MLB 2008

Major League Baseball
season	2008
Period	March 25 - October 29, 2008
Regular season
Season MVP AL	Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
Season MVP NL	Albert Pujols (STL)
Postseason
AL Champion	Tampa Bay Rays
Second AL	Boston Red Sox
NL champion	Philadelphia Phillies
Second NL	Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series
champion	Philadelphia Phillies
MVP	Cole Hamels (PHI)
Playing times
◄ 2007 2009 ►

The 2008 MLB season began on March 25, 2008 with an opening game between the defending champions Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo , Japan, and ended on October 29, 2008 with the completion of Game 5 of the 2008 World Series in Philadelphia .

At the start of the season, 30 teams competed in Major League Baseball , with each team playing 162 games in the regular season. An exception are the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins , who showed the identical result after 162 games and therefore had to play a playoff. At the end of the season, the Philadelphia Phillies won the title with a 4-1 win in the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays .

The 2008 MLB season was the eighth season in a row in which the defending champion could not repeat his success from the previous year.

The MLB All-Star Game took place on July 15 at Yankee Stadium in New York City . The selection of the American League won 4: 3 after 15 innings against the National League .

Regular season

→ For an explanation of match operations and the tables, see: Season 2009

American League

Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers) finished the regular season with 37 home runs . Most in the AL.

After the end of the regular season, the following placements resulted in the American League:

East Division

PS	franchise	W.	L.	Pct.	GB	home	Away
2	Tampa Bay Rays	97	65	.599	-	57-24	40-41
WC	Boston Red Sox	95	67	.586	2	56-25	39-42
	New York Yankees	89	73	.549	8th	48-33	41-40
	Toronto Blue Jays	86	76	.531	11	47-34	39-42
	Baltimore Orioles	68	93	.421	28½	37-43	31-50

PS = postseason; Number = rank on the seeding list or WC = wild card (best runner-up of all divisions)

W = Wins (victories), L = Losses (defeats), GB = Games Behind (behind leaders: number of necessary defeats for the leader while simultaneously winning)

Central Division

PS	franchise	W.	L.	Pct.	GB	home	Away
3	Chicago White Sox	89	74	.546	-	54-28	35-46
	Minnesota Twins	88	75	.540	1	53-28	35-47
	Cleveland Indians	81	81	.500	7½	45-36	36-45
	Kansas City Royals	75	87	.463	13½	38-43	37-44
	Detroit Tigers	74	88	.457	14½	40-41	34-47

Explanations: see AL East Division

West Division

PS	franchise	W.	L.	Pct.	GB	home	Away
1	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	100	62	.617	-	50-31	50-31
	Texas Rangers	79	83	.488	21st	40-41	39-42
	Oakland Athletics	75	86	.466	24½	43-38	32-47
	Seattle Mariners	61	101	.377	39	35-46	26-55

Explanations: see AL East Division

National League

Tim Lincecum (San Francisco Giants) managed 265 strikeouts in the regular season. Most of them.

After the end of the regular season, the National League ranked as follows:

East Division

PS	franchise	W.	L.	Pct.	GB	home	Away
2	Philadelphia Phillies	92	70	.568	-	48-33	44-37
	New York Mets	89	73	.549	3	48-33	41-40
	Florida marlins	84	77	.522	7½	45-36	39-41
	Atlanta Braves	72	90	.444	20th	43-38	29-52
	Washington Nationals	59	102	.366	32½	34-46	25-56

Explanations: see AL East Division

Central Division

PS	franchise	W.	L.	Pct.	GB	home	Away
1	Chicago Cubs	97	64	.602	-	55-26	42-38
WC	Milwaukee Brewers	90	72	.556	7½	49-32	41-40
	Houston Astros	86	75	.534	11	47-33	39-42
	St. Louis Cardinals	86	76	.531	11½	46-35	40-41
	Cincinnati Reds	74	88	.457	23½	43-38	31-50
	Pittsburgh Pirates	67	95	.414	30½	39-42	28-53

Explanations: see AL East Division

West Division

PS	franchise	W.	L.	Pct.	GB	home	Away
3	Los Angeles Dodgers	84	78	.519	-	48-33	36-45
	Arizona Diamondbacks	82	80	.506	2	48-33	34-47
	Colorado Rockies	74	88	.457	10	43-38	31-50
	San Francisco Giants	72	90	.444	12	37-44	35-46
	San Diego Padres	63	99	.389	21st	35-46	28-53

