After a long season and what seemed like a longer post-season, the MVP awards have been announced in the National League.  Albert Pujols won his second MVP, his first being in 2005.  Pujols hit .357 with 37 homers and 116 runs batted in.  He was consistent all year and won the award even though his Cardinal team finished in a disappointing fourth place.  Coming in second was Ryan Howard of the Phillies who led his team to a World Series title and also led the majors in homers with 46 and rbi’s with 146.  Why he didn’t win is up for debate, but possibly an overall season average of only .251 might have had some influence on the voters.  I’m sure the World series ring is a big enough consolation prize for the young slugger.

I’m not so angry that the Rays lost the series, and I’m not so upset that it was the Phillies that finally brought an end to their spectacular season; but the real reason that I’m not mad about the outcome of the series is Philly fan.  I can’t stand them.  I know that I’m not the only one out there that thinks this way, Philly fan has a reputation for being raucous and finicky, but do they have to be such big jerks?  What in the world gives them any right to be that way.  It sure as heck can’t be that they are winners.  They are far from it.  This is there first major sport championship in almost thirty years.  So where does it come from, they have no reason to be so cocky and arrogant.  it must just be all the alcohol that the city consumes.  It gives them a false sense of accomplishment and entitlement.  Maybe when the wake up from their hangover tomorrow, they will realize what a bunch of jerks they were the night before with the beer in their collective hands.

The World Series.  It is a dream for all young baseball players, a dream that goes unrealized for almost everyone of them.  The Rays did something that nobody thought was possible, and I include the Rays players and management too, they made it to the series.  In only their tenth year of existence, and what makes it even more remarkable, is the fact that they finished dead last every other year.  Until this year, 2008, the magic year when everything finally came together.  Think about this- the Cubs have not gone to a series in 50 years or so and have not won a championship in over a hundred years.  This will be the third time in 11 years that an expansion team from Florida plays for the title.  Just something to think about.  Also another thing that makes this series compelling is the match-up.  Not just the players on the field, but the cities they represent.  Once again Tampa has to go through a Philly team to win the championship.  In 2003 the Bucs had to beat the eagles to go to the superbowl and the next year the Lightning had to beat the Flyers to go to the Stanley Cup finals.  It almost seems like destiny that the rays will have to beat the Phillies for their championship.  Which will happen.

It’s getting closer and closer.  The October classic is just around the corner and we might have an idea of who’s playing in it by the end of tonight.  The Phillies can wrap up their series against the Dodgers tonight with a win and make their first World series in 15 years.  It looks more and more like the resilient Phils are going to do it.  They just keep pounding on the Dodgers and just when you think they may have a weak spot, they hit you in the teeth and win.  The Dodgers on the other hand are a one-man wreaking ball, that goes by the name of Manny Ramirez.  He’s playing lights out and the rest of the team needs to get on the ball and help him out.  The ALCS is more important to me and more exciting.  The up-start Rays are on the verge of their first World Series in their abysmal ten year history.  I’ve always loved them and rooted for the under-talented, lowest paid, gimmicky team that they had been.  How were they ever expected to compete with the likes of the Yanks and Bosox?  They couldn’t and resorted to gimmicks just to get people in the door.  Does anyone remember the “Hit Show”?  Those days are thankfully gone and better times are here.  David Ortiz was seen wearing a t-shirt asking “Got Manny?”  If that doesn’t sum up what’s going on in Boston, then I don’t know what does.

Finally, the rays got a win.  Now it is going to be interesting.  It’s a whole new series.  Best of five.  We can only count on this series to be interesting.  So far none of the other series in the post season have been interesting or compelling.  With the losing four teams in the first round combing for a whopping three wins total.  That doesn’t bring in the big numbers that the networks want.  After a futile game one loss to Boston by the score of 0-2, the bats lit it up last night in St.Pete, combining for seven home runs between the two teams.  It was a tie for the most home runs in a post season game.  It went to the 11th inning before the rays finally put it away.  Final score 9-8.  Tomorrow is game three in Boston and both teams look to take an advantage in the series.  The Dodgers on the other hand have their work cut out for them.  Tonights game is a must win for the Dodgers.  It’s not easy digging yourself out of a two games to none deficit and we’ll see if Manny and company can get it done in LA.

