World Series Preview

Well the folks at Fox and MLB are probably weeping about this year's World Series matchup since Philadelphia, New York, and Boston are all absent. Since I'm not a fan of the big-market behemoths and prefer underdogs, I'm ecstatic.

A World Series pitting the Texas Rangers against the St. Louis Cardinals may not be the most glamorous matchup (although that is debatable since St. Louis has the most World Series titles of any team not named "Yankees" and has a national following), but it could very well be one of the most exciting Fall Classics we've had in years.

The teams are practically mirror images of each other: lousy starting pitching in the playoffs, outstanding bullpens, and deep, powerful lineups that put runs on the board in a hurry. In fact, both teams blew out their respective LCS opponents with big innings to reach the World Series. For the record, I would like to point out that I was almost spot on with my LCS picks: Texas overwhelmed Detroit in 6 games, and Verlander was ordinary. I did pick the Cardinals to win, albeit in a 7 game series.

Offense

As I mentioned earlier, both teams can rake. While stars such as Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Josh Hamilton, and Michael Young get most of the attention, both the Cardinals and Rangers boast deep lineups. The ALCS MVP was Nelson Cruz, who is Texas' 7-hole hitter. The NLCS MVP, David Freese, bats in the 6-spot.

The American League, with its utilization of the DH, has a reputation for offense, and Texas certainly fits the bill. The Rangers led the AL in batting average, were 3rd in runs scored, and had five players with 25 or more home runs, and that doesn't include Young, who drove in 106 runs. Texas put up 39 runs in the ALCs against Detroit for an average of 6.5 a game.

However, if there is one team from the National League that can play an AL-style game, it's the Cardinals. St. Louis is no offensive slouch, leading the NL in both batting average and runs scored. The Cardinals scored 43 runs in their series for an average of just over 7 runs a game. They can go toe-to-toe with the Rangers and will not be intimidated or panic if a game turns into a slugfest.

Pitching

Again, these two teams are mirror images of each other. Both teams' starting pitchers struggled in the LCS. The Cardinals became the first team to win a postseason series without having a starting pitcher reach the sixth inning. Ace Chris Carpenter was the only starter to pitch 5 full innings, and the St. Louis rotation finished the LCS with an ERA of 7.03. The Cardinals' saving grace was their outstanding bullpen, which compiled a 3-0 record with a 1.88 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. Manager Tony La Russa made 28 pitching changes, and his bullpen actually threw more innings than his starters. That is not a recipe for success, so it is critical for St. Louis starters, especially Carpenter, to get deeper into games and take some of the load off the bullpen.

Texas' starters have struggled as well. Ace CJ Wilson has an ERA of 8.04 this postseason, and Colby Lewis is the only starting pitcher with an ERA under 4.00. Like St. Louis, the Rangers have been bailed out by their bullpen. Texas relievers recorded all four Ranger wins in the ALCS, allowing just 4 runs in 27 1/3 innings with a 1.32 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and 6 walks. Alexi Ogando has been Texas' secret weapon coming out of the bullpen. Ogando, a reliever-turned-starter-turned-reliever, has the endurance to pitch multiple innings with the lights-out stuff of a late-inning guy. Throw in top setup men Mike Adams, Mike Gonzalez, Scott Feldman, and Darren Oliver, and the Rangers have a formidable stable of relievers to protect a lead until they can hand it over to fireballing closer Neftali Feliz.

Defense

Both teams have been solid defensively, with Texas boasting a .989 fielding percentage and only 4 errors. St. Louis has also committed 4 errors but has a slightly better fielding percentage at .990.

Bottom Line

This series has the potential to go the distance. Texas is a team on a mission to atone for last year's defeat in the World Series. The Rangers have breezed through the opposition and have yet to really be tested. They squashed Tampa Bay, a team that was riding a huge wave of momentum after overcoming the largest September deficit in history to clinch a playoff berth and trounced a Detroit team that knocked off the favored Yankees and boasted the best pitcher in the league this year.

St. Louis has that "Team of Destiny" look about them after rallying from 10.5 games back in August to overtake Atlanta on the last day of the season and clinch a playoff berth. They then stunned heavy favorite Philadelphia in the NLDS and managed to defeat division champ Milwaukee, holder of the best home record in baseball, on its own turf.

The Cardinals are reminiscent of the 2007 Rockies, another team that rode a late surge to the World Series. Like those Rockies, the Cardinals have a suspect rotation, stellar bullpen, and a deep lineup. Unlike those Rockies, who fell short in the World Series, the Cardinals have been here before. St. Louis won the World Series in 2006 and made the playoffs in 2009. Tony La Russa has managed five World Series teams, winning twice. The Cardinals will not be wide-eyed on the bright stage of the Fall Classic. Also, they will not have much a break between series to halt their momentum.

Texas is a younger, more powerful team. The Rangers are more talented than St. Louis. They have a deeper, less-questionable rotation, and their bullpen has been outstanding. Between Ogando and Feliz, it's hard to imagine any leads slipping away. Texas is also experienced, having made it this far last year. They fell just short and are determined to win the last game of the year this time.

However, St. Louis is a veteran, savvy team. They've been here before and know how to handle the pressure. Tony La Russa is one of the best managers in history, and his moves thus far have all paid off. St. Louis can hit with Texas, and while the Cardinals relievers may have the pure stuff that Texas' relievers have, they have been just as good this postseason. St. Louis also has the one thing that Texas does not: a legitimate ace.

Chris Carpenter has won a Cy Young and a World Series. His career postseason record is 7-2; one more win, and he becomes the leader in postseason victories among active pitchers. His lone World Series start consisted of 8 shutout innings. In the winner-take-all Game 5 in the NLDS, Carpenter was brilliant, tossing a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory against Roy Halladay and the Phillies in Philadelphia.

In a series where the two teams are so equal, having a proven pitcher like Carpenter can make all the difference.

Cardinals in 7