Explanations: see AL East Division

Postseason

overview

	League Division Series					League Championship Series					World Series
	1	Anaheim Angels	1
	4th	Boston Red Sox	3
						4th	Boston Red Sox	3
	American League
						2	Tampa Bay Rays	4th
	2	Tampa Bay Rays	3
	3	Chicago White Sox	1
											AL2	Tampa Bay Rays	1
											NL2	Philadelphia Phillies	4th
	1	Chicago Cubs	0
	3	LA Dodgers	3
						3	LA Dodgers	1
	National League
						2	Philadelphia Phillies	4th
	2	Philadelphia Phillies	3
	4th	Milwaukee Brewers	1

ALDS, NLDS (Division Series): Best-of-Five; ALCS, NLCS (Championship Series): Best-of-Seven

Division Series

From October 1 to October 6, 2008, the four duels in the American League Division Series and the National League Division Series took place. The Anaheim Angels and the Tampa Bay Rays were able to secure qualification for the American League Championship Series . The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies reached the National League Championship Series .

ALDS

The White Sox celebrate the win after the playoff against the Twins

The American League Division Series, the first round of the play-offs in the American League, started on October 1 and ended on October 6, 2008. The Boston Red Sox, who came into the play-offs through the wildcard rule, defeated the favored Anaheim Angels 3-1, the Tampa Bay Rays also won 3-1 against the Chicago White Sox. The team from Chicago had to play a playoff game against the Minnesota Twins to reach the postseason, as both teams had ended the regular season with identical results (88-74). Thanks to a home run by Jim Thome in the seventh inning, the White Sox were able to win the game 1-0 and thus secure participation in the ALDS.

game	date	guest	Score	home	Score	Total status (BOS - LAA)	Ball park	spectator
1	October 1, 2008	Boston Red Sox	4th	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	1	1–0	Angel Stadium of Anaheim	44.996
2	October 3, 2008	Boston Red Sox	7th	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	5	2–0	Angel Stadium of Anaheim	45.354
3	October 5, 2008	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	5	Boston Red Sox	4th	2–1	Fenway Park	39,067
4th	October 6, 2008	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	2	Boston Red Sox	3	3–1	Fenway Park	38,785
Red Sox win 3-1

game	date	guest	Score	home	Score	Total status (CWS - TB)	Ball park	spectator
1	October 2, 2008	Chicago White Sox	4th	Tampa Bay Rays	6th	0-1	Tropicana Field	35,041
2	October 3, 2008	Chicago White Sox	2	Tampa Bay Rays	6th	0-2	Tropicana Field	35,257
3	October 5, 2008	Tampa Bay Rays	3	Chicago White Sox	5	1-2	US Cellular Field	40,142
4th	October 6, 2008	Tampa Bay Rays	6th	Chicago White Sox	2	1-3	US Cellular Field	40,454
Rays win 3-1

NLDS

Manny Ramirez hit two home runs for the Dodgers

The National League Division Series, the first round of the play-offs, started on October 1 and ended on October 5, 2008. There was a big surprise in the duel between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. The Los Angeles outsider was able to celebrate his first victory in a postseason series since winning the World Series in 1988 with a 3-0 sweep . As expected, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 games, but the Phillies also had to wait a long time for this success. For them it was the first winning postseason series since 1993.

game	date	guest	Score	home	Score	Total status (LAD- CHC)	Ball park	spectator
1	October 1, 2008	Los Angeles Dodgers	7th	Chicago Cubs	2	1–0	Wrigley Field	42,099
2	October 2, 2008	Los Angeles Dodgers	10	Chicago Cubs	3	2–0	Wrigley Field	42,136
3	October 4, 2008	Chicago Cubs	1	Los Angeles Dodgers	3	3–0	Dodger Stadium	56,000
Dodgers win 3-0

game	date	guest	Score	home	Score	Total status (MIL - PHI)	Ball park	spectator
1	October 2, 2008	Milwaukee Brewers	1	Philadelphia Phillies	3	0-1	Citizens Bank Park	45,929
2	October 3, 2008	Milwaukee Brewers	2	Philadelphia Phillies	5	0-2	Citizens Bank Park	46.208
3	October 5, 2008	Philadelphia Phillies	1	Milwaukee Brewers	4th	1-2	Miller Park	43.992
4th	October 6, 2008	Philadelphia Phillies	6th	Milwaukee Brewers	2	1-3	Miller Park	43,934
Phillies win 3-1

Championship Series

From October 9th to October 19th, 2008 the participants for the World Series were determined in the two Championship Series. The Tampa Bay Rays won the American League title in seven games. The Philadelphia Phillies became sovereign champions of the National League.

