Oct 27, 20237 min read

The Classic

It's time! The final chapter is upon us- The Fall Classic is just hours away from beginning and the hype is real. Diamondbacks versus the Rangers!? I don't believe anyone who says they called that. This classic is noise infested. Electrocuting noise. What a matchup ahead. Before we talk Snakes and Rangers, lets recap the last chapter.

The Texas Rangers are back in the Fall Classic for the third time, looking to conquer their long-lasting quest of winning a World Series. Will the third time be the charm? This years ALCS conquer has given that question a strong chance to be a yes.

What a series it was between the Rangers and Astros in the battle of Texas and the battle of the AL. Things seemed bleak for the Astros as they dropped the first two of the series in Houston. Just as you thought the Rangers would cruise to the Classic, the 'Stros came back punchin' in Arlington winnin' games three; four; and five solidifying the series as a road invasion. Jose Altuve lifted Houston in a giant way with the main highlight coming in game five to give Houston the advantage:

video via MLB//X

Altuve now has 27 career playoff homers, two shy of tying Manny Ramirez for the most ever. The game five blast was a big time hit, by a big time baller, in a big time moment. So big in fact, you thought it was a dagger to the Rangers' season with things moving to Houston for the series finale. Too bad that wasn't the case for Astros fans, as the MLB playoffs ushered in a new big time baller by the name of Adolis Garcia.

Rarely do we see a player be booed as bad as Adolis Garcia was booed in Houston. Even more rare do we see a player use boos as motivation to the level that Garcia did. El Bombi embraced it and then some as he lived up to his nickname by hittin' BOMBS to put the dagger in the Astros; twist it; and kick them off the blade and out of the playoffs. They booed him; the Astros beamed him; so he made it PERSONAL.

In the ALCS, García was 10-for-28 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and seven runs scored. That included a home run in each of the final four games of the series. With his 15 RBIs in the ALCS, he set the MLB record for most RBIs in a single series, passing former Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz, who set the record in 2011 with 13. García’s 20 RBIs in the postseason is also the most RBIs any player has had prior to the World Series. Garcia shined the most in games six and seven. As clutch as clutch can get.

García had his best game at the plate in GM7, as he went 4-for-5 with five RBIs and three runs, along with two home runs. There is steppin' up in a game seven and then there is what Adolis did. Here is the final homer that sent Astro fans to the parking lot and the players out of the bracket:

video via Texas Rangers//X

After going 4-9 versus the defending champion Astros in the regular season, the Rangers are extra happy to be the team to stop them from three straight World Series appearances and back-to-back titles. Houston was in four of the last six Classics since their World Series dub in 2017. Now we get a new contender, one that has never won the Classic. A great ingredient to a fire World Series recipe.

Washington Senators relocated and rebranded to the Texas Rangers in 1972. The Rangers didn't have their first playoff appearance until 1996. 24 seasons! They have only made the playoffs 9 times in 63 seasons (including Senators). The Rangers are LONG over due for a World Series championship. It's been a book of heartbreaks. Losing back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 was the epitome of those heartbreaks. Such heartbreak, they didn't feel the chance would ever come again. They changed that feelin' in Houston, can they make the third time be the charm? The intrigue is LOUD.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a major itch to return to the wonderland, and they are looking to cure that itch in epic fashion. The Snakes stunned the Phillies in the NLCS with a storm of young phenoms; a locked and loaded bullpen; and a tide change of confidence.

As the Rangers did in the ALCS, the Phillies also started with two wins to start the NLCS. Philly's chapter didn't end the same way the Rangers' chapter did. The snakes' rattle turned to be too deadly. Arizona stormed back in the desert winning games three and four behind the Kevin Ginkel led bullpen and lights out closer Paul Sewald. Hats off to Ginkel and Sewald. Those cats were unreal against the most dangerous playoff lineup seen in years.

