I haven't followed MLB religiously since I moved away from Boston two years ago and cuz I'm a Pittsburgh Pirates (perhaps the worst organization in all of sports?) fan sometimes I give up on baseball. that all changed when I lived in Boston and worked and lived at a bar right next to Fenway. Red Sox games are a helluva party!
as a Pirates fan, I just want them to be good. it's been so long and I've sat through so much bureaucratic bullshit. they essentially made the city of Pittsburgh's taxpayers pay for I think about 80 percent of the stadium, complaining that they would never be good without a new stadium. they've had the most beautiful stadium in the world for years now, and now they just trade away all their talent and insist that they are "working towards the future." fucking b/s
I caught the tail end of this season and I was pleasantly surprised on how exciting the season was even during the last week before the playoffs. it seems that pro baseball can get a little dull right before the much anticipated World Series, because the teams that are moving on know it and are locked down.
NOT this year! wow. I was surprised to see the Cincinnati Reds and their dramatic run at the end of the season. when I checked upon the Reds halfway through it looked like they would coast easily to the playoffs. apparently, not so fast.
I love pro baseball being relevant in the state of Ohio, so I am kinda pulling for the Reds. the walk off home run was a perfect way to present the gift of the playoffs to the state of Ohio. I think the Reds have talent, it's just that Philadelphia once again looks like the cream of the NL crop. I predict that the Reds will keep on advancing until they play the Phillies.
the American League, more specifically the AL East was as always a very entertaining conference.
I feel so bad for the Tampa Bay Rays, they officially made the postseason to stadium that was only about half way full. I feel like this is the last year for the small-market giants, Tampa Bay, to win the World Series. unfortunately, I am jaded and I just don't think they have the money that the other bigger market teams have to give out to their all-star talent.
for that reason, I would like to see the Rays make it to the WS. although they bested the Yanks by one game (I think it ended up like that in the AL East?) it's hard to bet against a team as veteran and talent laden as the Yankees. I feel that in the ALCS the Yanks will pull away in 7.
I think the WS is going to come down to the Phillies VS the Yankees, which is a good classic lineup and at the very least should be exciting to watch. I want baseball to be popular in our everyday sports vernacular again, and it seems like this year they have been doing a good job of making the sport exciting once again.
perhaps the weight of two teams like NY and Philadelphia can bring some interest in a grand WS culmination. I have a feeling that it would go to 7 games, at the very least.
