Thoughts on Kingdom, Church, and Grace from an American living in Hong Kong

Sunday, November 2, 2008

2008 World Series


For me there is no Summer, Spring, Fall, and Winter. There are only two seasons: Baseball Season and the Off-Season. My wife likes the fact that I am not a sports junkie that has to watch all sports all year round. But from the time Spring Training starts (which I suppose is another season) I am all about the sound of a bat cracking and the smell of a ball field.

So, I want to give a shout out to the Philidelphia Phillies who won the Fall Classic in a five game series over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I must confess to a bit of discouragement this season. My Detroit Tigers bought a winning team during the off season last year aquiring underperforming 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera (moved to first base)and short stop Edgar Renteria. That winning team with the second largest payroll in baseball lost the first seven games and plugged away to a 74 - 88 season.

In a twist of fate, my adopted home team of the Colorado Rockies defended their National League Championship from the previous year with a dismal record that tied the Tigers 74 - 88.

That left it to my hopes for a championship being won by my THIRD favorite team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alas, that was not to be. The eventual champion Phillies made short work of them in the Division Series.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were the Cinderella story for the year as they had the absolute worst record in the MLB during the 2007 season. By some miracle they defied all the pundits predictions and became the American League Champions in 2008.

SO... big congrats to the Rays and an even bigger congrats to the World Series winner Philidelphia Phillies.

2 comments:

Bob said...

Great tribute to the Phillies. I went to Philly with a buddy during their opening week in April and saw two games vs. the Nationals. Had an idea then that they were the real deal.

Love the Rays too (was actually pulling for them in the Series, even tho I'm a longtime NL guy -- die-hard Houston Astros fan).

My two boys and I are trying to visit every MLB Park. Went to NYC in May for final seasons of Yankee and Shea. Have been to spring training in FL the last two years.

What a beautiful game . . .

Steve H. said...

Thanks for your comment Bob. That was great you got to take your boys to Yankee Stadium before it falls...