In the realm of championship competitions, it’s important to note that victory or defeat doesn’t solely lie on the shoulders of a single player. We’re not dealing with a scenario similar to the NBA, where individual prowess can dictate the outcome. In the realm of sports, each individual in a team holds a crucial role, like a vital cog in a complex machinery. Whenever two opponents face off, it boils down to a battle of skills and abilities between two individuals. It’s important to remember that, no matter how great a player may be, it’s impossible to achieve a miraculous victory in a single play.
We must remind you that neither Ted Williams nor Barry Bonds won a World Series.
However, it should be noted that the presence of a single player can still have a significant impact on the outcome of a series. Certainly, for their respective teams to secure victory in this World Series, it is imperative that Corbin Carroll and Corey Seager, acknowledged as the top players, deliver exceptional performances. However, the key players in this series will be the ones who aren’t featured in every game promo.
In this series, let’s examine eight players, four from each team, who have the potential to be the most crucial. We have categorized them for better analysis.
Category 1: The Stars In this category, we will be discussing all things related to the stars. From the mysteries of the night sky to the scientific study of these celestial bodies, we will explore their brilliance and significance. Join us on this astronomical journey as we delve into the captivating world of the stars.
Marcus Semien, a second baseman for the Rangers, is often described as underrated. However, this statement partially overlooks his achievements. Notably, Semien has finished in the top three of MVP voting on two occasions and is likely to receive votes once again this year. Therefore, it is hard to argue that he remains truly underrated. However, despite being part of a star-studded team that often recruits top-tier players through free agency, Semien has had minimal impact in the postseason despite his impressive performances during the regular season. Against Tampa Bay, he only managed to achieve a 1-for-9 record. In the games played against Baltimore, his performance improved slightly with a 3-for-14 record.
However, when facing the Astros, he struggled even more, only achieving a 6-for-29 record. This season, Semien showcased his power with a total of 29 home runs, while also displaying his speed by stealing 14 bases. This October, he doesn’t possess any of them at all. This MVP-level player has been struggling for a whole month. In the realm of talent possessed by the Rangers, Semien holds the esteemed position of being the driving force behind the team’s success. It is crucial to motivate him and get him started.
Christian Walker, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was previously recognized as the individual tasked with succeeding the esteemed franchise icon, Paul Goldschmidt, at the first base position. However, during the past two years, he has proven to be almost as good as Goldschmidt, ranking fourth in WAR among first basemen, according to FanGraphs. That’s higher in ranking than standout players like Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., just to cite a few examples. Despite his exceptional defense continuing this October, his batting performance has disappeared.
This season, the top player in home runs for Arizona was Walker, who hit a remarkable total of 33. In the NLDS, he managed to hit one homer against the Dodgers; however, his overall performance in the series was lackluster with a 2-for-9 record. Things took a turn for the worse in the NLCS, where he faced significant difficulties, only hitting 2-for-22.
The D-backs deserve a great deal of credit for making it to the World Series, even though one of their most dependable power hitters has contributed very little. However, it proves to be a difficult task to discover a route for them to emerge victorious in this series without Walker reverting back to his usual form.
