Not as clear cut as it seems

Ladies and gentlemen get ready for your 2008 World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the... Los Angeles Dodgers!

That's right, the Dodgers could very well be the World Series. I don't think a 3-1 series deficit has ever been so misleading. The Dodgers have been the better team in three out of four games, but are down 3-1 because of four swings of the bat. The Dodgers have looked much better the past two games. I believe that Cole Hamels will prove to everyone that he's still soft with a weak performance on the road, Chad Billingsley bounces back behind his home crowd and the Dodgers go back to Philly full of confidence. Brett Myers will break down under the pressure and then it'll come down to Lowe vs. Moyer in Game 7, a match where the Dodgers would be favoured. The series rests with Hamels and his arm tomorrow night.

The other series you have to figure is as good as over. 9-1 and 13-4 wins on the road is extraordinary. How has this happened?

a) Upton/Longoria/Pena/Crawford
Combined these guys have 7 HR, 20 RBI, 10 walks and are hitting 23 for 56 (.411). They get big hits and come up strong for their team whenever required. Their were questions about the Rays potency on offense - these guys have made that argument mute.

b) Pitching
Ironically the only Rays big name pitcher (Scott Kazmir) failed miserably while the three lesser lights have shone tremendously. James Shields, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine have combined for 20.2 innings giving up just 18 hits, 6 walks and 6 earned runs while striking out 13. These guys haven't been overpowering (just 13 K's) but they are pitching with intelligence and poise, and going deep enough to cover up the surprisingly suspect bullpen the Rays have thrown out.

c) Dan Wheeler
You can't overstate how big this guy's performance was in Game 2. Lose that game and let's face it the Rays are probably done. He came in early, messed up, then atoned incredibly. If the Rays win the World Series you can point back to 3.1 innings, 4 K's and 1 hit allowed as the major reason.

d) Defense
The Rays own the best defense in the major leagues and it's showing. Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett has to be about the best defensive left side of the infield in the game. This team manages to turn double plays when they have to, and they do it fantastically.

e) Boston
This Red Sox team just doesn't have it, but it's tough to blame them. Their #1 pitcher and #1 hitter are both injured to the point of being borderline useless. David Ortiz has zero presence at the plate and is 1 for 14 at the plate. Beckett's injury has hurt even more. The ability to throw out a guy and know that he's going to get it done is invaluable in the postseason. Beckett just doesn't have it right now. J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell are injured adding further stress to the lineup. There is too much pressure on Jon Lester to get it done, and if you can retire Pedroia and Youkillis then you've pretty much got the match won. The Red Sox are a fine team, baseball's best shot at a dynasty at present - but it's not going to happen for them in 2008.

Defense