Even though we've swept them each of the past two times we've faced them in the playoffs, I'm not feeling terribly comfortable heading into this series in Anaheim. I know for sure that we have chance to win it and wouldn't be at all surprised if we do, but I wouldn't put my money on it. Even if Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, and JD Drew were completely healthy, I'd still think Anaheim had a legitimate shot at taking this thing. The fact that the RedSox played under .500 ball on the road this year, and we're 1-8 against the Angels leaves me with a lot of uncertainty.
There are a lot of questions facing the Sox team right now, certainly many more than were last year when the Sox were generally healthy heading into the postseason. Ultimately I think we will win this series, and it will be somewhat more competitive than the domination seen in the '04 and '07 sweeps of Anaheim and "we've got 'em right where want 'em (Nomar)" Pedro Martinez/Derek Lowe down 0-2 comebacks of 2000? and 2003 against Cleveland and Oakland.
Anyways... a breakdown of the 2008 ALDS Boston RedSox at ANAHEIM Angels of Anaheim
Things going against us
1. Health- Lowell and JD Drew are maybes at this point. Josh Beckett, who carried the Sox through the Cleveland series last year, and is postseason beast, has been pushed back to game three, meaning he would not be available for a potential game 5. We should still be cautious even about his health for game 3.
2. Away Field Disadvantage- Few teams in the MLB had winning records on the road this year (6), the Sox were not one of them.
3. Mark Teixeira- This is not the power depraved Angels lineup of old. Though Vlad isn't quite the threat he was before, the additions of Mark Teixeira and Tori Hunter have more than made up the difference.
4. Lack of Manny Ramirez- No one expects Jason Bay to Manny Ramirez, that is impossible, but is Bay teamed with Youkilis morphing into a baseball-mashing-goatee-machine enough to compensate for the lack of ManRam? We shall see.
Things going for us
1. History- As previously mentioned, no one can remember the last time the Halos beat the Sox in the playoffs.
2. Power Trio- Yeah Becks is straining a bit, but the three headed Monster of Lester-DiceK-Beckett is more than formidable, it's downright scary.
3. Postseason Mike Lowell, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, and David Ortiz rise to the occasion in October.
4. Shear lack of Julio Lugo- I cannot emphasize this enough.
I think Anaheim will certainly give the RedSox a better run for their money this time around. I like the Sox in 5, and I think Lester will start the trend tonight and shut up the Anaheim lineup.
note- Jonathan Papelbon > Francisco Rodriguez
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2 comments:
And we're off to a good start.
<3 Jason Bay
I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs don't make it to the WS (lose in NLCS).
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