's TV schedules.

The Angels, on the other hand, have always been a favorite of mine. I didn't like the Rally Monkey, but I love Angels in the Outfield, a film starring the most underrated actor of his generation, Tony Danza, and Adrian Brody, in a performance that trumps his Oscar-winning one in The Pianist.  Matthew McConaughey has never been this good again either.  In fact, if not for this film, I doubt the Angels even exist.  Plus, they feature Vladimir Guerrero, the Tony Danza of baseball.  Seriously, Who's the Boss should never have been green-lighted, but Tony's charisma made it happen.  Guerrero should not be a career .323 hitter, considering the pitches he chases, but somehow he does it, just like Danza somehow kept the house clean with an effortless, "Heeey!!!" 


I'm pulling for the Angels because this is their chance to show why they deserve more attention from the baseball world; it's their chance to show the baseball world "who's the boss." (insert cheesy Tony Danza grin here)

RAYS VS. WHITE SOX

A tin man would root for the Rays. Afterall, they are the underdog, and they have heart, according to Lil Wayne, who describes their blood pumping organ as amazingly unexplainable. He also adds a wow, a great, and a list of his top 15 favorite teams in every sport, all like 85 of them. I would agree with Lil' Wayne, except he has ESPN tattooed on his right arm. I still question his dedication to his picks, until he gets ESPN2 tattooed on his left arm. Let's just say I'm skeptical and pulling for the White Sox because I went to Tampa this summer, and it's filled with Yankees and Red Sox fans. The city cares more about spring training than it does its own team.

The White Sox, on the other hand, have a group of true fans, who are treated like 3/5 of a human being in their own city. Carl Sandburg once described Chicago as "the city of the broad shoulders," and the black and white uniforms of the White Sox look like they were designed for the working class. This team hits home runs like they've been lifting crates in the rail yard. The Rays may have heart, but this team has sweat, spit, and muscle. This team can't afford to have heart because their own city broke it a long time ago. The fact that there are still White Sox fans today is a testament to a minority group's perseverance in midst of an enthusiastic majority, like punk vs. disco.

Yes, the White Sox's main competition is not the team they face on the field, but the team across town they fight for headlines with. The White Sox and the Cubs is like the truth versus the fiction. In real life, players bet on games, cheat, and lose their careers. In fairy tales, gypsies cast spells because they love their goats, like Shrek loves donkey. I, for one, never understood how the gypsy and the goat got to Wrigley in the first place. Does the L pass through Transylvania?

I'm pulling for the White Sox. I'm pulling for the real life madness that is Ozzie Guillen. I'm pulling for the real life pain that is the unravelling of Ken Griffey's greatness. I'm pulling for Jim Thome. I'm pulling for the story that isn't a fairy tale because midnight comes everyday of our lives.

Who didn't imitate this swing as a kid?


NL Divisional Rounds
CUBS VS. DODGERS

Okay, I went hard on the Cubs in that bit about the White Sox, but I've never understood how the popularity of these two teams became so one-sided. Both teams have had good and bad years. Both teams have had bad luck. Both teams have had charismatic and talented players, who usually did not deliver in the clutch. 2005 was an exception, so I don't get the disparity.

Is it that the White Sox's uniforms make them look like Darth Vader, while the Cubs and their stadium make America think of chewing gum? Is it Harry Cary's voice that caused this? Is it the inability to forgive a franchise for sins committed in 1919? What was it? What is it? Does anyone know? I'd like an answer.

Anyway, I'm pulling for the Cubs to beat the Dodgers. I can't pull for a team that's from L.A. I just can't.

PHILLIES VS. BREWERS

The Phillies will win this series. The Brewers lost their chance at postseason success when Ben Sheets got hurt, but I'm pulling for the Brewers because the '93 Phillies still give me nightmares, and I wake up in a cold tobacco sweat.

________

ALCS
ANGELS VS. WHITE SOX

This series comes down to one conflict. What's been more important to America: Tony Danza or trains? It's a tough call, but "Who's the Boss?" is rarely, if ever, seen in syndication these days. I saw a train last weekend, and it was moving. Trains win, which means I'll be pulling for Jermaine Dye, Griffey, Thome, and others to keep lifting crates in the rail yard.


NLCS
CUBS VS. BREWERS

This series I hope happens. Milwaukee is like the little brother to Chicago. I don't even think Chicago worries about its little brother ever even being a serious threat on the field, and I'm not sure they should; but Chicago should worry about losing its Charlie Brown factor. Charlie Brown is always lovable. Charlie Brown never wins, and that makes us like him even more because he still plays the game no matter what. The one time he was winning, the game got rained out. The Cubs losing keeps Charlie Brown alive in Chicago. I'd hate to see Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano take Charlie Brown out in the middle of the night and tie him to the rails of the L, to get run over by a train powering its way back from Transylvania full of gypsies and goats.

Keep Charlie Brown alive!

Keep throwing the high straight ball, Cubs. We love it. Some things are more important than trophies.

My second reason for hoping the Brewers make the Series is linked to Marty McFly. McFly travelled back in time to the 1950's. I would like to travel back to the 1970's. Milwaukee is trapped in the 1970's. Brewers fans still tailgate to Led Zeppelin, using tapes, not CDs. If they win, then I think somehow that will result in all of us being transported back to the 1970's, to a time when mascots were still allowed to slide into a barrel full of beer, people lived off of sausages and cheese, and mustaches did not signify a career in pornography.  It sounds magical.  It sounds like a fairy tale, until one remembers they had lines for gas in the '70s, political corruption, and disco. Then the fairy tale becomes all too real and uncomfortably familiar, like kissing your mother, or Sarah Palin running for Vice President, or ringtones being passed off as pop songs, or... standing in line for gas. Hey, Marty, we're stuck in a time warp.



WORLD SERIES

WHITE SOX VS. BREWERS

The working class vs. time travel, that's the World Series I want.  I feel like I'm already watching it in the Presidential race.  Baseball is more poetic than politics.  Give me poetry over debates. Give me something that truly wipes the slate clean because, Atlanta, next year is our year to take on the Bourgeoisie.