So, 2 days later than expected, the field is set for the 2008 MLB playoffs. With 4 teams in each league, there are 16 possible matchups we can see in this year’s World Series. Not all matchups are created equal though, so I’m going to rank all 16 matchups by level of intrigue. My apologies in advance to Phillies and Brewers fans:
1. Red Sox vs. Dodgers – Two big markets with big followings taking each other on. Joe Torre leading the Dodgers to the World Series in the same year that the Yankees miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993 will give the Steinbrenner family fits. But the biggest subplot here will be Manny Ramirez returning to Boston, who he greatly disrespected this season. This would also be Torre’s first crack at Boston in the playoffs since the Yankees choked away a 3-0 lead in 2004.
2. White Sox vs. Cubs – Sure, no one may care about this outside of Chicago, but the city would literally rip apart if these 2 teams ever faced each other in a World Series again (the Sox beat the Cubs in 1906). Fans of both teams actually don’t want to see this matchup happen because they don’t want their team to be the team that loses to their hated cross-town rival.
3. Red Sox vs. Cubs – the two historically “cursed” teams with large national followings going at it. The funny part here is the Cubs are looking to break 100 years of losing while the Red Sox are trying to establish a dynasty by winning 3 championships in 5 years.
4. Angels vs. Dodgers – Could tear the city apart just like Chicago, but only until the 7th inning when the war gets taken to the streets….as the fans fight to get home. This matchup could lead to some negative happenings as well. Last time 2 California teams from the same metro area played, there was a gigantic earthquake. Also, we could see increased bloods vs. crips violence.
5. Angels vs. Cubs – The 2 top seeds and probably most deserving World Series teams battle things out. Add in the whole Cubs curse story, and you got yourself the #5 most interesting series.
6. Rays vs. Brewers – The ultimate low budget World Series. Two very small market teams with not all that great fan bases (sorry Brewers fans, they call your place Wrigley North for a reason) prove that you don’t need to spend $100 million to win a World Series. TV ratings will be lower than the Emmys
7. Rays vs. Cubs – The gigantic underdog of 2008 vs. the gigantic underdog of the past 100 years. This would be an appropriate way for the Cubs to finally win a World Series, especially with a sweep, since with the current alignment, this is as close as we can get to the fictional 2015 World Series in Back to the Future 2.
8. White Sox vs. Phillies – These guys both like to hit a lot of home runs and play in two very homer friendly parks. If you hate pitching, this is the World Series for you.
9. White Sox vs. Brewers – Mike Cameron can get revenge for being traded for both Paul Konerko and Ken Griffey Jr. during his career. But in all seriousness, it would be funny in an agonizing way for Cubs fans to have 2 teams 90 miles apart playing each other in a World Series where both team busses would pass by Wrigley Field on the way to the games.
10. Red Sox vs. Phillies – This could be another offensively charged series, with Philly’s left handed power trying to twist balls around Pesky’s pole.
11. Rays vs. Dodgers – Joe Torre looks at Tampa in confusion, “Hey didn’t I beat you guys non-stop for 10 years?” then has a chance to become the first manager to lose a World Series to 3 different 1990’s expansion teams.
12. White Sox vs. Dodgers – Older White Sox fans will like this matchup, since it is a rematch of the last World Series the White Sox lost, in 1959. Hopefully no games will need to be played in the LA Colliseum this time, though a spilled beer on Ken Griffey Jr. would be pretty funny.
13. Red Sox vs. Brewers – Interesting series for really old Braves fans, since these cities were the team’s first 2 homes before moving to Atlanta. C.C. Sabathia gets another crack at knocking out the Red Sox after he lost 2 games to them during last year’s ALCS.
14. Angels vs. Phillies – Don’t adjust the color on your TV’s, there will be red everywhere. Should be a fun series to watch, just not quite as interesting.
15. Rays vs. Phillies – 1 combined World Series title in over 140 combined years of baseball, most by the Phillies. I am a little excited to see a Cliff Floyd vs. Jamie Moyer matchup in the 2008 World Series.
16. Angels vs. Brewers – The top seed in the AL vs. the bottom seed in the NL. If anything, people in LA might learn what state Milwaukee is in, and where that state is located.
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