World Series | Expect the unknowns to become stars

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny Gomes sat on the bench Sunday night in the American League Championship Series finale providing punch lines and jarring perspective.

"When it was 1-1, I told [teammate] Eric [Hinske] that whoever wins this game, we are going to be watching it for the next 20 years," Gomes recalled. "And it could be anybody who comes through."

That is the baseball postseason at its essence. When the 104th World Series begins tonight with the Philadelphia Phillies opposing the Tampa Bay Rays, the most unlikely pairing since McCain and Palin, every player is within handshake distance of destiny.

Just as easily as Phillies star Ryan Howard could blast a memorable home run, Matt Stairs might steal the spotlight again. And for every aspirin thrown by Tampa's Matt Garza, his relevance could hinge on the left-handed arm of precocious rookie David Price.

In what other sport can a portly 40-year-old slugger, Stairs, who hadn't hit a home run in a month, and a 23-year-old left-hander who had never posted a save, Price, help win two of their team's biggest games?

"Why not?" said Price, surrounded by reporters Tuesday before the team's workout at the Tropicana Dome. "[Manager] Joe Maddon is known for putting anybody out there at any time. There was no reason to be nervous. I was ready for anything."

This is what makes postseason baseball unique from the other major-league sports. When rosters expand from 25 to 40 on Sept. 1, players many fans have never heard of begin edging quietly toward their "You Tube" moment. The Phillies acquired Stairs from the Toronto Blue Jays in August, the popular Canadian player embracing the opportunity to go to the playoffs.

A better spot, however, meant a smaller role. He was limited to rare pinch-hit at-bats, the highlight of his day often the home-run contests staged with reserve outfielder Geoff Jenkins.

"He puts on a show in batting practice," shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.

With one swing against the Dodgers, Stairs put his name on the map, clubbing a two-run home run off closer Jonathan Broxton in the NLCS, the first homer Broxton had allowed at Dodger Stadium all season.

"You mean people identify with me because I am old?" Stairs said. "You know if I was 23, I would be thinking this league is easy. But I am going to wake up [Wednesday] and be like, '[Darn], I am in the World Series.' "

Once inside the velvet ropes anything can happen. Unlikely names become overnight names. Yankees fans still get all warm and fuzzy about Aaron Boone and Jim Leyritz. And who could forget Braves catcher Francisco Cabrera scoring lead-footed Sid Bream to win Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS?

Francisco Rodriguez represents the most recent rocket ride from anonymity to overnight celebrity. The Angels' right-hander hadn't pitched an inning in the big leagues when, at 20, the relief pitcher unleashed a slider with more bite than a shark. He set records for postseason wins and strikeouts in helping the Angels defeat the Giants in the 2002 World Series.

Price is being hailed as this year's K-Rod.

"I don't know anything about what he did," Price confessed Tuesday.

His manager does. Maddon was on Mike Scioscia's Angels staff when Rodriguez made the postseason his own diary of havoc. Maddon has compared the two, but that isn't why the kid found himself with the ball Sunday night for the most important four outs in Rays history.

"In a sense it was calculated, but the fact is who he is really made a difference to me," Maddon said. "I did not think he was going to be impacted by this moment in a negative way emotionally. So what he did did not surprise me in the least."

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel would not reveal his designated hitter for the games in Tropicana Field or if he has decided who it will be.

The unexpected is almost always a necessary ingredient to a championship run. Adam Wainwright went from interesting rookie setup man to shutdown closer for the Cardinals in 2006 because of an injury to Jason Isringhausen in late September. And the Colorado Rockies don't even sniff the World Series last year if Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales don't reinforce the rotation come September.

"In baseball, when you get this far, you realize you have to have contributions from a lot of places. If it was just about one bat, then the Dodgers would be here because of Manny [Ramirez]," Phillies catcher Chris Coste said. "You have to be good and you have to have surprises, guys who weren't even on the radar. You can't make it without the guys nobody has ever heard of."

Notes

• Atlanta Braves announcer Pete Van Wieren has announced his retirement, ending a 33-year career with the team.

Van Wieren, a member of the Braves Hall of Fame, became a familiar face on the TBS team that broadcast Atlanta games to a national television audience.

• The St. Louis Cardinals' season-ticket plan for 2009 will leave prices unchanged for more than 70 percent of their seats, a decision influenced by the economic downturn.

The team said season-ticket prices will increase 1.6 percent on a weighted average basis.

• Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden recently had surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his forehead.

The skin cancer was discovered in June, but the 47-year-old Bowden waited until the Nationals' season ended to have the operation.

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.