2008 World Series prediction time, Rays or Phillies?
| Rays in Four |  4 (1.56%) |
| Rays in Five | 19 (7.39%) |
| Rays in Six | 97 (37.74%) |
| Rays in Seven | 30 (11.67%) |
| Phillies in Four | 7 (2.72%) |
| Phillies in Five | 19 (7.39%) |
| Phillies in Six | 66 (25.68%) |
| Phillies in Seven | 15 (5.84%) |
257 votes | 7 featured comments
The Rays should have an edge because of Philadelphia's week off. The fact that Tampa has homefield advantage is huge for them. A flat start for the Phillies could have the series over by Monday. The Phillies so far have beaten Milwaukee and LA and have had an easy path to the WS. This will be their first real, significant challenge, and I don't think that they are up to it after Hamels.
I really don't care who wins as long as the Joe Carter home run is shown repeatedly to remind the public of Philly's last WS appearance.
I've gotten tired of betting against the Rays. They'll take it.
I voted for the Rays in 7. I actually think they're a much better club and should win in 5 or 6, but the prospect of additional drama and an extra home date or two makes a seven game nail-biter the Zen choice for me.
The AL/NL difference seemed as strong as ever this year, with the AL again clearly the better league. Philadelphia lost series to Toronto, Boston, Oakland, Texas, and LAA this year (4-11 total), whereas Tampa went 12-6 against the Cubs, Marlins, Astros, Pirates, and the Cardinals. The AL went 149-103 overall, or was the rough equivalent of a 96 win team vs the NL. Given that the Rays and Phillies were roughly equivalent teams - RS/RA 799/680 for Philly, 774/671 for Tampa - in their own leagues, I think the big edge must go to the Rays.
Of course, I will be rooting for the Phillies...TB beat up on Toronto this year, and Matt Stairs is still a big favourite.
Of course, I will be rooting for the Phillies...TB beat up on Toronto this year, and Matt Stairs is still a big favourite.
I know the AL is better, but it seems the Phillies have a lot of players that can come up big, and their pitchers are working with a lot of rest. The Rays rotation, I would think, would hit a wall at some point.
The Rays have a multitude of good pitching options, so if one breaks down, they are likely to be all right. The Phillies count on Hamels, Myers and Moyer. Moyer is 45 and has thrown over 200 innings. Hamels has thrown by far the most innings of his career this year and does have an injury history.
I love the Rays' secret weapons. Price, Baldelli and Aybar will come in very handy against the Phils' lefties, and Chad Bradford is exactly who you want on the mound in the late innings in Philly's bandbox. And those guys combined barely had anything to do with the Rays winning 97 games in the AL East...