A Series Worth Watching

The Phillies-Rays World Series is sure to be a snooze in the ratings, but in the three games thus far, it has made for some really, really good baseball.

Wacky, Wonderful

Jayson Stark recaps last night's incredible Game 3 of the World Series, which gave the Phillies a 2-1 series lead:

The Phillies now hold a 2-1 lead in this Series. They lead it even though they're hitting .061 (2-for-33) with runners in scoring position. They lead it even though neither of those two hits left the infield, and one of them didn't even score a run.

They lead it even though their late-inning defensive replacement has produced more runs than their leadoff hitter. And they lead it even though they've allowed that team they're playing to score eight consecutive runs, over two games, on plays that included either an out or an error.

"It's a funny game," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said when this insanity was over. "That's how the game goes."

It is indeed a funny game. And it'd be downright hilarious if the Phils not only win the Series, but win it while continuing their team-wide ridiculousness of the first three games. 2-for-33 with runners in scoring position?!? This is arguably the best offensive team in the National League!

Of course, the only thing more incredible than 2-for-33 is the fact that, despite it all, the Phillies are winning.

Unbelievable.

I've waited a long time for this, and this Series is certainly not disappointing in terms of sheer entertainment value. Everything has been unpredictable and exciting - just the way it should be, in fact.

Obama Phlip-Phlopping?

On the Phillies?

That's what McCain says.

Once his hometown White Sox were eliminated from the baseball playoffs, Obama decided to root for the Phillies, the favorite team of his campaign manager, David Plouffe (as well as yours truly, of course). But here's Obama in Tampa, home of the AL champions and the team that ousted the White Sox, on Monday:

“I want to just make the point I’ve said from the beginning that I am a unity candidate, bringing people together,” Obama told the crowd. “So when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays, and the Rays showing some love back, you know we’re on to something right here.”

It doesn't sound to me like he's switching horses, though as usual McCain wants us to think something that's not true, even if it's something relatively trivial.

The Weirdest World Series in History

About a year ago, I wrote a Facebook note called "The Colorado Rockies are the 2007 National League Champions." And at that point in time, I thought it was the absolute weirdest thing ever to happen during my life as a baseball fan.

Well, shit just got weirder.

The Phillies, the team of 10,000 losses, will play the Rays, the team that used to be the Devil Rays. So basically baseball's historical laughingstock will play the laughingstock of the past 10 years.

W
T
F

????????

How many people foresaw a Phillies/Rays matchup in the World Series before this season began?

Right now, someone in Vegas is filthy rich, I bet. And I can't get over how stunned I am.

The second Papi hit that homer in Game 5, I thought the Red Sox were gonna pull it out. I really did. I'm shocked that they didn't - and shocked that they lost to the Rays. Can't believe it. Ridiculous. Impossible. The only thing that makes it even more insane is the fact that, now that the Rays have won, they're going to play the PHILLIES.

The PHILLIES!!!! Playing the RAYS!!!! IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, anything's possible, I guess. What's gonna happen next season? My money's on a Nationals/Mariners World Series. And even that wouldn't be as weird as THIS.

But, nevertheless, Phils: I hope you kick the crap out of these clowns. Welcome to the majors, Tampa. Finally.

Gold Star Winner: October 6, 2008

Tampa Bay Rays

2008 American League East Champions

Won ALDS vs. Chicago White Sox, 3 games to 1

Since no one said anything particularly provocative today, I decided to forgo the usual Gold Star post and give the award to a more atypical recipient, the Tampa Bay Rays, in recognition of their improbable series-clinching victory against the Chicago White Sox this evening.

The Rays - formerly the Devil Rays (yuck) - had finished in last place in the AL East in nine out of their first ten seasons.  This season, however, they went from the league's worst record in 2007 to winning the division over the wealthy Northern juggernauts otherwise known as the Red Sox and Yankees.  In fact, the Yankees didn't even qualify for the playoffs this season, thanks to the emergence of the Rays.

Today, the Rays prevailed in Chicago to win their first-ever playoff series, and set up a date with arch-nemesis Boston in the American League Championship Series.  The winner will move on the World Series.

Even though Tampa Bay will have home-field advantage against the Red Sox, I'll take Boston to win the series (as will the rest of sane America).  But right now, let's savor the Rays' remarkable accomplishments this season, none bigger than what they did today.  Congratulations, guys.  It's gonna be a hell of an ALCS. 

Hoping for History

When politics dies down (after the election), I hope to devote this blog more to a mix of not just politics and news but some other things I like too, mainly sports and particularly baseball.

The baseball season has entered its homestretch and, with the Yankees out of it and the Phillies' usual late-season dance of being out of contention one day and suddenly back in it the next day, let me say this:

I hope the Tampa Bay Rays make the World Series this season.

I didn't say win it, because that would be too weird, and they still might face the Phillies, whom I would obviously want to win.  But this is by far the best story of the baseball season - and maybe the best story of the past 20 baseball seasons - and I hope it continues deep into October.