Red Sox v. Angels ALDS Discussion

[Cocos Disciples]

Now that the Sox are officially in the postseason, I figured we should have a thread to discuss to first round before it starts on 10/8 (assuming the Yankees choose Series A).

 

The pitching matchups will likely be:

 

10/8: Lester v. Lackey

10/9: Beckett v. Weaver

10/11: Buchholz v. Kazmir

10/12: Matsuzaka v. Saunders (if necessary)

10/14: Lester v. Lackey (if necessary)

 

I'll put the rosters in this post when they're announced, but the projected lineups are:

 

Red Sox:

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

2B Dustin Pedroia

C Victor Martinez

1B Kevin Youkilis

DH David Ortiz

LF Jason Bay

3B Mike Lowell

RF J.D. Drew

SS Alex Gonzalez

 

Angels:

3B Chone Figgins

SS Erick Aybar

RF Bobby Abreu

DH Vladimir Guerrero

CF Torii Hunter

1B Kendry Morales

LF Juan Rivera

2B Howie Kendrick

C Mike Napoli

 

Lineups obviously could and will be different some games.

 

By the way, this thread is for discussion, predictions and general excitement/anticipation.

[BoSox21]

Napoli is gonna play over Mathis, for one thing...

[Cocos Disciples]

I always get those two confused. Thanks.

[RWTP24]

Wouldn't Lester being starting in game four (if necessary)?

 

I really do not see Tito going with a four man rotation, but that is my opinion.

[Cocos Disciples]

According to the Herald article that reported Lester starting game one, Matsuzaka would likely pitch Game 4, IIRC.

[RWTP24]

According to the Herald article that reported Lester starting game one' date=' Matsuzaka would likely pitch Game 4, IIRC.[/quote']

 

Oh ok. Thank you.

[BoSox21]

Wouldn't Lester being starting in game four (if necessary)

 

He should.

[BSN07]

I would have to say the pitching match ups look to favor the Red Sox the 1st 2 games.

[RWTP24]

I would have to say the pitching match ups look to favor the Red Sox the 1st 2 games.

 

If we play Red Sox baseball, I see the Sox winning in four games.

[Ray10]

If we play Red Sox baseball' date=' I see the Sox winning in four games.[/quote']

 

 

Couldn't agree more with you. I like the way our pitching matches up with that of the Angels and if the bats are going like they can the Sox are dangerous.

[Dojji]

The key is going to be keeping runners off the basepaths and controlling the running game.

[Dipre]

The key is going to be keeping runners off the basepaths and controlling the running game.

 

Good luck with number 2.

[TheKilo]

Keep in mind that the rotations will not be set until the Yankees choose which series they want, it's entirely possible they take the short series to miss Verlander as much as possible.

 

If the Sox are up 2-1, Dice pitches game 4. If it's an elimination game, Lester will take the hill.

[yankees228]

Keep in mind that the rotations will not be set until the Yankees choose which series they want, it's entirely possible they take the short series to miss Verlander as much as possible.

 

If the Sox are up 2-1, Dice pitches game 4. If it's an elimination game, Lester will take the hill.

 

Won't matter with Verlander. If he starts Game 1, along with CC, that limits both of them to two starts on regular rest (if it goes five games). If he starts Game 2 (currently lined up for that), he would still be eligible to pitch two games on regular rest. They will almost certainly choose the longer series.

[Keeper]

The key is going to be keeping runners off the basepaths and controlling the running game.

 

Not possible with Tek and VMart.

[YAZMAN]

More than anything else right now I'd like to see a little spark somewhere and have the team get a little mo going in. The Sox never seem to do well when they just limp in.

[RWTP24]

More than anything else right now I'd like to see a little spark somewhere and have the team get a little mo going in. The Sox never seem to do well when they just limp in.

 

I could not agree more. I would love to see the Sox win four in a row going into the playoffs. That would give us a little MO going in.

[redsoxrules]

I could not agree more. I would love to see the Sox win four in a row going into the playoffs. That would give us a little MO going in.

