2008 MLB World Series Preview

On Wednesday, October 22nd, the 2008 Major League World Series begins between the National League Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the American League Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays (formerly known as the Devil Rays). This matchup is shaping up to be a great one.  The Phillies haven’t won the World Series since 1980, when they had Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt running amuck. The Rays have been the laughing stock of the league since their inception into baseball back in 1998, finishing last in their division every year except for 2004 and of course, this year. Both teams making it to the World Series is surely a surprise to the baseball world, as no expert predicted either one of these teams to even make it this far.

Catcher: TB Dioner Navarro vs. PHI Carlos Ruiz

Navarro had a great season at the plate hitting .295 with an OBP (On-base percentage) of .349 and an OPS (On-base plus slugging percentage) of .757.  Navarro is hitting well in the playoffs, reaching base in every game this postseason with the exception of two games.  Ruiz didn’t even come close in matching the output that Navarro produced this season with a batting average of .219, an OBP at .320 and an OPS at .620.  In the postseason thus far, Ruiz is only hitting .200 with 1 RBI.

Edge: Tampa Bay

First Base: TB Carlos Peña vs. PHI Ryan Howard

Carlos Peña has certainly been a powerful hitter for the Rays over the course of this season homering 31 times and knocking in 102 runners.  In the postseason, Peña is batting .333, with 3 homeruns and 8 RBI.  Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, homered 48 times this year with 146 RBI and 105 runs.  In the postseason, Howard has still yet to produce, hitting zero homeruns and only knocking in 3 runs.  However, it should only be a matter of time before he gets hot (hopefully).

Edge: Philadelphia

Second Base: TB Akinori Iwamura vs. PHI Chase Utley

Iwamura hit the MLB stage last season as a player brought over from Japan.  His stats are not overly impressive, but he is a scrappy type of lead off hitter that typically hits for an average around .275 and has the ability to set the tone for the rest of his offense.  Utley has been a smashing success in the Phillies organization as one of their franchise players.  This season Utley is hitting .292 with 33 homers and 104 RBI.  No contest here.

Edge: Philadelphia

Shortstop: TB Jason Bartlett vs. PHI Jimmy Rollins

Bartlett has had a solid season at shortstop for the Rays hitting .286 with 20 stolen bases.  In the playoffs, his bat has been virtually non-existent, hitting only .243.  But guess what?  J-Ro is also non-existent in the postseason hitting only .243 with 2 homers.  For the 2008 season, the 2007 NL MVP, hit .277 with 48 stolen bases.  I guess you could say, he had an off year, plus he was injured for about a month or so in the beginning.  J-Ro just has too much talent to think that he won’t turn it on.

Edge: Philadelphia

Third Base: TB Evan Longoria vs. PHI Pedro Feliz

Debuting in his rookie season, Longoria has earned his playing time, hitting .272 with 27 homers and 85 RBI. He has become a star in the Rays organization and even played in the All-Star game earlier this year.  In the playoffs, he has launched 6 homeruns and knocked in 11 RBI.  The kid is a star and the Rays should be happy to have him in their organization.  Feliz is a “never was” and a “never will be”.  Easy decision here.

Edge: Tampa Bay

Left Field: TB Carl Crawford vs. PHI Pat Burrell

Crawford had an off season in 2008, he was out nearly two months due to an injured tendon in his right hand.  However, he is a doubles/triples machine, usually hitting above .300 and stealing at least 50 bases year in and year out.  In postseason play, Crawford has hit .302 with 6 RBI and 6 stolen bases.  Pat “the Bat” Burrell has been a mainstay in Philly for a few years now being known as that streaky hitter that can get the big hit, but can also be a dud from time to time. So far this postseason, Burrell is hitting .300 with 3 homers and 7 RBI.  He is playing extremely well and picking up the slack of the rest of his teammates, like Rollins and Howard.  This matchup is a tough call, but I think Crawford’s speed and contact hitting overwhelm the power that Pat’s bat will supply.

Edge: Tampa Bay

Center Field: TB B.J. Upton vs. PHI Shane Victorino

This is another tough matchup.  Upton has had a more than solid year stealing 44 bases and hitting .273 with 67 RBI.  In the postseason, Upton is producing, hitting .304 with 7 homeruns and 15 RBI.  Victorino has also had a solid year playing center field, hitting .293 with  14 homers, 58 RBI, and 36 stolen bases. Thus far in the postseason, Victorino is hitting .281 with 11 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

Edge:Tampa Bay

Right Field: TB Gabe Gross vs. PHI Jayson Werth

Gross, who was acquired during the season from the Milwaukee Brewers, has had a poor statistical season only batting .238 with 40 RBI. In postseason play, Gross has hit for a whopping batting average of .063 and has nearly struck out at half of his plate appearances.  Werth hit .273 this season, smashing 24 homers and stealing 20 bases.  In the postseason, Werth is hitting .243 with 4 doubles.  Both of these players are nothing to write home about.

Edge: Philadelphia

Starting Pitching: TB Scott Kazmir (12-8), TB James Shields (14-8), TB Matt Garza (11-9) vs. PHI Cole Hamels (14-10), PHI Jaime Moyer (16-7), PHI Joe Blanton (9-12)

Cole Hamels is far and away the best pitcher on the Phillies staff with 196 strike outs on the year.  Moyer has had a phenomenal season, but he has overachieved and his stamina in games will definitely be a concern for Charlie Manuel. On the other side, Kazmir and Shields have developed into legit aces on the Rays pitching staff with 326 strike outs between them. They are both work horses and will look to pitch late into games.

Edge:Tampa Bay

Closer: David Price vs. Brad Lidge

The closer situation in Tampa has not been that great all postseason with their closer for the year, Troy Percival, being left off of the roster due to an injury.  However, David Price, a recent rookie call up, has brought stability to the bullpen closing out games and winning games in timely fashion.  Now that Price looks to be the closer the rest of the way, the Rays’ bullpen is stronger than at any other point in the postseason.  On the other side of the coin, Brad Lidge, the closer for the Phillies, is a proven veteran closer throughout his career.  So far in this postseason, he has saved 5 games and struck out 10.  Neither bullpen is spectacular, but Lidge brings an air of confidence and veteran leadership to the Phillies pen.

Edge: Philadelphia

The Phillies definitely have the offensive advantage, especially if Rollins and Howard can start producing, but everyone knows that great starting pitching wins games: Tampa Bay over Philadelphia in 7.