At this point, I think it’s fair to assert that neither one of us has much of a future in baseball predicting. I had Angels over Cubs, Carp had Red Sox over Dodgers. Safe to say that FOX would have much preferred at least one of the teams we picked making it that far, but nonetheless they’re planning to show the games anyway.

So, Rays-Phillies. First, let me just say that it’s pretty insane that the Rays are actually favorites in the World Series against anyone, since before the season you could have had them at 200-1 to win it. As it is, they’re a slight fave against the Phillies and when all is said and done, I like baseball fans to be the ultimate winners: I’m betting we’ll finally have a series that actually goes to six or seven games (something that hasn’t happened since the Marlins beat the Yankees in six in 2003).

The matchup is a good one but ultimately I think pitching wins in the playoffs and the Rays have more of it. Jamie Moyer has been rough for Philly lately and Joe Blanton – if the Phillies actually use him – scares me a lot. More likely, I see the Phillies throwing Cole Hamels in Games 1 and 4 (and winning both), but losing the rest, with the Rays winning the Series at home in Game 6.

Rays in six. How strange does that sound?
CARP SAYS:

I’ll take your pick one step farther … and say that Hamels also pitches and wins Game 7.

I can’t jump on that Rays bandwagon now, after being off it all year, although I must admit they’ve certainly impressed me (good luck catching that team AND Boston next year, Yankees). The Rays will be good for a long time, and this story won’t lose any shine if they lose a Game 7 in the World Series.

But I’m going with the Phillies for two reasons—I think that they’re a better team right now, and I always stick with the “Whatever is the worst possible scenario for Mets fans will happen.” (I tend to substitute Jets fans in football situations).

The Phillies big guy, Ryan Howard, is just starting to hit his stride again, and as good as Tampa Bay’s pitching was against Boston, I think a lot of the Red Sox failures had to do with Big Papi’s slump along with those of Jason Varitek, not to mention the one that put Jacoby Ellsbury on the bench. Boston’s offense looked like the Mets and Yankees—three or four guys carrying the whole lineup every day. The Phillies won’t go for days without hitting as the Red Sox did. And the Phillies’ pitching is as good as Boston’s, if not better, when you consider what Beckett and Lester did in the middle of the ALCS.

I think guys like Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins would fit perfectly on Tampa Bay, just as B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria would fit on the Phillies. Both rosters are loaded with this type of scrappy guy. I think that scrappiness plus pitching makes this a terrific World Series … after three straight complete duds.

I’m an American League guy as a rule, and not a big fan of the Philadelphia fandom, so it pains me to say: Phillies in seven.