Why Rays-Phillies is not disaster Series matchup

Believe it or not, a gripping World Series can be conducted without the participation of the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs or Dodgers.

You just know that Fox television executives were pulling for any other combination of teams than the one they got — the Tampa Bay Rays against the Philadelphia Phillies in what is already being billed as a potential ratings disaster.

Let's give it a chance, please. As someone not concerned with Nielsen families or overnight numbers, here's what I see: A great matchup filled with appealing players and compelling story lines.

So there are no large-market titans (although Philadelphia was a pretty large market — No. 5 in the U.S. — the last time I checked). So there are no of lovable "nation" teams, as in Cubs Nation and Sox Nation (although the Rays looked awfully lovable, last time I checked — which was one frenzied celebration ago).

So what? Are those the only teams allowed to make for a colorful, riveting World Series?

I'll wager that if this one goes the full seven games — something that hasn't happened in the World Series since the Angels took out Barry Bonds and the Giants in 2002 — the populace will jump on board in droves.

The last few Fall Classics have been lackluster, not because of the teams involved, but because of the lopsidedness — the Red Sox sweeping last year, the Cardinals winning in five games in 2006, the White Sox sweeping in 2005, the Red Sox sweeping in 2004 (a lopsided, drama-less Series that was nonetheless memorable for the singular spectacle of Boston shedding The Curse).

No, we don't have Manny Ramirez returning to Fenway Park along with Joe Torre and the Dodgers — and thank goodness for that. If ever an angle was ripe for being exploited, killed and over-killed, it's that one.

But what we do have is Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Matt Garza and James Shields. Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge.

You want human interest? How about Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli, who has overcome a mysterious ailment that threatened his career and even at one point had him fearing for his life. The diagnosis, a rare muscle disease closely related to mitochondrial myopathy, is treatable, but not curable. Baldelli still gets fatigued easily, but managed to drive in a decisive run in Game 7.

You want more human interest? How about the two plucky managers, Charlie Manuel and Joe Maddon. Manuel is a good ol' boy (born in West Virginia, raised in Virginia) who is mourning the death of his mother last week. Philly fans wanted to run him out of town, now they chant his name. According to his Wikipedia page, "Manuel has survived a heart attack, quadruple bypass surgery and cancer. During his time with the Indians he worked in the dugout with a colostomy bag beneath his jacket."

Maddon is a hip, articulate, cutting-edge sort with funky glasses and a tremendous rapport with his players. He likes to spout aphorisms like "Nine Equals Eight."

Maddon was Mike Scioscia's bench coach with the Angels before the Rays chose him over John McLaren to replace Lou Piniella in 2006. The Mariners had a chance to hire him a couple of times and didn't.

You want a plot line? How about the fact that the Rays, who lost 96 games last year, the worst record in baseball, could complete arguably the greatest one-season turnaround in sports history? How about the fact that the Phillies, a bedrock NL franchise, are the losingest team in sports (the first to 10,000 defeats, achieved on July 15, 2007) and have just one World Series title (1980) to show for 125 years of baseball in Philadelphia.

The Phillies once went 16 straight years without a winning season. The Rays had never had one until this year. One will be hoisting the World Series trophy.

You want a breakout star out of nowhere? Tampa Bay lefty David Price, 23, with all of 16-1/3 major-league innings under his belt, just might have the livest arm in the entire World Series.

Suddenly, after his electrifying performance in closing out the Red Sox in Game 7, Maddon has a secret weapon in his bullpen to deploy at the opportune moments. And for all those teams hoping to catch the Rays next year, bad news: Price might just become the ace of the staff in 2009.

You want a local angle? Pick one. You have Philadelphia general manager Pat Gillick, the former Mariners GM, once again weaving his magic with the Phillies.

While Gillick graciously credited his predecessor, Ed Wade, with building the foundation of the team, Gillick's small but vital touches are everywhere, in the likes of Jayson Werth, Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs and J.C. Romero. And one big touch: Lidge, the closer still perfect for 2009 (and hoping to make Phillies fans forget Mitch Williams, circa 1993).

You have Jamie Moyer, in his first World Series one month shy of his 46th birthday — and lined up to start a potential Game 7 for Philadelphia. You have Dobbs, a Mariners castoff who has become a key member of the Phillies as a spot starter and pinch-hit specialist.

You want a reason to cry? The Rays, who debuted in 1998 — 21 years after the Mariners — have beaten them to the World Series. As did the Diamondbacks, who came into existence the same year as Tampa Bay. As did the Marlins and Rockies, who were born in 1993. As did the Blue Jays, who were unveiled in 1977, the same year as Seattle, and have two titles to their name.

The ever-dwindling group of teams never to make the Fall Classic is now down to three — the Mariners, the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (born 1969), and the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers (born 1961).

Maybe next year the Mariners can replicate the Rays' magical rise from 96 losses to the World Series. Nah, I don't think so, either. But for now, let's savor the stories we have, not lament the ones that got away.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com