Sewald topped off the Pfaadt gem in game three with a dub, and then got the save in game four, striking out the side with venom. Sewald struck out two more in game six to set up the dagger, and then shut the door on the Phillies' season in game seven. Ginkel was just as marvelous as the setup to Sewald. Ginkel got the win in game four, settin' up Sewald's save and also was a stone cold baller in game seven coming in to pitch 1.2 innings, striking out 3, and settin' Sewald up again to shut the door. What a 1-2 punch at the back end of the Diamondbacks' bullpen. As amazing as those two were, we can't talk elite winning pitching without talking Brandon Pfaadt.

Brandon Pfaadt was the star of the NLCS. I know Ketel Marte won the NLCS MVP (eh) but, the Snakes don't win the series without the efforts of Brandon Pfaadt. Who in the blue hell would have thought that sentence would be a real sentence. This young rookie cat Pfaadt went 3-9 in his rookie campaign, posting a 5.72 ERA. Pfaadt is 4-0 in the playoffs with a 2.70 ERA and was UNREAL against the Phillies. Pfaadt's game three outing changed the series and gave the Diamondbacks the confidence they needed to win. Pfaadt was so confident on the mound in game three, striking out 9 with zero earned runs, that they gave the kid a game seven start (13th rookie ever to do so). Although he gave up two in game seven, he still struck out 7 and won some huge ABs in big moments, never allowing the Phillies to break their offense open.

Pfaadt is the first pitcher in MLB postseason history with back-to-back starts allowing 0 runs and 0 walks. He is also the youngest pitcher in Diamondbacks history with 9+ strikeouts in a playoff start, and has the 7th most strikeouts by a rookie in a playoff game. Arizona probably don't win the NL pennant without their young crop. It was Pfaadt on the mound, Alek Thomas' game four homer, and Corbin Carroll's game seven performance. Pfaadt got the fire started; Thomas gassed it; and Carroll finished the flame. The Phillies looked to be enroute to a 3-1 series lead until an epic eighth inning in game four flipped the switch- led by a LOUD homer by Alek Thomas off Craig Kimbrel:

Arizona had a guy step up in each moment. Thomas did in game four, and Corbin Carroll did in the biggest moment in game seven. Carroll struggled at the plate throughout the series, and seemed scared to run on the base pads when he did get on. Game seven was a different story. Carroll was a different Carroll. The rookie phenom went 3-4 with two runs, two stolen bases, and two runs batted in. Big baller steppin' up in the grandest of moments- not your normal rookie.

After 22 years, the Diamondbacks return to the Classic for the second time in franchise history, seeking their second ring. Twenty plus year wait to return to the wonderland of being world champions. The opportunity is one they sure don't wish to waste. One more foe stands in their way of immortality. A dangerous foe at that. Do the snakes have any more venom to disperse? Time to find out in the final chapter.

Now this is a showdown. As marque as marque can get. Snakes have waited twenty years for a crack at number two while the Rangers have waited sixty years for the one. What is there not to like!? This is beautiful! Texas and Arizona became the fifth and sixth teams ever to make the World Series two years after losing 100+ games. Now they put it all on the line for a chance to be World Series champions. Just awesome stuff.

The Snakes have already faced and eliminated an electric offensive club, they won't fear the Rangers' potency at the plate. On the other hand, the Rangers have already faced and eliminated a club that can ride a confidence heatwave- they won't show any fear either. Both teams have strong rookies, a solid 1-2 punch in the rotation, and guys who can alter the game in one swing. Does Adolis Garcia have more pop left in the tank? Can Carroll get on and swipe his way to home-plate? Tonight writes the first page of the final chapter, and starts to answer those questions.

The Fall Classic is finally here. The smells are in the air. The vibes are high. The noise is loud and ready to beckon moments to make memories. Get off work, relax a bit, play with the kids and then flip that switch. It's title time. The main-event. Who will become the new baseball champions of the world? Who will cement their names in history? It's time to find out. RUN IT!

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