Temperatures are slowly dropping, leaves are beginning to turn and the end of September’s yellow jacket invasion is swiftly dissipating. Fall is here, and for baseball fans that only means one thing – the playoffs are here again. For Chicago Cubs fans, this is the second year in a row they have made it to the playoffs, the first time since 1907-08. Cubs fans carry a heavy burden, as their team has not won the World Series since 1908.
There are teams outside of the Chicago area that are also vying for a world championship, one team in particular is
looking for their first. The Tampa Bay Rays have stormed through the regular season accomplishing many firsts for the young franchise that has been in the American League East’s cellar for most of their existence. The young talent of rookie third basemen Evan Longoria, combined with the veteran leadership of designated hitter Cliff Floyd, have vaulted the Rays to their first playoffs in franchise history.
The Boston Red Sox are looking for their second consecutive World Series title and third in four years. Boston, who captured the AL Wild Card, will not have to battle their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, as the Yankees are
missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
In the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox are looking for a repeat of their 2005 success. The White Sox will have the toughest road to travel in the AL, coming in with the worst record of the four. Young pitching and timely hitting, thanks to manager Ozzie Guillen’s July rant, has been the recipe for success on the South Side.
Out west, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hold the best record in the majors. Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez broke the single-season mark for saves by accumulating 61, four more than the previous mark. The National League is packed with talented teams looking to march through October and on to the World Series.
The Chicago Cubs hold the best
record in the NL and were the first team to clinch. Manager Lou Piniella has his pitching staff headed in the right direction at the right time. Ace Carlos Zambrano and pitcher Ted Lilly are coming off a no-hitter and one-hitter respectively. General Manager Jim Hendry bolstered the lineup by picking up outfielders Jim Edmonds and Reed Johnson and pitcher Rich Harden. The Cubs have scored the most runs in the majors behind the offense of Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez. Their offense along with their pitching has transformed the Cubs from the “Lovable Losers” into the favorites in the NL. The Philadelphia Phillies have two former NL MVPs on their roster, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and first basemen Ryan Howard. Howard leads the majors with 46 homeruns and 141 runs batted in.
The other New York team, the Mets, come into the playoffs with a different manager than they started with, and a bullpen that has been beaten up, to say the least. Perennial All-Stars Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran, with the addition of pitcher Johan Santana make New York a team not to be overlooked. Reyes, always a threat to steal, had over 200 hits this season, only the second player to do so in a Mets uniform.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the playoffs behind the extraordinary
play of outfielder Manny Ramirez, who is already third on the team with 16 home runs. Veteran pitchers Derek Lowe, Brad Penney and Greg Maddux have each won a World Series and provide balance and leadership in the clubhouse. Not to mention manager Joe Torre’s experience is unparalleled to any other manager in the majors. This will also be Torre’s 14th consecutive post season as a manager, but his first with the Dodgers.
Even with all of the assets each team brings to the table, in the end there can only be two. The march through October to the World Series will be a tough road for fans whose teams are on the brink. This time of year invokes suspense, excitement, and the occasional riot, just one of the many reasons baseball is America’s favorite pastime.
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