World Series--Dodgers (Big Payroll) or Rays (Small Payroll)?

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series with a payroll of less than $30 million, when you factor in the shortened season. Compare that with the Los Angeles Dodgers who have paid three players about what the Rays pay in salary to their whole squad for the season.

Baseball Prospectus notes that during the previous 20 World Series, 18 teams that won those had payrolls bigger than half the squads. The Rays faced teams with enormous payrolls to get to the World Series--the Houston Astros, Yankees, and Dodgers. Wouldn't it be remarkable to see a team with a small payroll take on a payroll giant and win? While you're watching the World Series, get Suzy Beamer Bohnert's Game-Day Youth: Learning Baseball's Lingo to help you understand the game. Available at www.amazon.com and www.bn.com.