2011 World Series - Texas Rangers vs St. Louis Cardinals - Who's Your Money On?

Starting Wednesday the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals will be squaring off in the World Series to determine who will be taking home the Commissioner's Trophy when all is said and done. First off, who would have thought these teams would be the last two teams standing? If the Cardinals pull off the championship it would mark the end of a Cinderella story that saw them sneak into the playoffs after being  10 and a half games back of the NL wildcard spot in September, only making it through on the last day of regular season play. However their biggest test comes in the form of the Texas Rangers, back in the World Series for the second straight year for a chance at redemption after losing to the San Francisco Giants in 5 games in last year's fall classic. The Rangers were able to dismantle the talented Tampa Bay Rays who like the Cards, overcame a huge deficit to claim the wildcard spot from the abysmal Bo Sox, then followed that up by taking out the Detroit Tigers and proving that Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera can't carry the entire team.

The matchup we are left with in my opinion will be decided by who can take advantage of the sub-par pitching each team's starting rotation has produced during these playoffs. Both teams have been swinging bats on fire lately such as Nelson Cruz of the Rangers, who set a single playoff series record by belting 6 Home Runs and 13 RBIs in 6 games against the Tigers. The Cardinals on the other hand, have Albert Pujols, arguably the most consistent and dominant hitter in the game who in the series against the Brewers batted .478 adding 2 Home Runs and 8 RBIs in the process. This is not to take away from the other members of each squad, Michael Young, Adrian Beltre, and Josh Hamilton are always a threat and show the depth of a Rangers team poised to accomplish what they couldn't last year. That lineup will be intimidating to a Cards squad that will need big games out of their pitchers if they are to have a chance at winning their 11th World Series Title. Chris Carpenter is clutch and could get things started off on the right foot for the Cardinals by slapping C.J Wilson around a little more this post-season as his ERA of 8.04 shows. My money is on the Texas Rangers in 6, I'll ask again - Who's Your Money On?