Who will win the World Series?

[Lewis526]

The fact that foreign players play doesn't make it any more a 'World Series'. They're still American teams (besides Toronto).

If we made a championship between the Japanese League champion (whose teams also have foreign players) and the MLB champion, that might deserve the 'World Title' label, though I think the Koreans might also want to have their say.

That's what the World Baseball Classic is for. My only problem with that name is that an event that's been held once shouldn't be called a classic. Since "World Series" was already taken, it's forgivable.

How many Latin Americans and Koreans play in the Japanese leagues? How many Japanese play in the leagues in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Korea, or China? When the best players currently coming to the the MLB start traveling elsewhere to play in other leagues, instead of the best from around the world coming to the MLB to play, then I'll start to wonder about the legitimacy of the title "World Series." There's no doubt that there are piles of great players not playing in the MLB, but until I see an international league (not a short tournament) drawing teams from around the world (not just the USA and Canada), I won't mind calling the MLB's championship the World Series Championship. Nothing else fills the role.

Edit: Oh yeah, to keep this on topic - I was rooting for the Cubs in 6, but since that has failed, I'd like to see the Rockies win. Being an NL fan, I'll have to root for whoever wins the NL pennant. I still have warm feelings in my heart about the D-Backs' World Series victory over the Yankees. Nobody is more fun to hate than the Yankees.

 

[kenobi65]

That's what the World Baseball Classic is for. My only problem with that name is that an event that's been held once shouldn't be called a classic. Since "World Series" was already taken, it's forgivable.

I'd also note that the World Series has been played for over 100 years. I'm not at all convinced that, in 1900 or so, baseball was a significant sport (or even played *at all*) in some of those other countries (though it had already made it to Japan by then).

On-topic: Rockies. Talk about peaking at the right time.

 

[Goobermunch]

Rockies. No doubt.

They've won 21 of their last 22 games. They'll get 8 days of rest. Of the ten teams that entered the series after at least seven days of rest, seven went on to win. Boston and Cleveland will hopefully push their series out to six or seven games too. It'd be nice for the AL to arrive at the series bruised and bloody.

Todd and the toddlers are unstoppable.

--G

 

[GlassJaw]

As much as it pains me to say it, I'll have to go with the Rockies as well. The Sox looked great against the Angels but absolutely horrible against the Indians, at least when Beckett isn't pitching. Their 6-9 hitters are positively painful to watch at the plate. I've been impressed with the Indians. They are scrappy and just don't go away. They have been hitting in the clutch and doing just enough to win.

The Rockies seem to blessed right now though.

A Cleveland-Colorado World Series. Ugh. My condolences in advance to MLB for the TV ratings.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I would like to see the Sox sit Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo and play Ellsbury and Cora instead.

And I would like to never again see Eric Gagne pitch in any situation where we don't have at least an eight run lead.


The Rockies are hot, but I wonder if an eight day layoff might end up being a bad thing for them. Sure, they can align their pitching, but if the bats cool off from sitting idle except for BP, they may not be the same team as they have been the past 22 games.

 

[GlassJaw]

I would like to see the Sox sit Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo and play Ellsbury and Cora instead.

And I would like to never again see Eric Gagne pitch in any situation where we don't have at least an eight run lead.

Yup, I'm done with Gag-me. And the second Wake gets into trouble tonight, you have to bring in Tavarez or Lester. I can't see letting a knuckleballer pitch his way out of a jam tonight. Tonight has to be treated like a game 7, other than not pitching Beckett (which I'm actually ok with). I do wish Bucholtz was rewarded for his no-hitter with a post-season start though.

Here's the lineup I'd like to see tonight:

Ellsbury
Youk
Papi
Manny
Lowell
Pedroia
Drew
Cora
Mirabelli

The Rockies are hot, but I wonder if an eight day layoff might end up being a bad thing for them. Sure, they can align their pitching, but if the bats cool off from sitting idle except for BP, they may not be the same team as they have been the past 22 games.

Very true. And I still believe the NL is the B-league. I just don't think you'd see that kind of run in the AL.

 

[Minicol]

Doesn't matter to me so long as its not the Yankees.

the World Largest Dungeon !

 

[Goobermunch]

I would like to see the Sox sit Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo and play Ellsbury and Cora instead.

And I would like to never again see Eric Gagne pitch in any situation where we don't have at least an eight run lead.


The Rockies are hot, but I wonder if an eight day layoff might end up being a bad thing for them. Sure, they can align their pitching, but if the bats cool off from sitting idle except for BP, they may not be the same team as they have been the past 22 games.

As I mentioned in my previous post, teams with seven days rest going into the world series have won seven of the ten in which its occurred. The Rocks are getting 8 days. It's unlikely that the extra day will be that significant a factor.

Very true. And I still believe the NL is the B-league. I just don't think you'd see that kind of run in the AL.

The NL may be the B-league, but I'm with Crash. The AL is the girls' league. At least our pitchers actually have to, you know, play the game. No sissy DH rule for us.

--G

 

[trancejeremy]

The AL is better because teams have to be better there. Thanks to the Yankees and Red Sox having $150 million plus payrolls, other teams in the AL have to be run very very well to compete.

OTOH, in the NL there is no one team that towers over the rest. So mediocrity is often good enough there.

 

[Goobermunch]

The AL is better because teams have to be better there. Thanks to the Yankees and Red Sox having $150 million plus payrolls, other teams in the AL have to be run very very well to compete.

OTOH, in the NL there is no one team that towers over the rest. So mediocrity is often good enough there.

I'll grant you that Bud Selig's notion of parity has done the NL no favors. Nevertheless, you can't really call Todd and the Toddlers mediocre. If you look at objective metrics, they're downright awesome.

They have the best fielding percentage of any team. Ever. They turn double plays like clerics turn undead (had to think of an analogy that wouldn't upset grandma).

They've got explosive batters throughout the lineup.

They play as well in 100 degree weather as in 35 degree.

They don't actually consume oxygen.

Oh, and they're unstoppable right now.

Without using any sissy designated hitters, either.

--G