Top 10 reason to watch the World Series

The World Series is upon us... and in my opinion, it sure is a great one. While it doesn't have the glitz and glam of two teams with inflated payrolls that consist of well-known, A-list, superstars... it has all the makings of a seven-game series packed with exciting talent, enticing back-stories and a whole lot of just plain old good guys.

Here's ten reasons why you should watch and what you should watch for in the 2010 World Series:

10. The Rangers have NEVER been to the World Series (they just won their first postseason series when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays in a five-game ALDS) and the Giants haven't won the Fall Classic since 1954. They did, however, face the Anaheim Angles in 2002 with Dusty Baker at the helm and Barry Bonds under the spotlight, but lost in an exciting seven-game series.

9. Cliff Lee vs.Tim Lincecum will face off in Game 1...  It really doesn't get much better than that. Lincecum has two National League Cy Young Awards on his mantle and Lee is undefeated (7-0) with a 1.26 ERA in the postseason. How do you even predict which way this one could go?

8. Catcher Bengie Molina, who was traded by the Giants to the Rangers on July 1 and is leaning toward retirement after this season, will receive a World Series ring regardless of who wins, his old team or his new team. AND... it will be the second ring Molina will earn. The first? The 2002 World Series (as stated in No. 10 of this list) when he was a member of the Angels who defeated... yes, the Giants.

7. The pitching. Honestly, the pitching really doesn't get much better than what we're about to see in this series. After Lincecum comes Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner --- and after Lee comes TJ Wilson, Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter. The Giants enter the series with a team 2.47 ERA in the postseason while Texas holds a 2.76 ERA.

6. Will the Giants pitch to Josh Hamilton? Hamilton, who was named the ALCS MVP and will most likely be the AL MVP of the 2010 regular season when it's all said and done, is 3-for-12 vs. San Francisco pitchers but has only faced Game 2 starter Matt Cain in his career. He didn't have a great LDS when he went 2-for-18 against Tampa but in the Championship Series against the Yankees he went 7-for-20 with four home runs and seven RBI... with EIGHT walks. So I ask you again, will the Giants pitch to Hamilton?

5. Michael Young has played for the Rangers his entire career -- 10 seasons -- and is playing in his very first postseason. It would be nice to see him get a ring. That's all. Here is my interview with Young when the Rangers were in town in September:

4. How will San Fran's Buster Posey handle the speedy Rangers? The rookie, baby-faced catcher may have his hands full in this series with the aggressive Rangers who are 15-for-17 in stolen bases in 11 postseason games this year. That's what I call a threat on the base paths. So, will the Rangers test the young Posey who has exceeded everyone's expectations at the most demanding position on the field? If they're smart they will.

3. How will Vladimir Guerrero fare in right field? Guerrero signed with the Rangers via free agency this offseason after spending his last six seasons with the Angels as the primary DH but made 16 appearances in right field during interleague play where he batted .246 with four home runs. With no DH in the National League and the Giants with home-field advantage, Vlad may have to play right field at least four times. Rangers' manager Ron Washington said he will start in right in Game 1 but after that, depending on his play, who knows?

Washington knows the importance of Vlad's bat in the lineup.... but is his defense a detriment to the team?

2.  There are quite a few players on both the current Rangers and Giants postseason rosters that were acquired in the offseason or mid-season and have contributed to their respective teams' success.

Rangers
In the offseason came: Vlad Guerrero (Angels), Colby Lewis (from Japan), Darren Oliver (Angels). During the season came: Cliff Lee (Seattle) Jeff Francoeur (Mets), Bengie Molina (Giants), Jorge Cantu (Marlins),

Giants
In the offseason came: Aubrey Huff (Detroit), Juan Uribe (re-signed)
During the season: Buster Posey (recalled), Cody Ross (Marlins), Pat Burrell (claimed off waivers from the Rays).

Biggest killers this postseason: San Fran's Cody Ross and Texas' Cliff Lee -- neither started the year with their current teams.

1. The managers: San Fran's Bruce Bochy and Texas' Ron Washington. Two great baseball men, two great managers and two great people.

Prediction: Rangers in seven.