Play Ball! 5 Reasons to Watch the 2010 MLB World Series

Predictions? Oh yeah, we got 'em. How about, "The World Series will begin tonight!" A safe bet? Breaking news-style catastrophes notwithstanding, we think so. A bold prognostication? No, but given our track record forecasting this year's MLB Playoffs, we're sticking with the sure shots. To wit: we had both the Yankees ("superior at every position except centerfield") and Phillies ("some of the most professional hitters in the sport") winning their LCS matchups in 6 games (they both lost in 6). And then there's this doozy from our Division Series preview: "If Rangers' ace Cliff Lee (he's been injured and inconsistent the second half of the year) can hold his own against Price tomorrow, this will be interesting. My guess is he won't though..." So yeah, when it comes to the World Series, we'll just stick with "If they play, they'll wear hats."

But just because we don't know what's going to happen doesn't mean this Rangers-Giants Fall Classic isn't going to be, well, classic. One city is going to celebrate its first World Series championship (the Giants won a few in New York, but haven't since moving to San Francisco in '58; the Rangers have never won), we'll get to see Josh Hamilton face off against Tim Lincecum (and Matt Cain), and it'll all happen in beautiful ballparks. Those are three great reasons to watch this year's World Series; see below for five more.

Complex says: The first pitch of each of the first three games of this Series will be thrown while the sun's still out. Yes, that's primarily because San Francisco's hosting Games 1 and 2 (they both start at 7:57 eastern), but it's also because MLB is making a half-hearted attempt to make Game 3 a kinda-sorta day game. For more than two decades baseball has been so scared of scheduling the World Series (you know, its BIGGEST FRICKIN' GAMES) against football that it's completely abdicated October weekend afternoons to the NFL and college football. Now Bud Selig and co. are going to try to squeeze a Saturday evening game in between the marquee college football matchups. Somewhere, a TV exec with half a nut is thinking of bidding on the MLB Playoffs and starting every weekend game at 3 pm. We hope it happens, unfortunately for baseball fans, we're worried that exec is working for Versus.

Complex says: In the World Series there's no designated hitter in games played in the National League park, so Texas DH Bad Vlad Guerrero will have to either a) play the field, or b) sit. It looks like Rangers manager Ron Washington is going to go with the former for Game 1 at least, and while Guerrero is one of the most entertaining players in baseball (no batting gloves, swings at any pitch in the same time zone he's in), he also runs like the "before" guy in a hemorrhoid cream commercial. Dude had an absolute cannon of an arm when he played right field for Montreal and the Angels, but you've got to get to the ball to throw it, and it'll be highly entertaining to watch him chug after balls hit to the outfield.

Complex says: Posey's the rookie catcher the Giants idiotically waited until May 29 to call up (thereby making the trade of catcher Bengie Molina—to the Rangers—possible); Andrus is the supposedly slick-fielding no-hit shortstop who's started his postseason career by hitting in all 11 games he's played in (while playing great defense as well). Both are among the game's more exciting players, period, and a big series by either will make for some very watchable baseball.

Complex says: OK, so this is one of the reasons we already gave, but we've got to reiterate: This is the best, most exciting, most entertaining player in baseball. He fractures ribs going after balls in center, runs the bases like a junkie chasing a fix (which, as you know, he used to actually do), and has a beautiful swing that he uses to hit for both power and average. He's that good, and even if the Giants walk him a ton, he'll still be that fun to watch.

Complex says: We're treading dangerously close to prediction territory here, but IF Hamilton continues to be a Bonds-like presence in the Rangers' lineup, IF Cliff Lee continues to stake a claim to being the best postseason pitcher ever (he's already in the top 10), and IF Rangers rookie closer Neftali Feliz is up to the task of his first high-leverage postseason work, then the Texas will (almost) undoubtedly win. And if they win, they'll spray ginger ale instead of champagne for their post-game celebration, in deference to Hamilton's alcohol problems and Twitter star C.J. Wilson's own straight edge lifestyle. And while ginger ale is definitely a "with" and not an "instead of" choice vis-a-vis liquor around these parts, we think that's pretty damn cool. Or at least more entertaining than the 49ers and Broncos playing in London.