From Failure to Success: A Fall Classic showdown between teams with remarkable rags-to-riches seasons.

Oh, what a difference a year makes. This time last fall, Joe Maddon and Charlie Manuel were probably on the beach somewhere, washing away memories of yet another disappointing season. This time last fall, Scott Kazmir, Shane Victorino, James Shields, B.J. Upton, and Carlos Ruiz lived in anonymity. This time last fall, tainted beef was selling faster than Rays season tickets. This time last fall, if you were to tell someone that the Rays and Phillies would meet in the World Series, they would have immediately assumed you to be a absolutely hysterical stand-up comedian. But, one year later, this is no joke at all. The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays are about to fight for a World Series championship, and it should be baseball at its finest.

So how did these two teams rise to the top of the pack? Let's start with Tampa Bay. First of all, they got rid of the "Devil" in their name and sported a brand-new look. But seriously, if athletic prowess was measured by name changes and uniforms, Sean "Diddy" Combs would be the most dominant athlete in the world. The biggest reason for the Rays' spectacular year is their winning attitude, thanks in large part to manager Joe Maddon, a lock for AL Manager of the Year. Maddon did what Larry Rothschild, Hal McRae, and Lou Piniella were unable to do. From Day one, Maddon set high goals for his team, earning him a great deal of respect and inspiring confidence in his players. Contrary to popular belief, this franchise always had talent. However, the psychological burden of losing was too much to bear. Joe Maddon never appeared down and depressed, even during the dark times. He was always a steady leader in the clubhouse, and eventually, the wins did come.

And of course, there are the players. Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Akinori Iwamura, Grant Balfour, Jason Bartlett, Cliff Floyd, Carl Crawford, etc. They all had monster career years leading Tampa past heavyweights Boston and New York in the AL East, and their vast wealth of talent should have the Rays contending for many, many years.

The Phillies have also been very familiar with losing. They have lost more games than any other franchise in the history of Major League Baseball. They have not won the World Series in twenty-eight years. This year, though, things went differently. Shane Victorino, a.k.a. the Flying Hawaiian, emerged as the best secret weapon in the game. Cole Hamels established himself as an elite, big game pitcher. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins were a nightmare for pitchers, and Brad Lidge became the best closer in the game. And now, under the leadership of manager Charlie Manuel, they are four wins away from being crowned champions of the baseball world.

Two teams, two remarkable stories. Two teams desperate to take a swim in champagne once more. Two teams that are one step closer toward their ultimate goal. Two teams that are no longer associated with failure.