Executives at the Fox TV network are undoubtedly seeking a painless way to commit hari kari, but real baseball fans across the country have been given a wonderful gift by the playoffs this year. I’m sure Fox execs would much rather have seen a Boston-Los Angeles World Series, but I, for one, got just what I was rooting for this year.

First, there’s the Philadelphia Phillies, a terrific team that has finally lived up to its promise. I’m a Braves fan, but I’ve got to admit that the Phils were the class of the National League East this year, and make an excellent NL representative. You’ve got to love the young stars that drive this team–Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino. and Cole Hamels. Thrown in a rejuvenated Brad Lidge at the back end of the bullpen, and it’s a formidable opponent that faces the American League champs. The big question for the Phillies, I think, is starting pitching. After Hamels, there are some question marks. Which Brett Myers will show up? Can Jamie Moyer get his soft stuff past the Rays’ lineup? Who pitches game 4?

The Phillies have been very, very good this year, but their opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays, has been a story for the ages. If they win, they will be the first team in major league history to go from having the worst record in the majors to World Series champs in one year. While the Phillies have a long history of futility–as a franchise, they’ve lost more games than any other–the Rays finished higher than last this season for only the second time in their history (the other time was fourth in the five team AL East). Most experts thought them better this year, and actually gave them a shot at third, though a fairly long one. Instead, they’ve gone from worst to first, and did it the hard way, beating the last year’s Series winner, the Red Sox, in their division race, in their head-to-head season series, and in the ALCS. Oh, and they beat a pretty good White Sox squad in their very first playoff series ever, and made it look easy.

After watching their series with the Red Sox, I’ve got to believe that the one possible weakness for the Rays is the relief pitching. Their lineup has been slugging at an extraordinary rate, their speed is enough to rattle even the most level-headed pitcher, and their starting pitching has been superb. Though they seemed to have some defensive problems against the Red Sox in games four through seven, they’ve been an excellent defensive team all year. Their bullpen has typically been a strength, but without Troy Percival to close, theyve been going with a committee, which is usually not a formula for success. On the other hand, if David Price, who saved game 7 in brilliant fashion less than a year out of Vanderbilt University, is handed the ball in the ninth throughout, it may well solve that problem.

Put it all together, this looks like it will be the best World Series since the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in 7 back in 2001. I’m picking the Rays to finish out the Cinderella story with a win in six.

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