MLB Playoffs 2011: 5 Reasons Rangers and Cardinals Are Best World Series Matchup

As ALCS and NLCS move along, I can’t help but wonder which would be the best World Series matchup.  

The Detroit Tigers have been decimated by injuries with each passing game, and the Brewers do have star power but not the offensive power up and down the lineup as their counterparts do. Although it would be nice to see Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder swinging for the fences, I see the Cardinals as the more exciting choice.

So the best World Series matchup would have to be the St. Louis Cardinals matching up against the Texas Rangers. The two teams are arguably the hottest teams in baseball and have been riding a hot streak at the end of the regular season into the playoffs. 

Here are five reasons as to why this is the best matchup to watch.

Star Power: Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton

Albert Pujols is arguably the best player in baseball. Although he had a slow start at the start of the season, he picked up the pace at the end of the season and is continuing to hit well in the playoffs.

As a fan, you want to see the best player in the finals no matter whether you hate him or love him. If Pujols wins a World Series, he will be on a list with Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as an all-time great. You can expect Pujols to have an unbelievable series. 

Another big name in this series is Josh Hamilton. Hamilton has had his struggles throughout his career but has come full circle winning the MVP award and making the World Series last year. He is a big bat who can carry a team in a series.

Hamilton has the hearts of America, and people have been drawn to him because he has changed his life around.  

Having the two biggest names available in each league is what the commissioner and baseball wants and needs. We want to best players to go toe to toe with each other, and Pujols and Hamilton are a dream scenario.

Hottest Teams Right Now

The St. Louis Cardinals went on an unbelievable hot streak to squeeze into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. The hitting and pitching got hot at the right time, and it has continued into the playoffs. Chris Carpenter and Albert Pujols have been leading the way for this team, and it has been great to watch. 

The Cardinals were heavy underdogs against a powerhouse Phillies teams and miraculously won with a performance to remember from Carpenter.  

Going into August, the Rangers were in a tight race with the Angels for the division lead until the Rangers got hot and lost only six games in the month of September. The Rangers continued their hot streak by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in four games. The resurgence of Nelson Cruz’s power is unreal and has powered the Rangers against the Tigers. 

It would only be fitting for two of the hottest teams in baseball to to be in the World Series. Each will look to put up a lot of runs and put on a show for the fans. 

Two Best-Hitting Teams in Each League

The Cardinals and Rangers are the two best-hitting teams left in the playoffs. They were in the top five in the major leagues in hitting, runs and RBI. The fans love offense, and these two teams will hit the ball. 

Both teams boast lineups of power hitters. The Rangers have Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Adrian Beltre—one of the most potent lineups in baseball. The Cardinals have a middle-of-the-order lineup of Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday who provide the power while the other players on the roster know how to get on base. 

Each lineup is a pitcher's nightmare from top to bottom. The two teams have a decent pitching staff with Carpenter and Wilson being the aces, but anyone on these teams' pitching staff is hittable.  

Ameriquest Field is a hitter-friendly park, and that does not bode well for the pitchers. Look for the two best-hitting teams to hit the ball into the stands when they head to Texas.

The Best Managers in Baseball

Tony LaRussa and Ron Washington are the best managers in baseball right now. The two managers have shown how smart and masterful they are by what they did at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs. 

The Cardinals looked like they were not going to make the playoffs a few months back but made the playoffs on the final day of the season. LaRussa also did a great job in setting his pitching rotation against the powerhouse Phillies. LaRussa is a legendary coach already, but another World Series win would put him in the discussion with the greats. 

Ron Washington has a chance to take the Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances which is a feat that is difficult to do in itself. He knows when to get his team going at the right time and has done a great job in keep Michael Young happy all season. A trip back to the World Series would be great for Washington, but a win would prove how great of a coach he really is. 

These two coaches would be a great matchup to watch as they try to work their magic to win the prestigious trophy.

Stars Who Have the Most to Prove

There are many stars who have something to prove in this series. After all, getting to the World Series would only show how talented an individual really is. There will be star players who want to show what they are made of on the biggest stage. 

People have knocked pitcher Chris Carpenter a lot the past few years. He has great stuff as a pitcher but seemed to shrink at the sight of pressure. The matchup against Roy Halladay was something everyone wanted to see, and Carpenter won with a remarkable shutout complete game.

He will have to continue his rise and prove his worth against the Brewers and hopefully in the World Series. Carpenter wants to put his name up there with the best pitchers in the game and has a lot to prove. 

You would think that a star like Albert Pujols doesn't have much to prove but he does. Pujols wants to be the best player in baseball history and show that he deserves the huge $300 million paycheck. A great performance and a win in the World Series will certainly put his name right next to Mays and Ruth, and possibly give him the contract that he wants. Even the best player in baseball has something to prove. 

Josh Hamilton is another player who has so much talent and would love to prove that he belongs in the discussion of Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez and all the other elite players. Last year against the Giants in the World Series, Hamilton went 2-for-20 and really shrunk under pressure.

He needs to prove that he is clutch when it matters and could quite possibly have a chance this year. 

There are so many storylines with the matchup of the Cardinals and the Rangers if they both make it to this year's World Series. This is a must-see matchup that needs to happen.