Meanwhile in That Other Series...
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I want to take things one game at a time when it comes to the Phillies, but with the Fightins up 3 games to 1 on the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series you have to admit that advancing to the World Series seems almost certain. Is there any way the Phillies lose three games in a row to the Dodgers? I really do not see that happening. With Cole Hamels taking the mound tonight a loss would still send it back to Philadelphia for game six for a fired up Brett Myers and who knows what would happen in a game seven.
In any event I have been keeping an eye on that other best of seven series of some significance from that other league with the goofy designated hitter rule. After last night the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves in the same situation the Phillies do, up three games to one on the Boston Red Sox. They aren't just controlling that series, they are flat out dominating it!
After losing the series opener in Tampa by a 2-0 score the Rays have been carrying a big stick and have pounded the Red Sox by scores of 9-8, 9-1, and 13-4. It is scary how well they are playing. With both the Phillies and Rays now up 3-1 on the road all signs are now pointing towards a Phillies-Rays World Series. At this point is just a formality to wrap these series' up.
While I will wait to analyze the World Series match-up in more depth until the Phillies officially clinch the National League, something that I expect to happen tonight, I will tell you that the Rays seem like a team of destiny at this point.