A Look Into Major League Baseball's 2008 Fall Classic

Major League Baseball's Post Season swings into action full tilt on Wednesday as the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies square off  with the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays for the 2008 World Series Championship. Tampa Bay is the American League Champion for the first time and we can't forget the fact that this was the worst team in baseball last season losing 96 games and were a 200-1 shot to win the World Series when the 2008 season started. The American League has won 7 of 11 World Series Titles but in 23 World Series pitting a Post Season newcomer,(Rays), against a team making a return appearance after falling short the previous October,(Phillies), has seen the repeater win 13 times. Philadelphia has won 20 of 25 while the Rays have delivered wins in 21 of 33 games.
Tampa Bay outscored the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox 64-41 with BJ Upton and Evan Longoria connecting for 13 Home Runs between them. Stopping one or both is the key for a Philadelphia series win. Philadelphia is loaded with home grown talent and are led by veteran players Rollins, Utley, Howard and Burrell. Game #1 is a key piece of the Philiies approach as the National League has lost 13 of 17 games in the World Series and Ace Left Hander Cole Hamels gets the ball from Mgr Charlie Manuel to open the series in Tropicana Field. Philadelphia hit 214 Home Runs this season and will get another shot in the arm when veteran Matt Stairs is penciled in for all games played in Tampa Bay as the Phillies Designated Hitter. Both teams have strong rotations but the Philadelphia Bullpen is home to Mr. Perfect, Brad Lidge.
  The outdoor World Series record of Dome Teams including those that play with retractable roofs is 4-12 in the Fall Classic. Think hard before you jump on the Rays badwagon and don't put to many Cheese Steaks on it if you do! Be in the line-up for all the action from James Patrick Sports Diamond Club and enjoy winning selections for all games in the 2008 Major League Baseball Fall Classic. Step Up to the plate now at jamespatricksports.com