Finally... the World Series


After this oddest of all seasons -- short, socially quarantined and peppered with experimental rules from 7-inning games in doubleheaders, to starting extra innings with a runner on 2nd base -- we've finally arrived at the World Series.


Of course, this one won't be traditional, either. For the first time ever, it will be played at a neutral site -- Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas will host the Rays and the Dodgers.


At least it will offer the teams with the best records in each league. Although they present a study in contrast. The young and cost-conscious Rays -- who'll start Tyler Glasnow in game one -- as opposed to the big budget Dodgers, led by Mookie Betts, who was as good as advertised after coming over in last winter's most-talked-about trade, and signed a massive 12-year $365 million extension to stay out of free agency. Skipper Dave Roberts gets his third try at bringing the Dodgers their first championship since 1988. He'll hand the ball tonight to Clayton Kershaw, who'll be backed by a powerful lineup featuring Betts, AJ Pollock, Corey Seager, Will Smith and Max Muncy.


There's even a contrast in how each team made it to the big dance. The Rays won the first three games of the ALCS, lost the next three and had to hold off an Astros comeback bid in game seven to punch their ticket. The Dodgers dropped the first two to the Braves, and then won a see-saw NLCS on Cody Bellinger's 7th inning game seven homer on Sunday night.


While this isn't the best year to trust a crystal ball, my hunch is that the Dodgers have  -- between experience and talent -- a little bit more than the Rays. Let's go with L.A. in six games.

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