World Series of Woes

For the past two seasons baseball fans have been treated to outstanding post-season baseball, each culminating in two great World Series match-ups, one involving the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, while last year we had those same Phillies defending their Championship against the Yankees. While seeing Philadelphia win against an upstart team was satisfying, the way it was done couldn't have been better.

Because of a rain delay, the final few innings of the eventual final game were delayed for two days. The result was roughly 90 minutes of the most exciting baseball you could ever lay your eyes on. While we still scold Bug Selig for questionable decision to not put the game in a rain delay sooner, he actually gave us something that was something you don't see in baseball: Non-stop excitement. For those final four innings, we were at the edge of our seats and we couldn't turn away.

Last year's series didn't feature much in the way of excitement, but it did feature the Yankees, the team everyone loves to hate. Watching them, whether you want them to win or lose in the World Series is somehow always a treat. It went six games, and ended with the Yankees winning of course, but overall you couldn't help but feel satisfied, and we couldn't wait to see a rematch of this one a year later.

We didn't get our rematch, but it was close. Instead we got the San Francisco Giants, a team using a 3-man rotation for the playoffs as well as a crazy closer against the Texas Rangers, a team that before entering this post-season hadn't won a single playoff series, let alone a Championship. Needless to say ratings for the series so far have been lackluster at best, being way down from last year since it doesn't feature a "marquee" team despite having a very strong pitching lineup, for one team at least.

What we've been treated to so far has been extremely disappointing. In Game 1, the Giants tore apart the formerly invincible Cliff Lee with the addition of a few errors were able to manhandle Texas in Game 1, 8-2. In Game 2, it was the Texas bullpen that folded, issuing at one point 11 straight balls, which allowed at least two runs to be walked in. I stopped watching at that point because it became ugly, but needless to say in ended up being a 9-0 win for the Giants.

Going into the series I didn't have high expectations for it being decent, and so far I can say I'm vindicated. I believe Texas' stage fright may have finally gotten the better of them here, as it looks like they'll be swept unless something is done immediately. It took Texas 50 years to finally reach the World Series since moving there from Washington, but it hopefully won't take them another 50 to get back. I'm sure next time however that they'll put on more of a game than a circus act.