Keep waiting, Cubbies—Red Sox will win 2009 World Series

by Dillon Cooper

With Opening Night just last Sunday, fans are still abuzz thinking that their team can win it all. I am not just talking about the Cubs, but every team. Of course, every one of the possible 30 picks have a chance, some more than others. Some would think that the high-spending New York Yankees would be an early favorite. But an unlikely ball club has managed to set the pace and the Florida Marlins are red-hot out of the gate. Most baseball Caesars predicted that Florida would be an average team. Nevertheless I do not see the Marlins marching into October with the best record in baseball. Of course we all know that even if a team had a magnificent regular season that doesn’t always translate to a great postseason performance; just ask the Chicago Cubs. Last year the Tampa Bay Rays were the winners of the AL East, beating out the Red Sox by two games and clinching a playoff berth before marching into the World Series, only to lose to the champion Phillies from Philadelphia. Now I am not putting out the chance of a team to turn around from a 66-96 record to a 97-65 record (31 game swing), but the chances are unlikely. But enough with all of the statistical talk and what has happened in the past because scores and records are irrelevant especially when teams change year to year with proven players requesting more money from their employers and not getting it and moving on to bigger and (in some cases) better things. Without any further delay, here are my predictions for which two blessed teams will win the American League and the National League pennants and eventually win the title of the best team in all of baseball!

National League:

With the overall favorite being the Chicago Cubs, and some of it is probably just sympathy for the team that is going for its first championship in 101 years, they again look like a favorite… on paper. I pick the Chicago Cubs to win the NL pennant over the New York Mets just because my gut tells me to do so, and of course you can’t help but feel sorry for them! I just hope they don’t choke like the Buffalo Bills did in four straight Super Bowls!

American League:

I have to admit one thing; I do like the Boston Red Sox. I have no problem with the Red Sox winning the AL pennant. But, of course, I have to throw in a wrench. It will be the classic match-up between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. If you haven’t already picked up the irony with all of the “choker teams” actually making it this deep into the playoff race, now you have. The Yankees, who have won a grand total of 26 World Series Championships and 39 NL pennants, are looking to add to their not-so-vacant trophy case. It is safe to say that the Curse of the Bambino has been lifted off the shoulders of the Red Sox nation as they will take this series, but it will be a close one.

World Series:

Alright, the World Series is set. It is the Red Sox of Boston taking on the “lucky” team from the Windy City, the Chicago Cubs. I see this series as an entertaining spectacle to say the least. With the Red Sox looking for their third crown in six years and the Cubbies looking for their first World Series championship in over an agonizing century, these two teams are on two separate extremes, making this affair that much more highly anticipated. Nevertheless the winner of the Fall Classic will be the Boston Red Sox. I pick the team from Boston because of one simple but yet very important key component… experience. Let’s face it, the Chicago Cubs just haven’t got the experience that is one major characteristic that they are lacking in their game. Otherwise they would be very close to being a juggernaut in baseball. The Red Sox win in seven games.
There you have it, the final prediction for the annual Fall Classic. There are many teams that could surprise and make minds spin in the world of baseball, proving once again why they play the games.