Uh, no. Only one step. We’ve been over this, people.

And there actually is a solution. Sort of. If we’re going to have interleague play, and we are, then interleague playoffs are a perfectly sensible idea. As it is now, we have to put up with all this hokum of pretending that the system is funneling the two best teams in the game into a dramatic final series, when everybody but the Pretend Commissioner and your hamster Sparky knows that’s not the case. And Sparky may be catching on.

In effect we have a replay of the AL East finals serving as the World Series. It’s a shame the Angels get so mystically awful at this time of the year— the fifth circle of Dante’s inferno was reserved, if I remember correctly, for those condemned to be known forever as The Best Regular Season Baseball Team, But That’s It— but there’s also something satisfying about getting to watch the Rayz beat the Sawx like a drum again. Oops, forgot: the Sawx have Playoff Experience…

Rayz in 5.

But I have to go with the Devil Rays. Can’t imagine how annoying Red Sox fans will become with another WS title.

The Rays are headed to the ALCS, not the World Series. It’s next week that they’ll be headed to the World Series.

That said, here’s a great article in the Times about how they went from worst to first with the lowest payroll in the AL.

An excerpt:

Gone are the days when the team would drop $10 million on a high school phenom who simply flamed out in the minor leagues (Matt White).

Acquiring one-dimensional lugs like Greg Vaughn and Vinny Castilla — who both became Devil Rays on perhaps the franchise’s darkest day at the 1999 winter meetings — is a nightmare not soon relived.

Much will be made this week about how the Rays, who still have the A.L.’s lowest payroll at about $44 million, learned to walk upright over the past several years. Fine scouting has led to the development of several homegrown stars (third baseman Evan Longoria, center fielder B.J. Upton and ace James Shields), but most key youngsters have arrived in astute trades (starters Matt Garza and Scott Kazmir, relievers Grant Balfour and J.P. Howell, catcher Dioner Navarro and more). Second baseman Akinori Iwamura was imported from Japan, first baseman Carlos Peña from major league oblivion.

Baseball always hears about rebuilding plans, but usually when they’re just beginning (during apologetic trade-deadline fire sales) or when they’re ending (with handshakes all around). What distinguishes the Rays’ rebuilding plan is the unwavering confidence with which it was continuously executed. One of the reasons Maddon can shrug off underdog talk after 100 wins is that he did during 101 losses.

Peter Angelos, Hank Steinbrenner, take note.

Is this…THE NO SPIN ZONE????

I think I still actually favor the Sox—trying not to be biased here—because of the run differentials and Boston having Drew healthy again. I’m optimistic, but this is going to be tight.

(Oh crap, they’ll probably hit me for reminding them I’m a Sox fan…think of something pro-Orioles…quick!)

Brian Roberts is still sexy!