October 19th Update

World Series Starts Tonight

• Chris Carpenter will take the mound tonight, at 8:05, as his St Louis Cardinals take on the Texas Rangers in this year’s World Series (Major League Baseball’s championship). This best-of-seven series begins tonight. CJ Wilson will be the starting pitcher for the Rangers in Game 1. However, both teams are known more for their batting lineup than for their pitching and defense.
• The Cardinals, who last won the World Series in 2006, are lead by All World 1^st baseman Albert Pujols. Pujols, who has had a subpar year (by his standards) after a slow start to the season, may be playing his last games for the only team he’s ever played for, as his contract is up this year and he has been unwilling to speak about an extension since the season started in April. Outfielders Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman will aid Pujols in trying to tame the Rangers pitching staff.
• The Rangers are lead by Outfielder Josh Hamilton and 1^st Baseman Michael Young. This lineup has been very powerful having hit 210 Home Runs and slugging .460, both of which are second in all of baseball for this year. A couple of midseason trades bolstered the Ranger’s pitching staff, and make them the favorites to win the series. Do not expect this series to be a quick one though, both teams are good and this should go at least 6 games, if not the full 7.

Wednesday Spotlight: Josh Hamilton: The All-American Story

•  Josh Hamilton was the first overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was considered one of the best young baseball players to enter the league in a very long time. He rapidly moved through the Devil Rays’ farm system. Before the 2001 season Hamilton and his parents were involved in a car accident, whether a catalyst or not, through 2001 Hamilton developed a drug and alcohol problem.
• Suffering through injuries and negative effects of the substance problems, Hamilton was out of baseball by 2004. Hamilton, with help from a former Minor League manager, worked hard at rehab, with not only his substance issues but also getting back into baseball shape. Hamilton also went to God in order to beat his addictions. Beginning in the middle of 2006 Hamilton began playing baseball.
• In 2007 Hamilton, by this time a member of the Cincinnati Reds, was in the Major Leagues and playing full time. At the end of the ’07 season the Reds traded Hamilton to the Texas Rangers. 2008 was Hamilton’s breakout year as he made his first All-Star game. During the 2010 season, Hamilton was elected MVP of his league, as the Rangers went to the World Series for the first time.
• Hamilton had everything, drank and smoked it away, turned everything around and is now on top of the baseball world. A position many expected them to be many years ago. Now Hamilton is mentoring young kids and crushing opposing pitchers. Hamilton and the Rangers are in the World Series again this year as the favorites over the St Louis Cardinals