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]