Fansided

Ryan Howard has message for fans doubting the Rays in World Series

By Braulio Perez

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 21: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on July 21, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins won 9-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 21: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on July 21, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins won 9-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Former MLB All-Star Ryan Howard thinks the World Series is going to be downright electric, and he doesn’t care for people thinking the Rays don’t have a shot. 

The World Series has officially arrived for Major League Baseball fans to enjoy, with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers all set to duke it out. For LA, they’re in the World Series for the third time in four years, while Tampa Bay is in the Fall Classic for the second time in franchise history.

On paper, a lot of folks out there think Los Angeles is going to run away with the title and Tampa Bay won’t be able to put up much of a fight. Former MLB slugger Ryan Howard has a message for those fans, as he thinks this series is going to be too close to call.

Ryan Howard believes the Rays have what it takes to win the World Series

Tampa Bay punched its ticket to the World Series after taking down the Astros in the ALCS, while the Dodgers beat the Braves on Sunday in Game 7 of their NLCS showdown. With everything on the line, Howard is a firm believer in this young Tampa Bay club.

“As experienced as the Dodgers are, don’t get it twisted,” Howard said. “The Rays are a team that have been putting up like 90 wins. Even though this has been a condensed season, I want to say in the last three seasons they’ve put up 90-plus wins. This is a team that knows how to win and this is a team that knows how to scratch and claw.”

As high as Howard is on the Rays, he’s also a fan of the Dodgers as well. Behind Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Clayton Kershaw and the other stars on the club, Howard understands there’s a reason Los Angeles is considered the heavy favorite to win it all.

“[You] Definitely look at the Dodgers for being [in the World Series] for the third time in four years,” he said. “Obviously with the Braves series, they showed a lot of resiliency in being able to bounce back. The Rays got out quick and mustered off a tough Astros team as well. I think it’ll be an evenly matched series and it’s cliche, but it’ll come down to who executes.”

Baseball fans can’t wait to see what these two teams can get done during the World Series. You better believe Howard is fired up to see how things unfold as well.

Ryan Howard spoke on behalf of The Scotts® Field Refurbishment Program which awards modern, playable youth baseball and softball field refurbishments to local communities each year. 

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