Nothing Like the Fall Classic

 

October 20, 2020

Despite the White Sox and Cubs early elimination, the playoffs have been quite entertaining. I think back in time to when there were two 10 team leagues. This ensured that the two best teams met in the World Series. With expansion and tiered playoffs this doesn’t happen quite as often. That’s why it’s nice to see the two best teams, the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers, in this year’s series.

To this point the playoffs have had plenty of surprises and drama. The first surprise was the Yankees barrage against Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, this year’s Cy Young award winner, to win game one. Cleveland manager Sandy Alomar Jr. decided to start Carlos Corrasco over Zach Plesac in game 2 and the Yankees won 10-8. Next up were the Rays. This was an intense back and forth series that went to a fifth and deciding game. The Rays prevailed when little known Mike Brosseau homered in the eighth inning for a 2-1 Rays victory. In a best of seven series against the Houston Astros, the Rays jumped out to a three game lead. Instead of folding, the Astros won the next three. The Rays finally won the series winning game 7, 4-2. It was poetic justice as Houston was only 29-31 during the regular season.

The National League played true to form. The Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds, who didn’t belong in the playoffs, were swept by the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. The Braves swept the Marlins and it took the Dodgers four games to beat the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers were down three games to one in their best of seven series against the Braves. They would win two in a row to extend the series to 7 games. In the deciding game, the Braves made several mistakes running the bases. Cody Belinger’s homer in the seventh broke a 3-3 tie that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 victory.

Both the Dodgers and Rays are very good defensively. They also have excellent starters and equally effective bullpens.  The Dodgers seem to have a better line-up. This includes Mookie Betts, whom Chicago Tribune writer Paul Sullivan called the best player in baseball (I think it’s the Angels Mike Trout). Betts is the catalyst of their offense. The Rays have a no name line-up but it seems a different player comes through when they win.  However, keep your eye on rookie Randy Arozarena, who is hitting .382 with 7 home runs and 10 RBI this postseason. Predicting a winner is not easy. The Dodgers are the favorite, but I am rooting for the Rays.