The World Series, Enough Said

The World Series is beginning tonight, and it's going to be a heck of a series. The Texas Rangers first ever Fall Classic appearance, and based on the numbers, it looks like the Rangers could potentially have a great series.

The Series begins tonight at 7, and as any baseball fan knows, there are many components that go into winning a baseball game, much less a 7 Game Series. Though there are tons of parts that go into the win, I'll break it up into two major components:

Offense
The Rangers go into the World Series on an absolute tear at the plate. This post-season, they have scored 59 runs in 11 games with 17 home runs. Just to portray how dominate that is, the high powered Yankee lineup has generated 36 runs in 9 games, with only 10 homers. The well stacked lineup for the Rangers includes the likes the ALCS MVP, Josh Hamilton (ALCS stats: .350 avg., 4 HR, 7 RBI'S, 8 Walks). Another major key to their lineup is the Five-hole hitter, Nelson Cruz. Cruz is batting .375 this post season, with 5 Doubles, 5 HR's, and 8 RBI'S.

The Giants take the more close game approach to the series, scoring 30 runs in 10 games. They're batting .231 as a team, and live and die by their starting pitching. A key component to their lineup is potential NL Rookie Of the Year, Buster Posey. Posey is batting .282 with 3 doubles and 3 RBI'S. The rookie has been playing well after Molina was traded to Texas and he took over the full time catching job, and is quickly developing a name for himself.

Advantage - Rangers
The Rangers high powered offense seemingly outscores everyone, and with the Giants putting up an average of 3 runs a game, the Rangers will likely only need to bat the first half of the game to exceed that total. Texas also has a habit of exploding late in the game at the end of a starting pitchers appearance, or the beginning of the bullpen's part of the game. Also, don't forget how well they manufacture runs. The Rangers baserunning is as good as or better than any other team in the league.

Pitching
Cliff Lee. That's all that seems to need saying for this part. Not only has Lee dominated this post season (3-0, 0.74 ERA, 2 ER), but he also has rubbed off on the other starting pitchers. C.J. Wilson has received tons of tips and help on pitching from Lee, and is now starting to take games over in the same manner. The Rangers also have a strong bullpen that seems to take over a game on any given day. The only major slip up they have seemed to have this year is Game 1 of the ALCS when they gave up a 5-0 lead. Their dominance is shown by their closer, Neftali Feliz, who hurls 100 mph fastballs past just about every hitter he's faced this year.

The Giants pitching rallies behind their ace, and Cy Young award winner, Tim Lincecum (2-1, 1.93 ERA, 5 Earned Runs). He has dominated this post season, and even in his loss, still gave his team a chance to win the game in the end. The Giants bullpen is also very strong, and it's shown in their closer Brian Wilson. The LSU Alum has sat down batter after batter all year, and has seemingly taken on the "Mariano Rivera" persona this post season.

Advantage - Giants
Though this is extremely close, the Giants have a more balanced pitching rotation. The bullpen is evenly matched, but so much of baseball is how a game is started and momentum. Past Cliff Lee is two potentially great starting pitcher, and another that can take over a game in Tommy Hunter, but none have consistently shown dominance in the way that the Giants rotation has.

This will come down simply to who wants it more, and with the Ranger's having an entire fan base of Claw Waving, Antler Throwing fans that the Giants have to face for games 3, 4, and possibly 5, I don't see anything going well for them in Arlington.

All of that said, my prediction is going to go down as
Texas Rangers in 5.

Go Rangers, Go Pokes, Go Cowboys!