Baltimore, Prepare For A Beltway World Series
My senior year of high school, I remember thinking "I wish I lived in New York so I could be a part of that". The 18 year old Travis Thomas was envious of the Subway World Series between the New York Mets and Yankees. It's the only time other than 1989 (A's vs Giants) there would be a commuter Fall Classic. I believe we will have another match up added to that stat this Postseason. In addition to hosting the Travis Thomas Experience on this great station, I am also a Producer at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic in Washington DC and cover the Nationals. So I have a pulse on both the O's and Nat's. This is why I can definitively say that on Tuesday Night October 21st the Baltimore Orioles will host the Washington Nationals in Game One of the World Series.
• TALE OF THE TAPE: Both teams are chasing something deeper than just wins. The Nationals are just five years removed from back-to-back 100-loss seasons and have been transfixed on building a winning tradition in recent memory. The Orioles are looking to revive the great tradition that has lain dormant here for too long.
• MONEY TALKS: The O's are pushing for an All-Star Game in 2016 and the Nat's are lobbying to host in 2017, nothing moves that along quite like a Beltway World Series. There is also great theatre involved with these two franchises. The Birds captured three of four from the Nat's this summer and in both cities the average attendance was higher for this interleague matchup. Did I mention the MASN drama?
• NUMBERS NEVER LIE: Pitching wins Championships right? Well the Nationals have the game's best pitching staff with a collective 3.03 ERA. The Orioles pitching staff are from scrubs themselves bolstering an impressive 3.43 ERA. I would argue the O's are the better overall team with the balance of solid hitting (MLB-Best 211 Homeruns) and fielding.
My 14 years in the waiting wish for a Beltway World Series will finally come to fruition this Fall. The Nationals have earned Home Field Advantage throughout the Playoffs and obviously that will help them. The Orioles won't have Home Field throughout but will have it in the World Series. Honestly with Nationals Park just 37 miles away from Camden Yards is there really any such thing as Home Field Advantage in this Series? Nat's First Baseman Adam LaRoche sums that question up perfectly- "We have so many good fans, and they have some unbelievable fans. I think there would probably be a few brawls during that series." One thing is for sure, I-95 will be just as action packed as anything that happens on that field.
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