Midwest Sports Junkies: Cinderella Rays and Torre's Dodgers

I want to discuss the upcoming LCS match ups in both leagues. I will start with the ALCS. I am a true National League fan. Always have been, always will be. However, I love to talk about a good underdog story. While Boston is a very solid team, and has a player that I always felt had a ton of potential in JD Drew, I speak of Drew because of his former Cardinal roots of course, I can't help but pull for the underdog Rays. This team has come out of nowhere to compete with the big boys of the AL, and in my mind are truly a Cinderella story. If someone told me at the beginning of spring training the the Rays would be playing the Bosox in the LCS, I would have told the person they needed to quit smoking that crap!:) Nevertheless, here they are. They are a team made up of young kids, with just the right mix of veterans to keep it together for 162 games, plus the Divisional series. The manager of the Rays is another unknown, to me anyways. I watched his post game interview the other day, and I must admit I was very impressed. He seemed like a great guy who obviously has a ton of knowledge of the game. Again, Boston has a great team, but I have to admit, being from the Midwest and constantly hearing nothing but the Yanks and Bosox on ESPN, I am ready for a new champion for the AL. Oh yeah, it doesn't help that Boston kicked our butt in the '04 World Series. Go Rays!!

Moving onto the NLCS, I must admit it has stunk the last two years that my Redbirds haven't even made the playoffs. Oh well, can't do it every year, and it was kind of fun to watch the Cubs choke again. Nothing personal toward cub fans, but this has to be getting old for the city of Chicago and all the great fans that support this team. One thing that really stands out to me in this LCS, is the fact that Joe Torre is involved. He obviously doesn't have the talent pool he was used to having with the Yankees, but heck, who does. The money they spend in New York is ridiculous, and look at what it has done for them the last few years. (NOTHING!) Joe will always be a favorite of mine regardless of where he is managing. He is a former Cardinal player and manager, and speaks highly of his former organization when given the opportunity. That's true class. He has literally taken a middle of the pack team in the Dodgers and suddenly turned them into a legitimate contender for the crown. Of course the acquisition, mid year, of Manny didn't hurt. It amazed me how much harder Manny is playing now. It really makes you wonder if he was laying down on the Bosox at the end. Ultimately, I feel this will be a great series between the Dodgers and Phillies, but if I had to pick a favorite here, it would be LA. Nothing against Philly, they have a great team as well. I just feel like LA is peaking at the right time, similar to my '06 Redbirds, and have a ton of confidence on their side.

Time will tell, but I really feel like the LCS match ups this year are really cool. Three of the four teams haven't played in an LCS in sometime, and it's always nice to see other cities able to get behind their team. There's nothing more exciting than watching your team march through the playoffs! Anyways, hope you enjoy this post and please jump in and respond with your thoughts and opinions.