The Fall Final 4
October 15, 2009 | by Carron J. Phillips | Filed under athletes, baseball
Most of the country enjoys the phenomenon knows as the Final 4 during late March and early April as college basketball comes to a cataclysmic end. However, fanatics of America’s past time love when the leaves begin to turn colors and when the air turns crisp. The fall edition of the Final 4 consists of the National & American League Championship Series. Two teams from both sides battling to represent their league in the World Series. This year both versions of the LCS will be entangled in a coastal war as the beast from the East will be taking on the best from the West.
The 2009 edition of the ALCS will feature the powerhouse New York Yankees versus the always postseason present L.A. Angels. While most fans expected the ALCS to host another Red Sox/Yankees postseason battle, the Angels decided they wanted to crash the party this season and sent the Red Sox home winless as they swept the squad from Boston 3-0. The Bronx Bombers decided that they would quickly dismantle their opponent as well. Once the Minnesota Twins beat out the Tigers for a chance to face the Yankees, they were on Cloud 9. But that cloud quickly turned into a rain shower as A-Rod and Jeter sent the Twins home only after three games.
On Friday, the Yankees and Angels will get their seven game series started in New York. While most analysts are picking the Yankees to win, a majority believe that this series won’t be over anytime soon. The cross country travel that will affect both teams will play a huge factor on who will make it to the World Series.
The Philadelphia Phillips walked in the postseason with a target on their chest as they are the reigning World Champions. While the Yankees and Angels delivered first round sweeps, the champs took their time as they sent the Colorado Rockies home in 4 games instead of 3. The defending champs enjoyed home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but will have to fly across the country this round as they head to L.A. to deal with Manny and the Dodgers.
First they got Joe Torre, and then they got Manny Ramirez. So when the L.A. Dodgers swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round to reach the NLCS, you should realize that this was all apart of their plan. Ever since Torre has been in Dodger Blue he has brought the “Dodger Brand” back to L.A., and the arrival of Manny just let the world know that the Dodgers were on a mission.
The LCS will be nothing less than spectacular with these 4 teams involved. It’s West Coast vs. East Coast, cross country drama at its best. The World Series could wind up being an all East Coast affair, a L.A. version of a subway series, or another cross country finale. Nonetheless, it will be a star studded affair that Bud Selig has to be pleased about because all four team are in major media markets, and have at least one superstar on the roster.
Let’s play ball!
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