World Series

SAN FRANCISCO -- There was no panic in the voice of Justin Verlander. There were flashes of anger. The first emotion to reveal itself, curiously enough, was humor. The San Francisco Giants had just rocked Verlander as no team has in two years. The Detroit Tigers' preferred formula to win the World Series -- two wins from Verlander, two in the other five games -- had just been wrecked. Verlander surveyed the dozens of reporters surrounding his locker, then climbed atop a stepladder a few feet away and chuckled at the mob. "Who are you guys waiting for?"

Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, best known for his home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, has been charged with DUI after police in New Lenox, Ill., said they found him passed out in a pickup truck. Fisk, 64, was at the wheel with the engine running when police arrived around 7:25 p.m. Monday, according to Deputy Chief Bob Pawlisz. Fisk refused to take a blood-alcohol test and had an open bottle of vodka in the car. Fisk was released after posting bail and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 29. Police said there was no damage to the vehicle beyond "what might have occurred driving through a ditch.

Fox is hoping that it has a ratings winner with a World Series featuring Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera going against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the odds to make it to the Fall Classic. The series, which starts Wednesday in San Francisco, may have trouble scoring big audiences because of the lack of an East Coast team. Typically, the World Series gets its biggest ratings when either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox are representing the American League.

  The San Francisco Giants will take on the Detroit Tigers in the World Series this year, and Times baseball columnist Bill Shaikin, Dodgers writer Dylan Hernandez and Angels writer Mike DiGiovanna will discuss the upcoming Fall Classic today at 11:30 in a Google+ Hangout. As Shaikin wrote on the heels of the Giants winning Game 7 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday: "You say the San Francisco Giants might have to be pretty crazy lucky to beat Justin Verlander . You might be right, but you haven't seen pretty crazy lucky until you see the ball Hunter Pence hit on Monday.

  The San Francisco Giants will take on the Detroit Tigers in the World Series this year, and Times Dodgers writer Dylan Hernandez and Angels writer Mike DiGiovanna discussed the upcoming Fall Classic today in a Google+ hangout. The long layoff may hurt Detroit, and "it could take a game or two for them to find their game legs," DiGiovanna said, but the Tigers have an answer to that. "Justin Verlander is the great equalizer," DiGiovanna said. "He will give the Tigers hitters a chance to get their legs back under them, knowing they won't have to score six or seven runs right now. Verlander is the best pitcher in the game right now. " DiGiovanna went on to compare Verlander to Jack Morris and Orel Hershiser.

SAN FRANCISCO - This is a one-man World Series. The most valuable players in waiting, Miguel Cabrera and Buster Posey, are here. So is Prince Fielder, the only one of baseball's $200-million men still in uniform this season. So is Matt Cain, who pitched a perfect game this season, and Tim Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young winner trying to reclaim his fastball in middle relief. Yet this World Series belongs to Justin Verlander. The series opens Wednesday, with the most dominant pitcher in baseball starting for the Detroit Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers swept the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. The San Francisco Giants came back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. So now that we know who is in the World Series, it's time to debate who will win it all -- the well-rested Tigers or the battle-tested Giants. Writers from around Tribune Co. will offer their predictions. Check back throughout the day for their responses and join the conversation by voting in the poll and leaving a comment of your own. Peter Schmuck, Baltimore Sun The San Francisco Giants certainly have shown tremendous resilience, fending off a St. Louis Cardinals team that seemed born to be the wild-card world champion, but that seven-game NLCS is going to cost them in the World Series.

SAN FRANCISCO - Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder? The Dodgers cast their long-term lot with Gonzalez in August, acquiring him in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. They first tried to solve their first-base troubles last winter, reaching out to Fielder when the free-agent slugger appeared to have no good place to go. "I definitely knew I was going to be able to play again," Fielder said Tuesday. "I just didn't know which team. I thought I was headed a lot of places. " Fielder, 28, is headed to his first World Series after hitting .313 with 30 home runs for the Detroit Tigers.

DETROIT VS. SAN FRANCISCO Game 1: Wednesday, 5 p.m. Detroit (RHP Justin Verlander 17-8, 2.64) at San Francisco (LHP Barry Zito 15-8, 4.15) Game 2: Thursday, 5 p.m. Detroit (RHP Doug Fister 10-10, 3.45) at San Francisco (Madison Bumgarner, 16-11, 3.37)w Game 3: Saturday, 5 p.m. San Francisco (RHP Ryan Vogelsong 14-9, 3.37) at Detroit (RHP Anibal Sanchez 4-6, 3.74) Game 4: Sunday, 5 p.m. San Francisco (RHP Matt Cain 16-5, 2.79) at Detroit (RHP Max Scherzer 16-7, 3.74)