ALCS

Evan Longoria scored one of seven home runs in Game 2

The American League Championship Series, the second round of the play-offs in the American League, started on October 10th and ended on October 19, 2008. The best-of-seven series went over the full number of games. The Tampa Bay Rays were already 3-1 after four games, but the Boston Red Sox were able to win game 6 in Tampa after their home win in Game 5. Ultimately, Tampa Bay was able to prevail in Game 7 in front of the home crowd. Matt Garza , pitcher of the Rays, was voted MVP of the series . It was the Rays' first participation in the ALCS in the history of the franchise .

game	date	guest	Score	home	Score	Total status (BOS - TB)	Ball park	spectator
1	October 10, 2008	Boston Red Sox	2	Tampa Bay Rays	0	1–0	Tropicana Field	35.001
2	October 11, 2008	Boston Red Sox	8th	Tampa Bay Rays	9	1-1	Tropicana Field	34,904
3	October 13, 2008	Tampa Bay Rays	9	Boston Red Sox	1	1-2	Fenway Park	38,031
4th	October 14, 2008	Tampa Bay Rays	13	Boston Red Sox	4th	1-3	Fenway Park	38.133
5	October 16, 2008	Tampa Bay Rays	7th	Boston Red Sox	8th	2-3	Fenway Park	38,437
6th	October 18, 2008	Boston Red Sox	4th	Tampa Bay Rays	2	3–3	Tropicana Field	40,947
7th	October 19, 2008	Boston Red Sox	1	Tampa Bay Rays	3	3-4	Tropicana Field	40,473
Rays win 4-3

NLCS

Cole Hamels , MVP of the NLCS

The National League Championship Series, the second round of the play-offs in the National League, started on October 9 and ended on October 15, 2008. The winners of the Best-Of-Seven series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies were the , due to their much better regular season, the Phillies favored. The team from Philadelphia was able to prevail with 4-1 wins and thus secure their first participation in a World Series since 1993 . Pitcher Cole Hamels was chosen as the MVP of the series .

game	date	guest	Score	home	Score	Total status (LAD - PHI)	Ball park	spectator
1	October 9, 2008	Los Angeles Dodgers	2	Philadelphia Phillies	3	0-1	Citizens Bank Park	45,839
2	October 10, 2008	Los Angeles Dodgers	5	Philadelphia Phillies	8th	0-2	Citizens Bank Park	45,883
3	October 12, 2008	Philadelphia Phillies	2	Los Angeles Dodgers	7th	1-2	Dodger Stadium	56,800
4th	October 13, 2008	Philadelphia Phillies	7th	Los Angeles Dodgers	5	1-3	Dodger Stadium	56,800
5	October 15, 2008	Philadelphia Phillies	5	Los Angeles Dodgers	1	1-4	Dodger Stadium	56,800
Phillies win 4-1

World Series

→ Main article: World Series 2008

The Best-Of-Seven series started on October 22, 2008 and ended on October 29, 2008. The NLCS winner, the Philadelphia Phillies, won the series 4-1 games against the Tampa Bay Rays. For MVP of the World Series was Cole Hamels selected.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Game 1 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
2. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Game 2 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
3. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox - Game 3 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
4. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox - Game 4 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
5. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Game 1 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
6. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Game 2 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
7. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox - Game 3 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
8. ↑ 2008 ALDS - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox - Game 4 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
9. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 1 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
10. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 2 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
11. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 3 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
12. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 1 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
13. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 2 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
14. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 3 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
15. ↑ 2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 4 . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
16. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 1 - Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
17. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 2 - Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
18. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 3 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
19. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 4 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
20. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 5 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
21. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 6 - Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
22. ↑ 2008 ALCS Game 7 - Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
23. ↑ 2008 NLCS Game 1 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
24. ↑ 2008 NLCS Game 2 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
25. ↑ 2008 NLCS Game 3 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
26. ↑ 2008 NLCS Game 4 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
27. ↑ 2008 NLCS Game 5 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers . Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.