Bainbridge High School Bearcats head baseball coach Scott Miller likes the American League champion Texas Rangers to defeat the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in the 2011 World Series, that gets under way today in St. Louis.
“I think the Rangers have an outstanding hitting lineup so I’m picking them to win,” Miller said Tuesday.
“I have to admit I am rooting for them because I know one of their players. Their starting catcher Mike Napoli was the roommate of catcher Jeff Mathis when they were teammates with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
“Jeff was my starting catcher when I was Marianna, Fla. High School Bulldogs head baseball coach.”
Miller said he felt the Rangers have a deeper offense.
“Right-handed-hitting outfielder Nelson Cruz is one of the best power hitters in the game,” he said. “He had some big home runs in the Rangers’ American League Championship Series with the Detroit Tigers.
“The Cardinals have power-hitting first baseman Albert Pujols and strong hitting outfielder Matt Holliday batting behind him, but I don’t think their batting order is as deep as the Rangers.”
Miller thinks the series could come down to a battle of the two bullpens.
Cardinals right hander Chris Carpenter and Rangers left hander C.J. Wilson will start the first game.
“Chris Carpenter had a big 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halliday in the final game of the National League Championship Series,” Miller said. “The Rangers and Cardinals have both had to pull their starters early in the playoffs.”
Focusing on the bullpens, Miller said they have both had to be strong because the two starting staffs have had ERAs above 5.0 in the playoffs.
“You have to give the Cardinals credit for making the playoffs,” he said. “They were around 10 games out the first of August. Baseball can be very unpredictable.”