The Next 5 World Series Matchups We Would Like To See

            Everyone always talks about having a crystal ball in sports. We are obsessed with seeing into the future to make projections and predictions. Especially during the month of Spring Training we like to gather up as much evidence as possible to determine what a player or a team may do in the up and coming season. But I don’t know about you, but that is frustrating as hell. Nobody really knows what is truly going to happen, yet we dwell on as if we have the power to determine what we will see.

            So how about instead of trying to predict the future, we craft our own. What if instead of trying to be all Nostradamus like we just say what want to see.  So what we have here is the next five World Series matchups that we want to see. Keep in mind that the scenarios I have painted for you are all predicated on what I think needs to happen, in order for that matchup to happen. This is not a prediction, it is something I think, and we all hope to see.

2015: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

            Headliner: Winner takes control of Los Angeles

Both of these L.A. teams have been too good for far too long to not make it to the World Series this season. Now, while it may not work out that way, an all L.A. World Series would captivate the country like no other. Both play in the 2^nd biggest media market in the country, both have marquee players, and both have been disappointed enough in previous Octobers that both could be considered ‘loveable loser’ status. The only thing that could make this World Series is better is if both teams agree to a clause that the winner keeps Los Angeles. So if the Dodgers win, the Angels are the Anaheim Angels, and if the Angels win then it’s the Chavez Ravine Dodgers. No that would be lame. How about if the Angels were to beat the Dodgers, the Dodgers have to move back to Brooklyn? Forget Jackie Moon, I am a master promoter.

            2^nd Headline: Best Pitcher in the World vs. Best Player in the World

Clayton Kershaw vs. Mike Trout this would be an ideal gladiator contest for Major League Baseball that hopefully not even MLB could mess up. Both have had their struggles in October, but if both the Dodgers and Angles were to meet up in the World Series, it would have to be on the back of their respective players. Kershaw and Trout at their best would be must watch t.v.

            Subplot: Yasiel Puig challenges for Mike Trout’s “Best Player” title

But the only way the Dodgers are going to make the October Classic is if Yasiel Puig takes a big step forward and becomes the center of the Dodgers lineup. In just two season, Puig has averaged .305 with roughly 20 homers and 70 RBIs a season, and while those are All-Star figures, Puig needs to find another gear and be in serious contention for National League MVP. If the Dodgers are to finally meet their goal Puig has to be the focal point on that offense and have a .290+ 25+ 90+ season. There is no doubt he has the talent, and if Don Mattingly can get him to focus for 162+ games, the Dodgers Cuban sensation could be considered as much, much more.

2016: Washington Nationals vs. New York Yankees

            Headliner: The Nationals Year?

If the Nationals do not make the World Series in 2015, then 2016 will have to be the ‘season on the brink’ for Washington. In order for the Nats to get to the World Series a couple things need to go their way: A healthy rotation, and Bryce Harper realizing just how good he is. While the first scenario is very plausible and at the same time a scary notion for everyone else in the league, the 2^nd still has a lot of question marks. Bryce Harper was coveted as the best young prospect since Mickey Mantle but he has yet to live up to the billing. It was Trout and Harper who was supposed to be ruling over the sport but Trout has left Harper in his dust. If the Nationals get to the World Series it will have to be because Harper figured it out. A healthy, productive Harper could finally get the Nats over the proverbial hump.

            2^nd Headline: Yankees find their way back to the top

Baseball, and I say this with the utmost disgust, needs the Yankees to be good. When the Yankees are relevant and in the World Series, baseball does well. And baseball will do incredibly well if the Nats first World Series matchup is against the dreaded Yanks. If the Yankees were to make it to the World Series in 2016 a bunch needs to happen. Veterans need to play well (McCann, Beltran), stars need to stay healthy and productive (Elsbury, Tanaka), and players needs to emerge and stay healthy (Pineda). But on top of all that, the Yankees need to make a splash in the 2016 Free Agency. Here are my suggestions:

DH Edwin Encarnacion, SS Ian Desmond, SP David Price

Which would make the projected 2016 lineup and rotation look like this:

LF- Brett Gardner                                    SP- Mashiro Tanaka

SS- Ian Desmond                                    SP- David Price
CF- Jacoby Elsbury                                    SP- Michael Pineda
DH- Edwin Encarnacion                        SP- Nathan Eovaldi
RF- Carlos Beltran                                    SP- Ian Nova/ C.C. Sabathia
C- Brian McCann

1B- Mark Texieria
3B- Chase Headley
2B- Stephen Drew

While this may not be considered “Murder’s Row” a healthy Tanaka-Price combination would be formidable. Especially considering who they would add the following year:

            Subplot: Stephen Stratsburg pitches against his future team

When the National signed Max Scherzer to his insanely rich contract, the clock officially began the end on Stratsburg’s tenure in Washington. Rumors have already begun on possible trade destinations for the once young phenom with places like Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles obviously being mentioned. But the Nationals would certainly require a King’s Ransom for their prized ace, and would have no eagerness to trade Stratsburg since they are in contention for a World Series year in and year out. But if Stratsburg were to hit the open market, the thriftiness of the Yankees in recent years would pay off, because nobody would be able to offer him

what the “Evil Empire” could. 

