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Here's the best this postseason has to offer
But rather than, for example, breaking down the merits of the historically bankrupt Cubbies in their quest to conquer Mannyball, for example, I've been commissioned to categorically play favorites. Think of this as a method of crowning certain teams and individuals with pre-postseason awards.
Ranking the contenders
Who has the best chance to win this year's World Series? Aram Tolegian ranks the playoff contenders.The following categories really seem to be important variables as each team attempts to propel its fans into subsequent rounds. It should be noted that after careful contemplation, the Best Mascot division did not make the cut.
Most important manager
Naming this category required a deft touch, because quantifying the best dugout decision-maker is no hayride. Then again, of the three major professional American sports entities not referred to as NASCAR, baseball is believed to be the least affected by deep thinking from a coach or manager, (which also seems like a tricky notion to quantify).
Nevertheless, let's take a look at the candidates. We have Terry Francona (Boston Red Sox); Joe Torre (Los Angeles Dodgers); Lou Piniella (Chicago Cubs); Mike Scioscia (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim); and Ozzie Guilllen (Chicago White Sox) as members of the World Series-Winning Managers Club.
But I'm going with Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Although being the runaway favorite to win the American League's top-manager hardware doesn't guarantee wise moves in October, Maddon has been smarter than the average bear.
Admit it: All season you've looked at the Rays and wondered how in the heck they're still ahead of the Red Sox. A review of the all-important numbers reveals that Akinora Iwamura, at .274, is the top-ranked Ray on the AL's best-hitters list (43rd). Carlos Pena (31, good for 12th) leads the Rays in homers and his 102 RBIs makes him a modest 11th-best in the league.
James Shields (12th at 3.56) has the lowest ERA in a Tampa Bay starting rotation that has no weaknesses — and no terrifying aces.
Most dominant ace
Were it not for that strained oblique muscle, I'd go with the playoff history and nasty stuff of Boston right-hander Josh Beckett. Beckett, who has been pushed back to Game 3 in the opening series with the Angels, still has the juice to dominate the postseason.
But my choice — based on recent performance, not personal playoff history — is CC Sabathia, the leased Rolls-Royce of lefties. Working on three days' rest, the free-agent-to-be pitched the Milwaukee Brewers into their first October since 1982.
Having a killer southpaw could help against a Philadelphia Phillies lineup that includes red-hot Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
Best clutch hitter
Our edge-of-your-seat hitters list is lengthy and includes several clutch sluggers from Boston, Angels RBI machine Mark Teixeira, and stretch-drive hero Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Red Sox can bring it from almost anywhere, which probably is a weak reason to eliminate all of their hitters from this definitive No. 1 ranking.
Teixeira has yet to swing it in the postseason and Howard has just three playoff at-bats, so we'll tag them with the burden of October proof.
Phantastic Phils
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Phillies win 4-1 |
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Rosenthal | Kriegel | Video | Photos |
Rosenthal | Fraley | Video | Photos |
Rosenthal | Kriegel | Video | Photos |
Rosenthal | Kriegel | Video | Photos |
Rosenthal | Kriegel | Video | Photos |
More on the playoffs:
It should arrive as no shock that the slugger left standing is L.A. Dodger resuscitation device Manny Ramirez. OK, before you argue that nobody can continue this Manny-like tear against playoff pitchers, please remember that he was pretty salty in his last three postseason runs with the Red Sox.
The respective batting averages for those playoff stints were .350, .300 and .348, with combined totals of eight home runs and 31 RBI.
Most trustworthy closer
If playoff history can be used to anoint Manny, then it certainly should work as the only halfway sane reason to attempt an elimination of Phils' closer Brad Lidge. I'm hoping Lidge, who did not blow one save opportunity this season, proves me wrong.
The Lidge snub leaves Angel record-setter Francisco Rodriguez and Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox as top contenders for the crown. Although K-Rod did well as the World Series set-up man in 2002, I'm going with Papelbon's deeper resume of pressure-packed saves.
Best rotation
The Dodgers had the NL's lowest team ERA, but the Cubs have more starters who seem capable of stacking lumber in the postseason.
The Rays were solid, top to bottom, but the Red Sox have rallied from injury to be far less than slouches.
With the Beckett oblique and dead-arm mystery of Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano still under scrutiny, my reluctant selection is the staff from Chicago's North Side.
Best defense
The Red Sox (.986) check in the with top fielding percentage, but I'll go with the Rays, who throw leather from Pena, Iwamura, shortstop Jason Bartlett and rookie third-base vacuum Evan Longoria.
Most dangerous base stealer
Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox is the numbers leader with 50 bags, but he was thrown out 11 times. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was caught stealing just three times in 50 attempts, so we'll go with him.
One to watch is Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, whose thievery potential still may be limited after his return from a back injury.
Best home-field advantage
With Wrigley Field and Fenway Park on the table, choosing a cozy, win-producing venue won't be easy.
But the task was simplified a bit by the Rays' ability to have the highest home-field winning percentage despite ranking a miserable 26th in attendance.
Imagine what kind of snake pit Tropicana might become with fans and an actual playoff atmosphere.
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