Contrary to popular belief, baseball's payroll imbalance did not dictate this year's world championship. Neither the San Francisco Giants nor the Anaheim Angels, with their payrolls ranked 10th and 15th respectively, were favorites at the beginning of the season. But here they are, the final two teams playing for the World Series title.

Instead of just three or four teams, I thought at least 12 had a chance at some point in the season of being in the World Series -- Anaheim, Oakland, New York, Boston, Minnesota and Seattle in the American League, and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Arizona, St. Louis, Atlanta and Houston in the National League.

Bye-bye, Baker?

Because Dusty Baker doesn't have a contract beyond this season, we will probably hear questions everyday during the World Series about where he will be managing next season, whether it is in San Francisco or somewhere else. In 10 seasons, Dusty had led the Giants to the playoffs three times, has won more than 90 games five times and has made the franchise a lot of money. Before the Giants moved to Pac Bell Park, he kept baseball alive at Candlestick Park when it had become dead there. Dusty is the best manager in baseball. He got past Bobby Cox in the Division Series and Tony La Russa in the NLCS, two of the game's better managers. But when does Dusty get the credit? I don't expect him back in San Francisco. It's a matter of respect. -- Joe Morgan

Major League Baseball is getting closer to a word the NFL likes to use: parity. While I don't like the word, it describes what happens when there are no dominant teams. The Yankees were an elite team, but other teams -- especially the Giants and the Angels -- worked hard to close the gap, despite the payroll disparity.

Will baseball fans embrace an all-California World Series? They may react in a lukewarm manner, as they did when the Yankees and Mets met in the Subway Series in 2000, or when the A's and the Giants faced each other in 1989. In terms of interest, the best World Series matchups come when the two teams are from opposite coasts, developing an East-West rivalry.

However, the Giants and the Angels have intriguing stories and personalities to make for a compelling Series. Look at the managers: the Giants' Dusty Baker and the Angels' Mike Scioscia each played for the Dodgers, but they were denied chances to manage them. Yet they moved on and are now leading separate teams to the World Series.

People may think the biggest question is, "Will Barry Bonds win his first championship?" But more important than Bonds winning the World Series is him getting there in the first place. The main criticism surrounding Barry has been about his ability to lead a team to the World Series, and Bonds is the reason the Giants are in the World Series. He has done enough to remove the burden and answer his critics.

While Barry wants to win the championship and it will matter how he performs, he won't face the same criticism if the Giants lose. No one should say he has to win a championship because not every great player can. Ted Williams didn't. A lot of players get to the World Series and don't win, yet they still have a sense of accomplishment.

Being in the Series should not enhance Bonds' status as one of the game's greatest players. He already was. What a player does over 162 games every year is more important than what he does in 10-12 playoff games -- or, in his case, five postseasons until this year. Whose playing career would you rather have, Bonds' or Billy Martin's? Martin performed great in the World Series, but not over a 154-game schedule.

Bonds put it best when he said he was in great shape once he got past the ghosts of Atlanta. The Braves have been his main nemesis, first with the Pirates in 1991 and 1992, and then with the Giants in 1993, when the Braves beat them out for the NL West title. Once the Giants knocked off Atlanta in the Division Series, Bonds felt he would go to the World Series.

Bonds is different from the player he was in past postseasons and from any player we've ever seen. Just look at how relaxed he is in the batter's box. In the past, Barry wasn't always the best player on the field. Sometimes, it would be Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine or John Smoltz.

Although Barry thought he was good before, now he knows it -- no matter who is pitching. He knows he is better than any other player on the field every night. And he will be the best player on the field every day of the World Series. He knows it. The Giants know it. The Angels know it. And the world knows it.

At the same time, I don't expect the Angels to adhere to the normal strategy and walk Bonds every chance they get. The Angels will pitch to him, at least in the beginning. Why? Because they will be upholding the integrity of the American League, and that carries some weight. The Angels feel they have good players in their league -- and on their team.

While Bonds didn't face Anaheim in interleague play this year, he did in 2001 and went 5-for-11 with two home runs. Still, the Angels will test him. And if Barry starts doing what Barry does against Jarrod Washburn in Game 1, then they will stop pitching to him.

Bonds and the Giants will get their first look Saturday at the Rally Monkey, which has become a phenomenon in Anaheim. When I first started broadcasting games there, the people would just bring their Rally Monkeys to the ballpark. Now they are either wearing them around their necks or incorporating them into their wardrobes. The Thunderstix also came alive in Anaheim, helping the fans stay into the game. The Angels fans want everyone to know they are part of the team's success, and they will be even more hyped up for Game 1.

The more I saw of the Angels during the season, the more impressed I became. As Chuck Dee, who wrote our ESPN Sunday Night Baseball theme song, says -- "They go nine." They play with a high level of intensity and keep coming at teams for nine innings. The Angels struck out fewer times than any team in the major leagues this season. They put the ball in play and force defenses to make plays.

Scioscia's philosophy is different from Baker's. Scioscia likes to hit-and-run, bunt, steal, squeeze -- everything. Playing with an older roster, Baker is more limited. He can't run or steal as many bases, so he leans more on power. I like both managers and feel they will get the most from the pitching staffs.

Starting out in the AL park is to the Giants' advantage. During the regular season, they hit better on the road (5.3 runs per game) than they did at home (4.4), and that trend continued in the playoffs. But the DH factor in Anaheim doesn't favor the Giants. For example, against the left-handed Washburn in Game 1, their right-handed choices are Pedro Feliz, Shawon Dunston, Tsuyoshi Shinjo or Ramon E. Martinez.

Still, with Bonds' presence in the lineup and on baseball's grandest stage, the Giants should win the Series. In addition, Kenny Lofton likes the big stage and is not afraid to be the star. I saw it when he was in Cleveland and in this year's playoffs as well. He may not be the player he once was, but he enjoys the spotlight -- and, believe it or not, it will be shining on the Giants and the Angels this year.

Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan, along with Jon Miller, will be broadcasting every game of the World Series for ESPN Radio. Don't miss Joe's appearance on a special episode of "The George Lopez Show" on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Joe will appear with Hall of Famers Jim Palmer, Steve Garvey and Rod Carew.