2017: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox

            Headliner: Rematch of 86

The 86’ World Series between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox proved to be one of the greatest October Classics in baseball history. In fact since that time, no World Series has been able to live up to the drama, intrigue, and legend. Even the great World Series matchups like the Marlins and Indians of 97’, Diamondbacks and Yankees of 01’, and Rangers and Cardinals of 07’, fail to match the legendary status of the Mets and Sox of 86’. So why not try to duplicate it?

            2^nd Headliner: Best Rotation vs. Best Lineup

If this World Series came to fruition in 2018, it is very likely that both teams would sport the best rotation and lineup respectively. The Mets have prided themselves on stacking their system with arms and in 2015, the Mets have a lot of promise boasting the likes of Matt Harvey, Jacob de Grom, and Zach Wheeler. But in 2018, those three, if healthy, would be savvy veterans who should be in their peak years, and two others Noah Syndergaard and Stephen Matz should also be mainstays in the rotation as well. Whereas the Red Sox have stacked their system with talented Cuban players like Rusney Castillo and Yoan Moncada who should fit in nicely with the likes of Mookie Betts and prized prospect catcher Blake Swihart who should both be not only contributing players in 2018, but the focal points of the lineup. If the Mets and Red Sox were to make it this far one could safely assume that these young, prized-possessions take them there.

            Subplot: David Wright proves to have been the best decision

Back in 2008, when the free-falling Mets lost a secure NL East divisional lead in the last two weeks of the season, the writing was on the wall that the Mets were going to have to rebuild. The team focused on three stars, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright. Beltran was then traded to the Giants based on the notion that he was on the downside of 30 and his injuries were not something to build around (but they were able to get Wheeler in that deal). Then it was debated as to who the Mets should build around Jose Reyes or David Wright? The Mets pretended at least for sometime during the 2011 season that the Mets would try to re-sign Reyes, only to lose him to the division rival Marlins. But it was known, even before the 2011 season that Wright would be the guy the Mets would choose. Since that time Wright has not been able to live up to the status of being “the guy” and a lot of that can be blamed on the financial calamity the Mets were in and the numerous injuries Wright has had to endure. But if the Mets are able to get back into relevancy in baseball, Wright should be responsible for the mental maturity the team well need. If the Mets get to the World Series, a David Wright will be more than needed.

2018: Chicago Cubs vs. New York Yankees

            Headliner: The Curse Ends

This would be the single most hyped World Series in the past 70+ years. The only thing that could compare would be the New Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers World Series in 1955, but they had met in the Fall Classic four times prior to that in 1952, 51’, 49’, and 47’. If the Cubs were able to break their curse against the Yankees, the interest in this Series would completely take over this country. Baseball big-wigs should be doing ceremonial dances, rubbing chicken bones together, or sacrificing livestock to make this happen.

            2^nd Headliner: The Curse Ends

In order for this to take place, manager Joe Maddon and general manager Theo Epstein need to continue to develop talent in their system to keep the Cubs up with other NL giants like the Cardinals and actual Giants, and both have the track records of doing that. But what the Cubs will need to do is provide that extra big bat in the order to go along with Anthony Rizzo, and if they do not have it Epstein will need to go to the free market and add that extra bat. Much like he did so long ago when he signed Manny Ramirez to one of the richest contracts in history. While there is no “Manny being Manny” out there, Bryce Harper comes off the books in the winter of 2018.

            Subplot: The Curse Ends

What would make this even more intriguing is that before Harper accepted a contract from the Cubs, it was the Yankees who courted him and expected to sign him only to jolt the Yankees for the Cubs to help them break the curse. You can’t make this stuff up. Even though, I just did.

2019: New York Mets vs. New York Yankees

            Headliner: A Real Subway Series

Back in 2000, people were convinced the matchup between the New York Mets and New York Yankees would have the same feel as the subway matchups in the 1950s between the Yankees and/or Giants and Dodgers. But what we had was a classic mismatch between a Dynasty team and their little brother. A matchup in 2019 would give us what we craved back in 2000, which would be an even matchup.

            2^nd Headliner: Rotation vs. Rotation

The rotations would steal the shows, if the Mets were able to hang on to most of their young guns and the Yankees were to continue to hire them. Hopefully for the Mets sake, they are able to hang on to Harvey or go against him in this October affair.

            Subplot: The Mets are no longer the Mets

If the Mets were to make two World Series in a three-year span, perhaps they can shake off their historic, lovable loser status, and become a formidable franchise in the sport. The sport could benefit from having two dominate teams in the city of New York and if the Mets were able to defeat their cross-borough rivals they could shed their status and create a new one. Seeing the New York teams battle for years would do wonders for the sport and tap back into that golden age of the 1950s. A solid future of the sport depends on its ability to understand its past, without living in it.