 

it dosent matter if we win 4 in a row or lose 10 in a row . its starts all over

 

I'd actually rather see them lose 10 in a row so that way they'll be waaaaay overdue for a win LOL

[RWTP24]

it dosent matter if we win 4 in a row or lose 10 in a row . its starts all over

 

I'd actually rather see them lose 10 in a row so that way they'll be waaaaay overdue for a win LOL

 

For some reason this would scare me going into the playoffs losing 10 in a row.

 

I am going to stick with the win four in a row. :thumbsup:

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

IIRC St. Louis nearly blew the division in 2006 in the final week, each game having a chance to clinch. And they won it all.

 

Limping in or flying in, it doesn't matter. If anything, maybe the Angels come in have their guard down knowing we've lost 10 in a row, or have a poor record going into the playoffs. If not that, maybe they end up trying too hard not to be the streak-snapper, and start playing erratically.

[Cocos Disciples]

Detroit lost 5 straight going into the playoffs in 2006 and went to the WS.

 

EDIT: J_E, the Cards also lost 8 of 11 going into the playoffs.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I see us as a much better team here. The Angels (as constructed) are the type of team that does very well in the regular season due to a solid lineup of around ~.800 OPS hitters and 3.80-4.50 ERA SP that are consistent. But their only real impact bat is probably Morales and Weaver/Lackey are solid pitchers but not of the ace variety like Beckett/Lester are. Furthermore their bullpen has zero high-power arms like the Sox do with Bard/Papelbon/Wagner. Once we get their starters out we're going to really open things up.

 

Sox in 3 or 4

[Dojji]

Both teams are weak against the best game of the other. We have a lot of smart but low-range infielders rendering us weak against little ball, and they can be pitched to and don't have a good bullpen meaning we'll do our best work with power in late innings..

 

It comes down to who's better able to impose their will on the other team in the playoffs.

[TheKilo]

I see us as a much better team here. The Angels (as constructed) are the type of team that does very well in the regular season due to a solid lineup of around ~.800 OPS hitters and 3.80-4.50 ERA SP that are consistent. But their only real impact bat is probably Morales and Weaver/Lackey are solid pitchers but not of the ace variety like Beckett/Lester are. Furthermore their bullpen has zero high-power arms like the Sox do with Bard/Papelbon/Wagner. Once we get their starters out we're going to really open things up.

 

Sox in 3 or 4

 

I'm with you, and I'll make it even simpler.

 

Sox have strikeout, power pitchers, both in their rotation and in their bullpen.

 

Angels do not.

 

Sox in 4.

[Dojji]

I'm with you, and I'll make it even simpler.

 

Sox have strikeout, power pitchers, both in their rotation and in their bullpen.

 

Angels do not.

 

Sox in 4.

 

The Red Sox also have a lot of strikeout power hitters and the Angels do not.

 

Just sayin'.

[yeszir]

I think it's a fact that the Angels can't beat the Red Sox in the playoffs.

[Dojji]

Oh, they'll beat us eventually. Law of averages if nothing else.

 

I do think we have a superior roster though.

[TheKilo]

The Red Sox also have a lot of strikeout power hitters and the Angels do not.

 

Just sayin'.

 

In the summer yeah

 

October nights in Boston? hmmmm

 

Also, law of averages is a logical fallacy.

[Dojji]

Also, law of averages is a logical fallacy.

 

[Captain_Obvious]

Depends on how you use it.

 

Anything that is possible will happen eventually, given unlimited opportunities to do so.

 

If you're saying a .250 hitter on the season, who is usually a .300 hitter, will hit so well he winds up with a cumulative .300 average that's an abuse of the law of averages. If you argue he has a good chance of hitting up to his career averages from this point forward and there's no known reason for the change, that's better.

 

In this case there's no known cause that's good enough to explain away the possibility of the Angels eventually beating us. That being the case, we have an the same chance to beat the Angels as we would any other team with a similar roster.

[/Captain_Obvious]

[TheKilo]

That's not the context you used it in, though.