How to build the 2008 World Series champion

It’s likely impossible to locate a person who predicted a Tampa Bay-Philadelphia World Series matchup. Coming into the year, Tampa Bay was an improving club with some intriguing potential, but anybody who tells you that they were an actual threat is undoubtedly joking. As for Philadelphia, they were known to have talent, but with no huge additions to the club, and with center fielder Aaron Rowand being a notable subtraction, they were thought to still be a strong offensive club that lacked pitching. Needless to say, both teams still managed to improve this season.

So who wins? Im not too worried about that. Give me six or seven great games, and I can live with either team hoisting the trophy. What Im more concerned about today is how these teams got to their rosters that have led them this close to the proverbial promised land. The prevailing consensus on Tampa Bay was that they built this team through the draft, as is likely assumed by the fact that the team still consists of a composition of relative no-names. The Phillies, meanwhile, have star power on both sides of the ball and have won the past two National League MVP awards. A closer look at both rosters, however, indicates that neither team built themselves quite the way one would think.

Yes, the Rays have historically stunk. Yes, that means that theyve held a number of high draft picks throughout their existence. That does not necessarily mean that this is how Tampa Bay became a successful club. Upon examining their typical starting lineup, four-man rotation, and their three most vital relievers (with ALCS hero David Price replacing injured regular season closer Troy Percival), Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, and Price were the only first-round picks playing a vital role on the team. While its true that the organization essentially raised another first-rounder in Scott Kazmir, he was acquired via (ridiculously one-sided) trade early in his career. Only three other vital Rays players were drafted by the team whatsoever in second-rounder Carl Crawford, 13th-rounder Andy Sonnanstine, and 16th-rounder James Shields.

More of the 16 players examined here on the Rays roster were acquired via trade than drafted. The two most notable players on this list are starting pitchers Kazmir and Matt Garza. Kazmir made it to the Rays at the 2004 trading deadline, as he was acquired in a highway robbery for journeyman Victor Zambrano. Garza was traded for just prior to the season in a deal that also included former first overall pick Delmon Young, in a deal that also included starting shortstop Jason Bartlett. In separate deals, the Rays also traded for Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross, Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour.

The Rays have been extremely quiet in the traditional form of building a powerhouse: Free agency. Carlos Pena and Cliff Floyd are the only two players to come to the team through the normal free agency process, and both were bargain signings for the potential they provided. The Rays also made the relatively quite purchase of second baseman Akinori Iwamura from Japans Yakult Swallows prior to the 2007 season, while the rest of baseball watched with fascination the signing of Japanese superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka with the Boston Red Sox.

Now comes the surprising news: In taking a look at the 15 most vital players on the Phillies roster, eight of them were drafted by the team, compared to only six for the Rays. In addition, there are more first round selections, as Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers all fit that description. Second-rounder Jimmy Rollins, fifth-round selection Ryan Howard, ninth-round choice Ryan Madson, and Rule 5 selection Shane Victorino round out that group. Until recently, the Phillies were especially quiet on the trade market, with Jamie Moyer being the rosters only vital player acquired via that route (for two still-unheard-of minor leaguers) prior to the completion of the 2007 season. GM Pat Gillick slightly remedied that problem after last year, trading for this seasons best closer, Brad Lidge, and for solidification to his rotation, with Joe Blanton coming over from Oakland.

Free agency has been slightly more of a standby in Philadelphia, with Carlos Ruiz, Pedro Feliz, Jayson Werth and J.C. Romero coming to the team in that way.

So there you have it: The Phillies are more of a homegrown club than the Rays are. So if youre a fan who likes cheering for the club who built themselves from scratch, this week, make sure your attentions turned to the Cradle of Liberty.