*** UPDATE ***
Thanks to commenter Jared who points us to the newly released MLB.com store featuring the Phillies World Series Ear Flap Caps.

There has been a lot of buzz about the hats that the Rays have been wearing in Philadelphia. People want to know how to get their hands on them. I have looked around and have only found some New Era caps that are similar. They are called the Downflap 39THIRTY Cap. They are not official MLB game caps (no MLB logo on the back), but it’s a good start.

Apparently the caps were unveiled in Spring Training and now that the weather is terrible in Philly, the  Rays are wearing them. I think they look great. I’m definitely interested in getting my hands on one. This year I sat in the snow on Opening Day here in Seattle.

There are some caps on MLB.com available for the Blue Jays, Red Sox, White Sox, Yankees and Mets, but I couldn’t find any for the Phillies, Rays or more importantly the Cubs and Mariners. Because of the huge demand for these caps, I’m sure that New Era and MLB will sell and market the crap out of these hats. There’s something about Joe Maddon, with his black-rimmed glasses and the Elmer Fudd ear flap hat that hearkens back to yesteryear.

2008 brought us a lot of surprises from the baseball diamond. First of all, the Tampa Bay Rays played in the World Series. Less surprising were the eventual World Series Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies. As for my teams, there were differing levels of disappointment.

Seattle Mariners
They were all about disappointment in 2008. From Opening Day, Erik Bedard disappointed. Carlos Silva, Richie Sexson and even Ichiro disappointed fans, teammates and management. First John McLaren was fired, then Bill Bavasi, and then late in the season the clubhouse was rife with discontent. Seattle was not a good place for baseball in 2008.

Chicago Cubs
In typical Cubs fashion, hopes were raised and excitement generated only to be deflated come October. The Cubs ended up winning 97 games and taking the NL Central by 7 1/2 games. All systems go heading into October. But then they laid another egg in the NLDS, causing me to wonder if Lou still has it.

One thing is for sure, both clubs have a lot of work to do in the off-season to get set up for 2009. Make no mistake, expectations for both clubs will be high next year. The Mariners, as an organization, need to rebound and get on track towards winning, and the Cubs need to figure out how to win in October.

Finally there is someone steering the Mariners ship. It’s Jack Zduriencik. Previously he was the special assistant to the Brewers general manager Doug Melvin.

The Brewers have done very well with their young talent and have built an emerging powerhouse in the NL Central. I think that bodes well for the Mariners. The only problem is that the Mariners payroll of $100 million dollars yielded 100 losses. That’s something that can’t be turned around over night. The Mariners seem to have position players in the minors who are (or will soon be) ready to jump up to the majors and contribute. The important thing for Zduriencik to do is keep the pantry stocked with talent and find a solid manager to mold the bunch of dopes from last year into a cohesive team. We’ll see about that.

Ah, leaves are falling, cool air fills my lungs, it’s time to settle in to the Fall Classic. And this year 2 teams without a lot of recent World Series experience (the Phillies have been to the World Series 6 times winning once, in 1980). It’s refreshing to see a new crop of teams and players in the playoffs and making it to the World Series.

Tampa Bay is making it’s first World Series appearance only 10 years into the franchises existence, while the Philadelphia Phillies we one of the first Major League Baseball teams and were founded in 1883. Quite a different story for each team.

Both teams feature young talented lineups and young talented pitching staffs. That will make for a fun series. The Phillies and the Rays can absolutely rake. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino for the Phillies and B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford lead the offensives for each team. These lineups are scary people. Earlier this year I saw the Phillies play the Cubs (Cubs won by the way behind Rich Harden’s gem) and when I looked at their lineup I didn’t see one flaw. Not only that, each guy was a major offensive threat.

On the pitching side, Cole Hamels is the best of the bunch. But I think the Rays have a deeper pitching staff. I’ve fallen in love with David Price. I know he’s a rookie and has only pitched 16.1 innings of Major League ball. I think he’s the real deal and will prove to be a solid contributor to the Rays.

Now it’s time for the predictions. I’ve also asked Jared his opinion on the World Series and have added it below.

Kendall’s prediction: Rays in 7

Jared’s prediction: Rays in 6

It’s the first thing we’ve agreed upon in a very long time.

Good move. The reason the Cubs have been swept out of the last 2 seasons is not Hendry’s fault. He’s been the architect of teams that have reached the playoffs in back-to-back years and won more games than any other Cubs team since 1945.

