Ring the Bell in Philly
We saw two big National League upsets that were quite frankly unexpected. The Freddie-less Atlanta Braves played the Phillies in the NLDS, which proved to be absolute National League domination for Philadelphia. The previous year’s world champs, you’d think they’d put up a fight. But nope, they had a National League rude awakening when they made their way to brisk cold air in Philly in the second part of the series.
We finally got to witness what Bryce Harper’s 13-year 350 million dollar contract was worth as he slugged 2 homers in the series and hit amazing getting one of them off Atlanta’s ace with an amazing fastball Spencer Stryder.
It’s the first time since 2011 that the Phillies have been in this spot and Harper and crew are ready and excited to keep winning throughout the postseason. Philadelphia is known for riding with their athletes to the end, like Joel Embiid of the 76ers, and Bryce gives the fans exactly what they want with his energy that this city has been needing for years.
Fresh California Love
The best team in major league baseball is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mookie Betts is one of baseball’s best players. A great contact-hitting team with Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner, and the cast. An organization with class pitching in Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and others were flat-out embarrassed by the San Diego cast of Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, and of course, the superstar Manny Machado as the fans in Petco Park was loud and rocking as Josh Hader their closer struck out Los Angeles’s last three hitters at home and solidified their ticket to play Philadelphia in the NLCS. The Padres had finally done it. Showed the world who the head of California was for the moment, and man I think they’re fan favorites.
The Matchup We’ve Been Waiting For
Both savvy veterans get to play each other once again. Bryce Harper verse Manny Machado. Both are all-star veterans with huge contracts and fandom. Both with something to prove. Their poise, talent, and draw they bring to fans are healthy for National League baseball as a whole and lure in the youth to keep the sport such a hot commodity as it used to be in the day.
That’s what these two do for the game. And now we’ll get the opportunity to see them duel once again on opposing teams that both could very well win the World Series, not due to pitching or defense specifically, but sheer National League offensive talent, lots of home runs, and lots of excitement. Machado and Harper have been at it for the past decade.
They’ve been exchanging games back and forth since 2011 in their own minor league all-star game between the Hagerstown Suns versus the Delmarva Shorebirds. Well, this won’t be like the minors, and both captains will have to step up and steer their squads correctly to get the opportunity to play for what they all try to do. Win a World Series. I personally think San Diego will advance due to their immense big three in Machado, Bell, and Soto but we’ll just have to watch and see.
