Call it the Fall Classic conundrum.
Casual fans complain about the same teams getting all the exposure ("Great, another Yankees-Red Sox Sunday night game") or getting deep into the postseason ("Great, another Yankees-Red Sox ALCS).
Then a fresh World Series matchup like Rays-Phillies comes along and they lament the fact Fox is preempting House and Are You Smarter than A Fifth Grader?
Almost as soon as Aki Iwamura stepped on second to dispatch the Red Sox in Game 7 Sunday and clinch the Rays' first World Series trip, the predictions began. Phillies in five. Rays in six. Lowest rated World Series in history.
At least that's what Bill Gorman of tvbythenumbers.com suggested. The 757 carrying the Phillies to Florida probably hadn't put the Chesapeake Bay in the rearview mirror before Gorman wrote: "I'm confident we'll see the lowest average viewership of any World Series in the last 40 years (as far back as our data goes)."
That's disappointing, considering it's been that long since baseball had this improbable a pennant winner. A World Series victory for the Rays would be a more impressive achievement and better story than the 1969 Miracle Mets. In their 11th season of existence, the Rays were pitiful three years longer than the Mets, an expansion club that won the Series in season eight.
The Rays probably had a better offense on paper than that Mets club, but these Rays didn't open the season with a 19-game winner (Jerry Koosman) or a two-time 16-game winner (Tom Seaver).
So Manny Ramirez won't return to Boston as a Dodger for the chilliest reception since the British East India Company fleet brought its tea into the harbor. Get over it. Although, it would have been amusing to see Ramirez turned away had he attempted to sneak into the Green Monster for another potty break.
Need a reason to watch the Phillies and Rays? Here are 10:
Storybook ending
If nothing else the Rays are AL champs, but history won't regard them with the full esteem they deserve unless it wins the World Series. Can they write the Hollywood ending?
Star power
The Rays have been touted as having no established stars, but that's not the case with the Phillies. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins have won the last two NL MVP awards and second baseman Chase Utley could finish his career with more homers than Ryne Sandberg or Jeff Kent.
Hang a left
No one is putting left-handers Cole Hamels and David Price in the Hall of Fame just yet, but 25 years from now captivated grandkids will listen to grandfathers describe the outstanding World Series performances of two budding superstars.
Historic homer
With Howard, Utley and other boppers in the series like Pat Burrell, Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria taking cuts in two bandbox ballparks, chances are good someone will hit an unforgettable home run.
Striving for perfection
Including the postseason, Phillies closer Brad Lidge has converted all 47 saves chances this season. Can he stay perfect?
Destination unknown
Interleague play is great, until two teams that met during the regular season face off in the World Series. The Rays and Phillies did not play this season, giving little point of reference for key matchups. Can lefty Scott Kazmir neutralize the Phillies' lefty sluggers? How will Carl Crawford handle Cole Hamels' changeup?
Pain and suffering
Think Chicago Cubs fans have it bad? At least they've celebrated with the Bulls and a couple of good Bears teams. Philadelphia has gone 100 consecutive seasons without a championship from any of its four major sports teams. Of those, the Phillies have been among the biggest losers of all-time. In 2007, the franchise became the first ever in any sport to lose 10,000 games.
Phanatical
With all due respect to the San Diego Chicken, Mr. Met and Bernie Brewer, the Phillies have the best mascot in baseball. The four-wheeling Phanatic is tremendous and gets the edge over the Rays' head cheerleader - superfan Dick Vitale.
Dome, sweet dome
Condemn Tropicana Field if you must, but nothing beats a domed stadium stuffed to capacity. When the Twins reached the World Series in 1987 and 1991, top decibel levels at the Metrodome were around 120, equivalent to sitting in front of the speakers at a rock concert.
It's baseball
Phillies-Rays still not have you fired up? Watch anyway because in two months you'll be so desperate for baseball a Mexican winter league meeting between the Culiacan Tomato Growers and the Hermosillo Orange Growers will feel epic.