The World Series starts tonight, between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays.  Why should we care?  We were the victims of 2 straight September busts, and one of the teams involved happens to be our new nemesis.  What’s worse, that team is making good, albeit a year later, on the trash talk of one of their own star players.

At the risk of sounding like a FOX spokesperson or something (the ratings are going to be awful anyway, and I couldn’t care less), I think this is going to a great series.  Look at the players on both teams, from Matt Garza, David Price, and of course, Evan Longoria for the Rays to Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and…ugh, Shane Victorino for the Phillies, and you know it’s going to be competitive.

I think Evan Roberts on WFAN put it best this morning when he said that he wanted to watch the Phillies lose and suffer.  That’s exactly what I want and I know that’s exactly what you guys want.  The last thing we need is a team in our own division that’s going to stay almost entirely intact next year with even more confidence and World Series-winning experience to deal with.

Tonight’s matchup is Cole Hamels for the Phillies vs. some guy named Scott Kazmir for the Rays…you might have heard of him.

So I say, why not join me (known as WrightOn for the regulars) and others in the Hot Foot Bleachers and cheer for one last thing this baseball season: that the Phillies get sent home by the team with the best story since the ‘69 Mets?

For CBSsportsline, fantasy analyst Eric Mack breaks down potential pitchers that will be in their 3rd year in the Majors, which according to him is when pitchers hit their stride.  Number 4 on his list is John Maine.

He concludes his piece on Maine by writing:

The offensively capable Mets should make him a big-time winner, and he should be able to stretch out better through the second half this time around. Last year was really his first full year in the majors after a couple of half seasons before 2007.

He also wrote an article where he discusses that players also hit their stride when they are 27, which Maine will be.

Also of note, he pegs Phillies’ SP Cole Hamels and Marlins’ SP Scott Olsen for breakout years.

Worth reading, especially if you’re into fantasy baseball.  This could really be a great year for Maine, because–to me at least–his issues seem to be mental, like losing focus and control.  Hopefully maturation will change that.