The Cubs are not just losers.  The Cubs are not lovable losers.  I think that it has gone past the feel good for the feel bad fans of the Cubs.  Now it’s just sad.  I want to feel sorry for them, but I can’t.  This shouldn’t have happened.  It’s one thing for the superstition, and the curses, and what ever else you want to use to explain their post season futility.  But this year they had a real chance, the were contenders and they lost to a team, no offense LA, that they should have beat.  And it wasn’t a goat,curse, or a loser sticking his glove where it didn’t belong.  It’s worse because it’s all on the Cub’s players this time.  They didn’t choke because that would entail an actual effort and a chance at victory was even attainable.  No, they didn’t choke, what they did was far worse, they flat out didn’t show up.  They didn’t show up at any of the three games.  maybe the pressure of opening at Wrigley as favorites was just too much.  Who knows.  All I do know is that they let a golden opportunity slip away and there’s always next year.  How’s it feel to have to say “There’s always next year” a hundred and one times in a row?

I thought that it was all hype.  There was no way that HDTV was as good as everybody was saying.  That was my thinking last week.  Before my new best friend, the cable guy, hooked up my new HD receiver.  I didn’t think that it would make such a difference, but I really don’t think that I can ever go back to the way it was.  Sorry regular t.v, no disrespect, but your time is over.  The new king of watching sports is HD.  I say new king, because I didn’t jump on the band wagon sooner.  Oh, all the games I’ve missed being so naive.  I could have watched the Gators trounce the Ohio Buckeyes in the championship two years ago.  I could have watched the miracle Giants beat the Patriots last year in the Super Bowl.  It is 100 percent better in HD.  I can see the sweat and dirt and grime and feel like I’m on the field.  Even NASCAR looks exciting.  It would have even made the Olympics bearable.  It would  have been glorious.  It should have been glorious, but I was stubborn.  After all, why should I get a new fancy television when the one I bought ten years ago was still working?  It didn’t make any sense.  I was wrong.  Big time.  I know that now and I take full responsibility for my actions.  Now, that I’ve forgiven myself and moved on; let the MLB playoffs start, let the NFL continue and hockey season can’t get here soon enough.  All hail HDTV!

The playoff race is heating up this month.  With about 10 games to go in the regular season, we have a pretty good idea of who’s going to make the post-season.  But, some of the races are close.  Tampa Bay still holds on to a slim 1.5 game lead over the hated Red Sox.  It looks like the Yanks may have run out of season to make a combeback.  Chicago holds the same slim 1.5 game lead over Minnesota, which is trying to make it back to the playoffs.  They have to win the division, I don’t think that they can catch Boston or Tampa.  It would take an absolute miracle.  The National league has a couple of close ones, as well.  Philedalphia just took the lead from the Mets by winning 7 in a row.  The Cubs have a confortable lead over the Brewers in the central.  Arizona is making atrun at LA in the west, the weakest division by far.  With New York and Milwaukee only separated by 1.5 games for the Wild Card, it’s going to come down to the end for all the teams.  It should be fun to watch.

Maybe I won’t have my heart broken by the Rays this year after all.  They were on the verge of losing the series in Boston, three outs away, when they made the comeback that might just define this miracle season.  I know that manager, Joe Maddon, said before the season started that his team could win eighty games, but really, with the Rays history, did anyone buy it?  I know I didn’t, and I’m a fan.  Anyway, they made a comeback two nights ago, winning the game in the last inning, when they really had no business doing it.  But, they hung in there and when it really mattered, the hit came.  From a just called up player from the minors.  He’d only been on the team for a few hours before hitting the game winner.  Dan Johnson even had to buy some clothes at the airport because it was such a sudden call.  I’m sure it won’t be long before they have some sort of Dan Johnson promotional pens giveaway night at the Trop.  Then, last night, they did it again.  having to go into extra innings to put the game away.  Carlos Pena is a clutch player and the rays are lucky to have him.  As long as the Rays stay close in a game, they have a chance of beating anybody.  I don’t car if it’s the Yankees or the world champion Red Sox.  They’re not afraid of anybody and they’re not afraid to play anywhere.  With the confidence that wins like this bring, I think that it will go a long way in closing out the regular season on a high note and send the rays to the post-season as division champs.