The table is set for the 2010 Fall Classic, with one of the most unlikeliest of matches as neither the Texas Rangers or San Francisco Giants have a World Series title under their resume. While the Rangers are yet to taste Baseball supremacy, the Giants haven't hoisted a World Series title since relocating from New York to the Bay Area in 1958, giving the Giants the third longest current World Series drought behind only the Chicago Cubs (102 years), and Cleveland Indians (62 years). This year's match-up will be only the second World Series in the last 50 years in which both teams had 92 wins or fewer during the regular season, the last being in 1997 between the Florida Marlins and the aforementioned Cleveland Indians.
Hoping to finally put an end to their dry spell and bring a title home to the city by the bay, the Giants will face off against a Rangers team they've met 22-times in Interleague history. For what it's worth, the Giants lead the all-time series, 15-7. Two people in particular looking forward to this series for entirely different reasons from one another, are MLB commissioner Bud Selig and Rangers catcher Bengie Molina. Molina because he's guaranteed a World Series ring no matter who wins, having played half the season in San Francisco before being traded to Texas in late June and making the Playoffs. Selig on the other hand, believes a World Series of this magnitude is just what baseball needs and says it's evidence that payroll isn't everything.
Everyone not named Bud however, thinks the match-up between San Francisco and Texas doesn't have enough household names in it and isn't big enough to attract high ratings, regardless of both team's World Series droughts. But if that's the case, anything not featuring the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox isn't going to garner enough attention to catch the average eye. With that being said I ask, what's better for the sport, a dynasty that wins it all every other year, or having a mixture of new teams win it? For once I agree with Selig and think it's time for a change.
Game 1, which takes place in San Francisco on Wednesday will feature a battle of Cy Young Award winners both former and reigning as the Rangers' Cliff Lee (2008) squares off against San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (2008-2009). You won't want to miss it!
As for my predictions, I'm going with my heart and saying Giants in six, but I'd settle for a sweep :)
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