Red Sox and Cards Should Win, Emphasis Should!
When you get this far into the playoffs small mistakes can be made. You don’t have the pressure of the five game series which requires tough baseball 24/7.
The pitching staff is the key and I mean the whole staff. To win a seven gamer you need three or four in the bull pen plus at least two horses on the mound.
Boston has the two horses and I think a surprisingly decent bull pen anchored by Keith Foulke. The key for Boston is not having to go to Foulke for more than one inning and not back to back to back days.
That’s why I like the Sox I think they can hit with the Yankees and not have to use the best guys in the pen every day.
Click below for more!Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez, if handled orrectly when they start, can hold the Yanks down. Get them both out after six innings and keep the lead.
The Sox know how to pitch to A Rod, knock him down, come up and in often, then and only then you go away. If you don’t scare him he will feel comfortable going after the outside pitch. Minnesota never knocked A Rod off the plate so he killed them with hitting pitches over the middle of the plate.
The Yanks have dead spots in their lineup. 7-8-9 can be disposed of, if done carefully, remember, don’t be careless or they will bite you. The Red Sox can hurt you 1-9 no matter what you do, that’s a big difference.
Mariano Rivera’s mental health is a question after the unfortunate tragedy at his home.
The Yankee starting staff isn’t that good and we know other than Tom Gordon their secondary bull pen is a huge question.
The Yanks always find a way. Not this time. The Red Sox are a better team, they have added depth on the bench (that can actually contribute), the infield now catches the ball, and David Ortiz has shown he isn’t just a cripple hitter.
They actually are playing good baseball and if not for Ron Gardenhire’s mismanaging, Boston would be playing at Minnesota today instead of NY.
The Yanks were on the ropes in the ALDS and if Minnesota realized you can never let NY up, they would have won in four.
I say the Sox in six with Schilling giving two winning performances.
St. Louis can hit and again the bull pen is loaded. They have lefties, righties, you name it.
The Astros are no slouch team. They have the second best player in the NL playoffs, Pujols is one and Beltran two, but very questionable pitching, even considering the two aces, Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt. This will be a series of bull pen games no doubt and the Cards have more balance on both sides of the mound.
Somehow Jeff Suppan is winning easily, Woody Williams goes his six to seven innings easily, and Matt Morris can keep you in a 5-4 game after six.
The Cards can hit and field better than Houston. Shortstop Jose Vizcaino will kill the Astros in the field more than he will help them. Just watch him ole some critical ground ball.
The Cards have too much power and a better ball club than Houston, too many weapons for destroying the opposition, so it’s the Cards in six as well.
The World Series will be something to see if I’m right.
0 comments
you won’t get an argument from me.
right on the mark
jerry f
I truly agree Marty. If the Sox go to the Series it will be something to see. It will be truly riveting and exciting all the way through. History could be made.
Conversely, if the Yanks go, I won’t watch even a single inning. There’s nothing less interesting than seeing the New York Yankees compete in the World Series.
Unfortunately, I think that happens. Everyone seems to think the Sox are the favorites. On paper they are. But get real. Throw the stats out the window. All you need to know is its the Yankees, its October, and they’re playing the Red Sox. The Yankee October “mystique” makes it utterly impossible for a pleading, practically begging country to see the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees. Yankees in 6.
—Ned
Last night was an incredibly exciting game. I was praying for the Sox to make it all the way back. So what happened. I didn’t see the first five innings as I was working. Was it Mussina’s great pitching or Schilling’s ankle or a bit of both.
Comments please.
Mike Mussina was excellent last night, his control pinpoint until getting hit hard in the seventh inning. The Sox can hit, unfortunately the Yankees hit like the Yankees of old in game one. Matsui is an adventure in left field I’m not sure who is more unsteady Manny or Matsui?
Schilling’s ankle injury is a real concern. It prevented him from throwing like he can. Derek Lowe now may become more of a factor, perhaps that is why Terry Francona allowed a one run game in the 8th, to turn into a three run deficit under Timlin’s watch. A good spot for Lowe? The Sox should have done everything within their power to hold the Yankees at bay in the 8th. For once I agree with Tim Mc Carver who said that a lefty should have come in to face Matsui and turn Bernie Williams around.
Every day is another day, no doubt Boston can hit, I was counting on Schilling to keep the Yankees under four runs.
Pedro vs Lieber, again this one will turn around the 7th inning, bull pen vs. bull pen, Foulke vs Rivera if the Sox can take the lead. In this series you must keep Rivera off the field, he is the best reliever ever in the postseason.
Without a healthy Schilling, Boston must be concerned.
Marty
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