As Mick Jagger once half-sung, half-rasped as only he could, “You can’t always get what you want / But if you try sometime, you just might find / You get what you need.”
For baseball fans, that’s often true when it comes to the World Series matchups, especially if your favorite team hasn’t made it. But with all due respect to Mick, we’re going to be selfish and identify the matchups we really want to see for this year’s Fall Classic.
We’ll happily take whatever we get, of course, because we love baseball. But we’ll be rooting intently for some matchups more than others.
4. Detroit Tigers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Sluggers. Excellent starting pitching. Veterans with playoff experience. A Midwest theme to the proceedings. The third year in a row that at least one of these teams reached the World Series.
Without doubt, there would be a lot to like if these teams faced off.
A potential Game 1 between Max Scherzer and Adam Wainwright would be fascinating, as would be Justin Verlander potentially taking on one of St. Louis’ young pitchers, but as you’ll see, this series would probably be a harder sale than the other three possibilities.
It would still be an excellent series, just not quite as intriguing.
3. Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals
In the past nine years, both of these teams have won two World Series titles. If nothing else, this series would settle the score over which team has been the most dominant in baseball over the past 10 years.
These teams have a fair amount of similarities. Both are led by experienced veterans that have plenty of postseason experience. Both are traditional and popular franchises. Both play in baseball-obsessed cities.
But, the similarities end there. While the Red Sox run has been fueled by savvy free-agent additions from this winter like Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes and Mike Napoli, the Cardinals have filled out the roster with exciting young prospects like Shelby Miller, Michael Wacha, Joe Kelly and Matt Adams.
2. Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Oh, the storylines.
The return of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to Boston. East Coast versus West Coast. The best starting pitching duo (outside of Detroit) in the game against arguably the best offense in baseball. The antics of Yasiel Puig against the King of Clutch, David Ortiz. The outrageous television ratings these giant markets would provide.
Behind players like Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox have developed a scrappy, never-say-die style. Behind the exuberance of Puig and the bright Hollywood lights—and a huge payroll to boot—the Dodgers feel like a blockbuster movie being shot every time they play.
Styles make fights, and contrasts generally make series. This one wouldn’t be lacking in that department.
1. Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The pitching matchups in this possible series are so delicious that, in comparison, other delicious things, like Nutella, would be reduced to tasting like Spam.
You heard me—Spam.
On one side, Verlander, Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez. On the other side, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
On one side, superstars like Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. On the other side, Puig, Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.
C’mon—this is the series we all want (outside of Boston, St. Louis and the makers of Nutella), right?
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