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Texas win the 2023 World series
TEXAS TAKE IT ALL!!! The 2023 World Series was a thrilling matchup between two unexpected teams: the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both teams entered the playoffs as Wild Cards, defying odds and overcoming tough competition to reach the Fall Classic.
The underdogs rise: Both the Rangers and Diamondbacks had rough seasons in 2022, finishing under .500 and missing the playoffs. However, 2023 saw a remarkable turnaround for both teams. They both surged in the regular season, clinching Wild Card berths in their respective leagues.
Final score: The Rangers defeated the Diamondbacks in five games, with a final score of 5-0 in Game 5. This marked the first World Series title in franchise history for the Rangers, a moment celebrated by fans and players alike.
The 2023 World Series was a classic underdog story, with both teams exceeding expectations and showcasing the excitement and drama of Major League Baseball. It was a series that will be remembered for years to come.
Key players:
Corey Seager: The Rangers' veteran shortstop had a stellar postseason, batting .303 with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs. He was named World Series MVP for his performance.
Adolis Garcia: The Rangers' outfielder was another offensive force, hitting .318 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs in the World Series.
Zac Gallen: The Diamondbacks' ace pitcher threw a gem in Game 2, shutting out the Rangers and striking out 10 batters.
24 October 2023 - The World Series Picture is Almost Complete. Get Set for a Humdinger
The postseason had been underwhelming. Various sweeps across both sides of the draw had left little room for drama. However, the Conference Series Finals (essentially the semifinals of the MLB season) have corrected all of that. We have two absolute humdingers.
In the first Conference to be decided, the Texas Rangers triumphed over the Houston Astros in a local rivalry that delivered all the drama we hoped for. Back and forth, the teams had gone until we were left with the mystical "Game 7," the holy grail of baseball, only to be bettered by the hallowed "Game 7 - World Series." Tied at 3-3, the Texas Rangers had to win in Houston, a feat that would be daunting for most, but not for this team, which has made a habit of winning away from home. The Houston Astros had Cristian Javier pitching, in fine form this postseason, while Texas had the fabled ace, Max Scherzer, on the mound, in only his second start in over a month and a half after an underwhelming performance in Game 2.
Texas, in a remarkable show of force, saw off Cristian Javier in the first inning, jumping into a lead that they never relinquished. Scherzer got enough of the job done before Texas turned early to the bullpen. It was a fantastic series and leaves Texas with home field advantage (dubious) in their first appearance in the World Series since 2011. With aces on the mound finding form and powerful batting throughout this postseason, after defeating the reigning champions, they will be real contenders to win the final.
Across on the other side of the draw, we have another Game 7. After waiting for this postseason to come to life, it has done so in fine fashion. The Phillies, clear favorites, led by superstars Bryce Harper scoring home runs and Zack Wheeler pitching in the form of his life, not many gave Arizona a chance. Now, after being behind in the series, they have fought back to 3-3, bringing an epic final game into the picture. Fighting against a raucous home crowd, Arizona, who have punched well above their weight so far in this postseason, sweeping the Brewers, then the powerhouse Dodgers and now taking the highly fancied Phillies all the way.
Tonight, we will have an epic. The pitching duel promises to be fascinating, and the Phillies are desperate to make it to the World Series again and go one step further than last year. On the mound for Arizona is Brandon Pfaadt. For the Phillies, it's Ranger Suarez. Pfaadt is a rookie, with a not-too-great-looking average of 5.72 ERA during the regular season over 19 starts. However, in the postseason, he has been on fire, turning into Arizona's best starter. After a tricky start against the Brewers, he has thrown ten innings with no hits. In Game 3, the Phillies had no answer to the rookie. If Arizona is going to complete an unlikely comeback story, Pfaadt will need to be in top form once again.
On the other side is Ranger Suarez. Again, not bad in the regular season, and then 'lights out' as they say in the postseason over the past two years. In six starts, Suarez has an ERA of 0.94. Elite. With Suarez on the mound, the Phillies have only lost one of those eight games.
The first Game 7 in Phillies' history, an unbelievably raucous home crowd, up against the underdogs in a star pitching matchup, playing for a place in the World Series. It doesn't get much better than this.
The 2023 Postseason Conference Finals
This postseason has been a year of the underdog. Three teams came in head and shoulders above the rest, with 100 win seasons, year as we come the culmination of the conference series (the semi finals if you will), they have all been left at the roadside, swept away by the mystery and magic of postseason baseball. First the Orioles, horrendous for many years, a successful season would be winning 50% of their games, started to reap the fruits of long term planning. With a young team led by a pair of fantastic MLB debutants, the Orioles blazed their way to a Pennant for the first time in years, winning over 100 games and receiving a bye to the Division Series.
Next were the Dodgers, perennial favourites to win everything, with Mookie Betts, one of the highest paid players in league in one of the richest teams, the face of an organisation hitting his stride, once again crushing all before them, overcoming injuries to their roster of starting pitchers, seemingly destined to at least have a real shot at the title.
Then, finally, the Braves, the most ferocious offense in baseball, breaking records for home runs, most runs, generally dominating, winning 104 games in the regular season. Nothing was going to stop them gaining revenge for a semi final failure the season before at the hands of the Phillies.
Three teams, powering their way through the year. Then they hit the postseason. Joined by a ragamuffin collection of teams hanging on to glory days of old as in the Astros, reigning champions, The Phillies who lost in the final and hadn't progresses, the Brewers who had put together a fine pitching lineup but without an offence to match, the well run Rays, with a small payroll but big ambitions, the Texas Rangers who spent big in free transfers on ace pitchers who got themselves injured. Then amongst the top 12 teams, a small team scraping in, the Arizona Diamondbacks, with a handful of pichers and batters, but not enough firepower to make a dent in the aspirations of the league titans.
And what happened? The young Orioles felt the pressure of knockout baseball and were swept away by the Texas Rangers. The Dodgers, powerhouses, were swept 3-0 by the Dbacks, their ace champion pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, guaranteed Hall of Famer, knocked out in less than an innings, in the crucial game 1. Then finally, the Braves. Up against their old postseason rivals again the Phillies, just couldn't get going, and the Phillies, led by a postseason legend in the making in Bryce Harper overcame them comfortably.
Post season baseball, where the regular season counts for little. 6 months of travel and games every day counting for naught, as a team can cobble together a couple of aces, some ageing stars or breakout youngsters can swing and connect at a few pitches and before you know it, you are out of the finals.
And so it was, that 12 teams were whittled down to just four. And these four teams were placed 6, 7, 8 and 12 with their regular season record. One one side, an all Texas affair as the Texas Rangers face the Houston Astros in the American League Conference Series. And on the other side, the red hot Phillies, now the favourites as their superstars come good, take on the unfancied Dbacks.