Take note, Phillies

FIVE THOUGHTS about this year's World Series, which begins tonight with the Giants' Madison Bumgarner squaring off against the Royals' James Shields:

1. The postseason is the ultimate in small samples. This is the first World Series in history to feature two teams who failed to reach 90 wins in a 162-game season. The Giants finished the regular season 45-53 in their final 98 games, while the Royals had two players finish the year with an OPS+ above league average (Lorenzo Cain at 108 and Alex Gordon at 117). More teams in the playoffs means lesser odds that the two most talented teams in baseball end up meeting in the World Series. The 2010 and 2011 Phillies certainly know that.

2. The Royals and the Giants are examples of teams that have been rebuilt in the manner that the Phillies will attempt to rebuild themselves over the next few years. And, to a certain extent, both teams lend some credence that you must hit rock bottom to return to the top. Note, in particular, the number of players on each team who were drafted in the top half of the first round. The Royals' roster includes first baseman Eric Hosmer (No. 3 overall, 2008), outfielder Alex Gordon (No. 2 overall, 2005), designated hitter Billy Butler (No. 14 overall, 2004) and reserve infielder Christian Colon (No. 4 overall, 2010). The Giants' roster includes pitcher Tim Lincecum (No. 10 overall, 2006), pitcher Madison Bumgarner (No. 10 overall, 2007) and catcher Buster Posey (No. 5 overall, 2008).

The Phillies will select at No. 10 overall in next June's draft. In the last two drafts, they landed shortstop J.P. Crawford at No. 16 and pitcher Aaron Nola at No. 7.

3. Both teams should serve as an inspiration to the Phillies as they attempt to cobble together a rotation for next season. The Giants' starters for Games 2 and 3 are both in their first season with the team: Tim Hudson was signed as a free agent last offseason, while Jake Peavy was acquired from the Red Sox via trade this summer. While the Royals have a couple of talented young arms in Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy, their regular-season rotation featured low-cost veterans Jeremy Guthrie and Jason Vargas, who combined to log 389 2/3 innings over 62 starts.

4. Speaking of the Phillies' rotation, A.J. Burnett must exercise his $12.75 million option for 2015 within 5 days of the end of the World Series. It would seem a wise business decision to do so: He can always decide to retire and walk away from the contract later in the offseason. Burnett was a workhorse in 2014, making 34 starts while logging 213 2/3 innings, but he walked an average of 4.0 batters per nine innings and posted a 4.59 ERA while losing a major league-high 18 games. He'll be 38 and coming off surgery to repair an inguinal hernia that he pitched will all season.

5. As the Phillies consider how to proceed with young players such as Cody Asche and Domonic Brown, it is worth considering some of the trials and tribulations endured by the Giants' and Royals' core leading up to this year. Take Royals outfielder Gordon, for example. From 2007-10, at ages 23-26, he hit .244/.328/.405 with 45 home runs in 1,642 plate appearances. From 2011-14, at ages 27-30, he hit .283/.356/.453 with 76 home runs in 2,754 plate appearances. Brown's career numbers as of the end of this season (his 26-year-old campaign): .248/.308/.412, 49 home runs, 1,544 plate appearances. On the Giants side, shortstop Brandon Crawford has improved steadily since breaking into the big leagues in 2011 at age 24. In his first three seasons, Crawford hit only .241/.304/.346 with 16 home runs in 1,246 plate appearances. This year, he hit .246/.324/.389 with 10 home runs in 564 PAs. On the other side of things is Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas, the No. 2 overall pick in 2007, who has hit only .236/.290/.379 with 52 home runs in 1,993 plate appearances in his first four seasons (Moustakas is 26).

Then there is Hosmer.

The Royals' 24-year-old first baseman has four full seasons under his belt: one good (.799 OPS, 19 home runs), followed by one bad (.663 OPS, 14 home runs), followed by one good (.801 OPS, 17 home runs), followed by one bad (.716 OPS, nine home runs). Good luck figuring that out.

Ed Barkowitz Giants in 7

Sam Donnellon Royals in 6

Marcus Hayes Royals in 6

Rich Hofmann Giants in 5

Ryan Lawrence Royals in 6

David Murphy Giants in 5

John Smallwood Royals in 6

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese