Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
October 2, 2008, Washington Post

3 Cheers for My 3 Top Baseball Teams

The Major League Baseball playoffs have started. This year, I am rooting for three teams.

I am rooting for my Boston Red Sox, of course. I have been a Sox fan my whole life, so I can't change teams now. But the Red Sox have won two of the past four World Series, so it doesn't seem as important that they win another.

If my Sox don't win, I hope the Chicago Cubs go all the way. The Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908. That's 100 years!

In 1908, Teddy Roosevelt wasn't just a big-headed mascot who couldn't win the Presidents' Race at Nationals Park; he was the president of the United States. There were no televisions or computers in 1908. Very few people owned automobiles. And about the only folks flying in airplanes were the Wright brothers.

One hundred years is long enough to wait. Long-suffering Cubs fans (there is no other kind) deserve to celebrate a championship.

But I am also pulling for the Tampa Bay Rays. Last year, when they were the Devil Rays, Tampa Bay won only 66 out of 162 games. This year, they changed their name, which seemed to change their luck. The Rays surprised everyone, including the powerful New York Yankees, winning 97 games and the Eastern Division of the American League.

Of course, it wasn't all luck. The Rays have solid starting pitching led by James Shields (14 wins, 8 losses) and Scott Kazmir (12-8) as well as a much-improved bullpen. The Rays pitchers surrendered the second-fewest number of runs in the American League.

On the field, Tampa Bay is loaded with young, talented players who can run and play terrific defense. Centerfielder B.J. Upton, who is just 24 years old, was among the league leaders in getting on base (.383 on-base percentage) and in stolen bases. Third baseman Evan Longoria led all American League rookies in home runs and runs batted in. First baseman Carlos Peña provided extra pop, smashing 31 home runs.

Baseball fans expected the inexperienced Rays to cool off, but they kept on winning. Who knows? They may keep winning all the way through the World Series.

Watching the baseball playoffs is always fun and exciting. Only the best teams are playing, and every game is important. Every pitch, every swing of the bat and every play in the field can be the difference between winning a championship and going home disappointed.

The games are even more fun if you have a team to root for. This year, I should have lots of fun. I am rooting for three teams.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids.

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