No, neither of the Chicago teams that we were rooting for here at Midwest Sports Fans made the World Series. But still, as baseball fans, most of us will be taking an interest in the World Series.

I think that Boston-LA would have made for, at least on paper, better storylines and drama; but a Tampa Bay-Philadelphia World Series definitely features two exciting teams with great young players, and it features the best and most positive story in Major League Baseball since all the steroids madness started: the improbable run of the young, perennially down-trodden Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series.

The World Series follows the 2-3-2 format at all of the games are, of course, televised on Fox (Joe Buck! Tim McCarver!) and while MLB.com currently lists the Rays’ pitching rotation as TBD (as of this posting), ESPN.com at least made an educated guess. You may want to check these on a daily basis though, as the Rays getting stretched to 7 games by the Red Sox may necessitate Joe Maddon switching things up a bit.

Here is the schedule:

Game 1 — Wed, October 22nd, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Cole Hamels v Scott Kazmir

Game 2 — Thu, October 23rd, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Brett Myers v James Shields

Game 3 — Sat, October 25th, 8:00 ET — Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Matt Garza v Jaime Moyer

Game 4 — Sun, October 26th, 8:00 ET — Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Andy Sonnanstine v Joe Blanton

Game 5* — Mon, October 27th, 8:00 ET — Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Cole Hamels v Scott Kazmir (projected)

Game 6* — Wed, October 29th, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Brett Myers v James Shields (projected)

Game 7* — Thu, October 30th, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Matt Garza v Jaime Moyer (projected)

* – if necessary

As far as predictions go, both teams are pretty significant rolls heading into the series. Tampa Bay has been on a magical roll all season long; and as with the White Sox in 2005 I just think that Tampa Bay is destiny’s darling this year.

I was surprised that they were able to beat the Red Sox in Game 7, and I think they will ultimately take the World Series in either Game 6 or Game 7 at Tropicana Field in front of some very deserving home fans. This is based on nothing more than a gut feeling, and in knowing that the Rays now have David Price at the end of games to ensure that Dan Wheeler doesn’t piss away a 9th inning lead.

All in all, it should be a great World Series (despite Joe Buck and Tim McCarver).

What is your prediction?

[tags]world series, mlb, philadelphia phillies, tampa bay rays[/tags]

As Lynyrd Skynyrd once sang, “Oooh, that smell. Can you smell that smell?” I know what I can smell, and for once it isn’t the stench of Grady Sizemore’s female parts since the Cleveland Indians are so waaaaaay far behind the White Sox in the AL Central Standings.

No, that smell is the first wiff of Fall. And Fall means one thing, and one thing only: Football. I could write an entire post about all of the many images, memories, feelings, and pangs of sublime anticipation that rush through every fiber of my being when this glorious time of year rolls around. However, I might crash the server due to the length of the post.

So instead, I will go a different route and highlight one of the few things about football season that I absolutely abhor. There aren’t many, and most of them are so meaningless that they are essentially infinitesimal. But there is one steaming pile of arrogant and monotone nepotism that hangs over the Fall like an unexpected early morning dingleberry carwash. And unfortunately, it hangs over October baseball as well. You all know who I’m talking about:

Joe Buck.

I don’t really want to waste time explaining all of the many reasons why Joe Buck is a tool. We all know them. And everyone has wondered at least once while listening to a Joe Buck broadcast whether he was trying to decide if he’d be having more fun smashing his nuts in a vice or being at the game he was announcing. Joe Buck treats announcing like Joe Sixpack treats his 9-5 warehouse job. Get in, work, get paid, and get out. “Joyless” is probably the most apt word to describe Joe Buck’s announcing style.

Don’t believe me? Listen to Joe Buck’s comments on Colin Cowherd’s radio show. These two megalomaniacal chode ticklers deserve eachother. Awful Announcing (a great blog that is getting added to the Blogroll ASAP) has a great take on this as well.

Case in point, his call of David Tyree’s incredible catch in last year’s Super Bowl. Courtesy of a quick YouTube search, I have the video here for your auditory displeasure:

I mean seriously…was that someone announcing the Super Bowl or reading a phone book? And Troy Aikman isn’t much better. Maybe it’s just because I grew up on Hawk Harrelson homerun calls and Don Fischer going apeshit every time Indiana scored a touchdown or made a key basket, but I like a little emotion from my announcers. They don’t have to be obvious homers like Hawk and Fisch, but for goodness sakes you’re at a football game! We’re not reciting Psalms in church here. Give me some emotion!

To provide some perspective, check out another video I found on YouTube when searching for calls of the Patriots-Giants Super Bowl. I don’t know who the hell these guys are…and obviously it was not a real broadcast. But damn, at least they have some emotion!

I’m glad I ended this post on a positive, upbeat note. Remembering that I am going to be force-fed a consistent gag-inducing diet of Joe Buck for the rest of this year was starting to make me a little nauseous.

But enough about Joe Buck the massive tool.

Bring on football! And an announcer who actually seems to be enjoying himself a little bit…

KVB…where did all of the YouTube videos go of Gus Johnson announcing NFL games???