Yes, folks it is that time of the year again! The 107th World Series is underway! It is the moment baseball fans all over the world look forward to every year. Let’s get ready to witness a great series! Who will hoist the trophy? Will it be the surging St. Louis Cardinals or the back-to-back World Series attendees, the Texas Rangers?
The American League (AL) Texas Rangers had another significant year in the team’s franchise history. They clinched their division to grant them home advantage for the first round of the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Tampa Bay Rays. In game 1 of the ALDS, the Rays proved to be quite a match-up for the Rangers, losing 9-0. After game 1 loss, the Rangers took it away from there winning the next 3 games to advance to the next round, the American League Division Series (ALDS) to face the Detroit Tigers. In the best of 7 ALDS, the Rangers won game 1 and 2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead on the series. In game 3, the Tigers regained a little momentum only to lose it again in a Rangers win in game 4. The Rangers went on to win an exciting series to advance to the World Series. The Rangers became the American League Champions for the second time in a row and were now awaiting the winners they would go on to face in the World Series.
The National League (NL) St. Louis Cardinals barely made it in this year. They beat out the Atlanta Braves and clinched the solidly fought Wild Card. The National League Division Series (NLDS), the first round (best of fives games) for the Cardinals was with the heavily favored, first place Philadelphia Phillies. After dramatically winning the series losing game 1, winning game 2, losing game 3, and winning game 4 and 5, the Cardinals beat the Phillies. On to the National League Championship Series (NLCS), the Cardinals next faced the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals went on to beat the Brewers in 6 games to advance to the highly anticipated World Series. They would face the back-to-back AL Champions, the Texas Rangers!
The 107th World Series had its two finalists, the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Upon asking Jorge Guarneros, former Texas A&M International University Ace Pitcher, who attended game 4 of the World Series, how the game experience was for him, he said, “Let’s just say those were the best 3 hours of my life.” It’s a kind of thing not everyone gets to witness in person. “Baseball is my favorite sport, and watching these games help me with my game,” said Stephanie Rae Rodriguez, pitcher for the TAMIU’s Softball Team.
Winning a World Series or even reaching a World Series is every teams dream. Hoisting that trophy is what every team thrives on. The series is now tied up with 2 games won for each team. “Legends are born in October,” the Major Leagues Baseball (MLB) postseason slogan. We’ll have to wait and see who the legends will be after the series is over. Who will it be? The Rangers or the Cardinals? We’ll have to watch! You can visit mlb.com for more information of the team’s stats and rosters. All games can be watched on FOX.
(For any questions or comments contact me at czepeda@dusty.tamiu.edu)