Sorry, Chicago Cubs fans: We're rooting for a Freeway Series. You've waited 100 years for another World Series championship, so what's another one?
The World Series starts Oct. 22, in Angel Stadium or in another American League ballpark. That is more than three weeks away, so we'll leave you with some questions and answers to chew on, during all those days off Fox and TBS mandate during the playoffs.
Can the Dodger Stadium chants be true? Is Manny Ramirez the National League MVP?
You can't really select Ramirez as the most valuable player in the league, not when he played two months in the league, unless no other player put up outstanding numbers. Ryan Howard did, and so did Albert Pujols, and we'd vote for either one ahead of Ramirez.
But Ramirez ought to get an award for the amazing feat of pushing two teams into the playoffs. When the Boston Red Sox decided they wanted a divorce from Ramirez, no matter how potent his bat, they were no lock for the postseason, and the Dodgers were a .500 team. Since then, the Red Sox have scored 5.9 runs per game, up from 4.9. The Dodgers have scored 4.8 runs per game, up from 4.2.
The greatness of Ramirez might best be seen in comparison with the Dodgers' last MVP, Kirk Gibson. In 1988, Gibson played in 150 games, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 76 runs. Ramirez has played in 53 games for the Dodgers, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 53 runs. What happened to the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the Ramirez trade?
It is continuing, Commissioner Bud Selig said Friday.
Selig declined to say what exactly is under investigation or when he might resolve the issue, but it is difficult to imagine much of anything coming out of this. He told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports last week that he is satisfied the Dodgers and Red Sox beat the deadline in completing the deal.
There should be no issue of any perceived threat by Ramirez not to play, or play hard, for the Red Sox. The Sox wouldn't want Selig to go there, not after they chose not to suspend Ramirez -- not this time, not after he shoved Boston's traveling secretary; not at any other time, in alleged misbehavior Curt Schilling said the team ignored for far too long.
And, in July, the Red Sox did not suspend Ramirez, or designate him for assignment, while trying to trade him. In fact, Boston General Manager Theo Epstein said he would not have traded Ramirez had he not been able to acquire Jason Bay to replace him.
