That'd be really sweet, if only to prove all of the so-called "experts" wrong. Plus, it'd be two of the smallest markets ever to compete in the World Series, so it would drive those assholes at Fox right up a tree.

Rangers/Giants would kill ratings outside each local market. And as a baseball fan in general, even I wouldn't be going out of my way to watch like I would a bridge-tunnel series. Where's Arnold Rothstein??

He's on "Boardwalk Empire" in Atlantic City with Nucky Thompson.

Even if it is SF/Texas, it will be nice to have Texas make its first ever WS appearance. Screw Fox and its ratings. Let's see the best two teams play.

To hell with the ratings. Fuck FOX in its face. How about something for REAL baseball fans? Let's see some new talent on the World Series stage.

Amen!

I'd generally agree with the logic of what JG is saying there with the bigger ratings being better for baseball, but not after the Rangers just went into Yankee Stadium and completely shat all over their new ballpark for two nights in a row. Let the best teams play!

OMG.... I just saw the morning news and learned of the Giants' win.

Wow.... I'm really impressed (and didn't think it would happen). Is it POSSIBLE they'll take the Phils? (sure looks possible now).

I think it's safe to say that the Phils and Yankees both are wishing Cliff Lee had stayed put.

[Oswalt really hammed it up last night in one inning of relief.]

.... and they're going back to Philly.

This looks like a REALLY good series. I am so fucking pissed at Fox Network for making me miss the games.

You should instead be pissed at your cable company?

No, they're doing good in fighting the networks over insane rates. Wait until your cable carrier goes to do battle with them.

I don't recall Comcast ever getting mixed up in that stuff in all the years I had them. I don't know about Verizon, we'll see -- but they both sure charge enough that I can't see it happening. It sure is common in NYC, though -- you didn't even get YES right away, did you?

It's a fairly new phenomenom, but one that ALL cable carriers will be facing on a fairly regular basis now (every few years as contracts die out).

The "Yes" Network fight actually happened eight years ago. Wow, where does time fly?

From what I understand the networks charge the cable companies to carry them, and cable carrier in turn has to charge the subscriber accordingly.

So Cablevision is correct in fighting Fox and My 9 networks (channels 5 and 9 in my neck of the woods), for trying to charge exhorbitantly for channels that should still be part of 'free' television.

I recall something similar happening with my carrier, Time Warner, several times over the past 10+ years. We would get the warnings of impending doom, however, an agreement was always able to be reached prior to us losing any coverage.

Apple

Unless a miracle happens in the 9th inning, I'm going to guess that Texas will play in the World Series, and deservedly so. The Yankees played badly, no doubt about it.

I think a Giants/Rangers World Series would be amazing. I know that Blib really wants the Giants to take it all, but if anyone deserves a World Series ring, it's Josh Hamilton. He's been outstanding. Also, I love the fact that he uses his comeback success to educate kids on the dangers of addiction.

The Yanks got spanked.

Now, who will Texas play?

I'm not a Rangers fan, but watching a team advance to the WS in their home park, watching the celebration puts a tear in my eye. It's good to have a team who's never been in the WS advance.

At this point I have to go with San Fran. Like Texas, they just seem to want it more.

Honestly, I didn't see this coming. Good job Texas.

So, uh, I've been a Rangers fan all along...remember guys?
Just wanted to say that before I hopped on the bandwagon and talked about how they're making Texas proud. But seriously, we got to go through the great feelings of a first WS recently, so it's really cool to see them get to experience that now, and they sure seem like a fun and well-deserving group of guys.

We had Fox Sports taken away, though it was right at the end of the regular season - I was annoyed about missing my boys, but figured I wouldn't need the station during the off-season. I'm sure Rockets fans are gonna have some complaints. I just want it fixed by April. haha

No way.... you're just a fair weather fan.

Wait a second.... the Texas Rangers won a pennant. I hear Twilight Zone music. Congratulations, gina.

Aw c'mon, Babe, admit it.... you jinxed the Yankees by not posting on the boards these past few days.

Congrats Texas. Should have been a shutout. Yankees got a cheap run on a bad call. The umpiring this regular season and in the playoffs has been appalling.

The Rangers were younger and hungrier. Not much more to say. If not for the miracle comeback in game one, this would have been a sweep.

Go Giants! I want a small market World Series. I'm tired of these networks holding the fans hostage .

is the phillies considered a small market too?

There was some talk about ratings in this thread and how Rangers/Giants would be bad for ratings. I've also been hearing this on talk radio. I don't understand why "bad for ratings" is even in our vocabulary. We aren't television execs, what do we care about ratings as fans of baseball? If you only care when you're own team is playing, fine, but fans of the sport will watch and enjoy the World Series no matter who's playing. I really don't know why anyone would even talk about ratings. Who cares?

As far as the Giants/Phillies series, I was hoping it would finish in San Francisco because going back to Philadelphia is scary. I don't feel that confident. Although this is what the Giants do. They have to make you sweat for as long as possible. So I imagine it will be tense to the last out of game seven.

I'm rooting for you, Blib. I have a long, inherited history with the baseball Giants, and I'd love to see them win one for my Pop. My first live baseball game ever (I still have the picture) was a Mets-Giants game at Shea in 1965. I got Willie McCovey's autograph that day.

I agree about the ratings, that's why I'm saying screw the networks. What Fox did this year is unforgivable.

Didn't the Giants have another Willie playing for them at that time? I forget his last name.....

i think it was nelson...

No, it was Lefkowitz. He was the team statistician .