The Cubs need to keep Hendry, but need to make sure to not get stuck in an Atlanta Braves type holding pattern at the top of the division. I want the World Series. I even take getting out of the first round of the playoffs. Congrats to Jim Hendry and congrats to the Cubs for having the insight to keep this guy around.

photo courtesy of bryce_edwards

The Chicago Cubs picked up Rich Harden’s $7 million option for 2009. I am pleased with this. Harden has definitely struggled with injuries over his career, he was 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA this season for the Cubs. I understand that he’s one pitch away from retirement, but I always like keeping a potential Cy Young pitcher in the starting rotation.

Ok, I’m crawling out of my despair to write this. This was THE team right? This was the one that was going to right all of the wrongs. It had the pitching, hitting, defense… it had everything. So what went wrong against the Dodgers? Are they a really better team than the Cubs? At this point, all signs point to “Yes”.

For some reason, it looked like the Cubs thought that the series would be handed to them. There was no sense of urgency for them. When Mark DeRosa (the Doctor) hit his 2 run homer in Game 1, everyone seemed to think that was it, pack up our things and head the NLCS. It doesn’t happen that way. A team has to execute, make plays, make pitches, get hits to get to the NLCS. It’s not enough to be talented, or have the best record in the National League.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers were hungry, and happy. Their dugout was into every one of the games and was having fun. The Cubs dugout looked like a bunch of guys who snuck into a bar when they were 16; they just didn’t want to get caught. Maybe it has been all the talk of the curse? Apparently the chairman of the Cubs  thought that bringing in an Greek Orthodox priest to sprinkle holy water on the Cubs dugout would help them win this series? Totally ridiculous for the management of a professional baseball team to even entertain that notion. It certainly did nothing but remind the team of the pressure the organization feels.

I cannot fault the pitching in this series (except for Dempster). Zambrano, Harden, and even Sean Marshall pitched great. It was the offense and the defense that let the Cubs down. And I have to say, the manager. Lou, it’s your job to make sure your bench is fired up and ready to play in these games. I know that Lou told the team that the last 100 years wasn’t on them and they just had to win this year. Lou dropped the ball this playoff series, and did it in very similar fashion as last years sweeping exit from the playoffs.

I don’t think it’s time for Lou to go, but I would like to see some changes. Maybe it’s a bench coach? Although I really love me some Alan Trammel. There needs to be something different about this team come Spring Training. I need to see a player with a killer instinct, or something like that to help me believe that the same thing will not happen again in October.

In Game 1 it was the walks, Game 2 the errors. Why can’t the Cubs get it together. Who is this team? It seems like they have no mental toughness. Isn’t that what Lou is supposed to bring to the club. I am totally down on the Cubs, they’re totally down on themselves. They need to get right on their off day Friday and go into Game 3 with some serious fire. I know the Dodgers will want to close it out on Saturday night. The Cubs have a favorable match up for Game 3 when Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound against Rich Harden. Harden needs to silence the already quiet LA fans.

And the bats? It would be nice if they showed up in a meaningful way. I am at a loss about this team right now.

Zambrano looked great in Game 2, but was betrayed by his defense. Four errors in total. Brutal. Errors on 2 inning-ending double plays is unacceptable. I know that they were going up against Chad Billingsley, who is the Dodgers best pitcher, but they were shut down. It seems like the bottom of the Cubs lineup is the only group having moderate success. Where are Soriano, Ramirez, Derrek Lee? I’m so afraid it will be a repeat of last year.

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Somehow Boston always seems to find a way. They’re scrappy and they have a ton of talent. But I think this year is not the year for them. The Angels are stacked in all facets of the game. The midseason pickup of Mark Teixeira sealed this for me. The Angels are too much for the Red Sox this year.

My Pick: Angels in 5

Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Who would have thunk these two teams would meet in the playoffs this year? Not me. I’m still a little amazed at how the youth of Tampa Bay has proven to be so solid all year. I look at the White Sox and really wonder how they won their division. They’re not that good. They have decent starting pitching, a terrible bullpen and an old lineup. Kudos to them for actually making it to the playoffs, but I think their stay will be short.

My Pick: Rays in 3

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

In this one it’s offense against pitching. The problem is, all of Milwaukee’s pitchers are gassed from their run to the playoffs. I look at the Phillies lineup and am very afraid. They also have Brad Lidge in the pen to lock down the close ones. He’s significantly better than anyone in the Brewers pen.

My Pick: Phillies in 4

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs

A scary matchup for the Cubs. The Dodgers are a hot team and they have improved a lot since the Cubs took the season series from them. The Cubs send aces to the mound every game in this one. I worry about the bats when it comes to the playoffs (the Cubs taught me that last year vs. Arizona). If they can hit, I know that they have the pitching.

My Pick: Cubs in 3