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Kazmir, Hamels square off in Game One of World Series

Oct 22, 2008 - 10:06 AM World Series Game One

Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 8:35 EDT

In a battle of teams that don't spend a great deal of time at the back end of October, the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays will open the World Series at Tropicana Field on Wednesday.

The Phillies, who eclipsed 10,000 losses as a franchise last season, will be looking to lock down their second World Series title in 125 years of existence.

The city of Philadelphia is thirsting for a championship in any sport, having experienced a drought since the 76ers took home the NBA title in 1983.

The Rays are in their 11th year of existence but are in the midst of their first winning campaign, somehow navigating the waters of the treacherous American League East all season and outlasting the Boston Red Sox in the AL Championship Series to reach this point.

Also built largely of players from its own system, Tampa Bay has the second-lowest payroll in the game and a World Series win would not only put it on the map as perennial contenders, but would strike a blow for the little guy in a sport that has long been dominated by the big-market teams.

The Phillies also have the disadvantage of coming off a week-long layoff, having wrapped up the National League Championship Series on October 15.

"We're definitely trying to stay focused and there's a big gap in time," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "And it's very important that we keep our timing, not only hitting, but also running the bases, playing in the field. We feel like that we've practiced enough, and also if we stay focused on what we're doing and we have the right mindset, I think our guys have definitely hit enough.

"I think we're ready to go. You'll always be able to argue that point, if something happens and we don't win. But at the same time I look at it, I think we're ready to go."

Manuel will send ace lefthander Cole Hamels to the mound in Game One. The 24-year-old has been stellar in the playoffs, allowing three runs over 22 innings and picking up the win in all three of his outings.

"It's just being able to go out there and feel comfortable," Hamels said. "I have eight guys behind me that are going to stay in there. They believe in me. I know all this hard work that I've done for the past couple of days, just being able to go out there and make a pitch is something that I know I'm capable of doing. And I think that's all I can really focus on."

Hamels will have to face the designated hitter in Game One, likely to be switch-hitter Willy Aybar, who has hit .367 (11-for-30) in the playoffs with a pair of homers and seven RBI.

"From a pitching standpoint going into an AL home team, the designated hitter can definitely come into effect," Hamels said. "I know with the pitcher if you get into a jam and you know the pitcher is coming up, you have a feeling you can get out of it. When you come into an AL team, and you're facing a No. 9 hitter that can get 10 home runs, 15 home runs, knock in 60 or 80 RBIs, it's a lot different than a pitcher standing there. It makes things tougher."

The Rays will counter with their own 24-year-old lefthander, Scott Kazmir. After struggling in his first two postseason starts, Kazmir allowed two hits in six scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the ALCS.

"It's definitely a confidence booster, going into this next game, because it kind of felt like I didn't have too many pitches," Kazmir said. "It felt like I had one pitch and my secondary pitch was a changeup that I didn't really feel too confident in. And with this last game under my belt, it felt like all the pitches were working good, everything was feeling comfortable for me, and I was able to throw all my pitches, even behind in the count, and be able to work both sides of the plate. I feel like I can feed off from my last start."