World Series Game 1 Preview

Cole Hamels, LHP
Phillies
Kazmir, LHP
Rays

Scouting Report:
Phillies: The 24-year-old Hamels has been nothing short of outstanding this postseason, winning all three of his starts while posting a 1.23 ERA and holding opponents to 13 hits, and striking out 22 of them, in 22 innings. He won the NLCS MVP award for holding the Dodgers to three runs in 14 innings.

Rays: Kazmir experienced a subpar outing in Game 2 of the ALCS but rebounded nicely at Fenway Park in Game 5 when he scattered two hits over six scoreless innings, though he did not get the win as the Red Sox erased a 7-0 deficit after Kazmir left the game. Kazmir used his slider more in Game 5 �- to go along with a plus fastball and changeup -� and the results were encouraging. Rays manager Joe Maddon believes that the left-hander's Game 5 performance will serve as a growth experience for his next start.

Rays Eliminate BoSox, Headed to World Series

Look out Fox Broadcasting Company, with the Rays eliminating the Red Sox and advancing into the World Series for the first time in franchise history, your ratings just went straight to hell.

In what may possibly be one of the most "ho-hum" World Series in the recent playoff history, the Philadelphia Phillies are anxiously awaiting the AL power house Tampa Bay Rays.

Any one West of the Mississippi River will probably tune this one out, as two East Coast teams will battle for the Commissioner's Trophy, leaving much of Baseball America searching for something else on the television.

The best match-up for Fox would have been the lovable Dodgers (or Cubs) vs the Boston Red Sox. Instead, thanks to the Baseball Gods giving us the middle finger, we'll be the recipient of countless cut away shots to Dick Vitale screaming his bald head off and the Phillie Phanatic, launching a hot dog into the seats/blowing something up/sexually violating a sting ray.

Phillies Advance to World Series

The Phillies finished off the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 last night, setting the NL West Champs down in convincing fashion.

The Phillies controlled almost every aspect of the game throughout the series; timely hitting, solid pitching, a great bench (see Stairs, Matt), and a lights out bullpen.

Joe Torre's team had no answer for Utley, the 'Flying Hawaiian", Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hammels, and Brad Lidge. Charlie Manuel out-managed Torre, making all the right moves when necessary.

The Phillies now await the winner of the Rays/Red Sox Series, with Tampa Bay leading the series 3-1.

Collective Head Slapping Registers on Richter Scale

by Chris Lima
108 Red Stitches

A small earthquake was registered throughout the United States last night, as Cubs fans throughout the country collectively and repeatedly slapped their foreheads in continued disbelief.

The Cubs cemented their 100 years of frustration after being swept out of the playoffs for the second straight season.

The Cubs did little to "reverse the curse" committing six errors during the short series, and were outscored by the Dodger 20-6.

For more fun Cubs "Curse Continues" links, visit these wonderful sites to ease (or promote) your pain:

- Help guide the Cubs through to the playoffs in this 80's style shoot-em-up type Arkanoid game.

- Read about the Cubs game plan that went horribly right.

- The Cubs have to start planning for the future, one that might not include Mark DeRosa.

- Could be worse, you could be Eddie Brinkman.

- Or this guy.