Finally, Some Baseball
Wow, 4 full days off felt like an off-season. It'll be nice to see ALCS game one tonight, 7:07pm start @ Fenway, Beckett vs. Sabathia.
The Red Sox announced that Bobby Kielty will start over J.D. Drew. Why?
Kielty vs. Sabathia in 29 at bats: .310/.375/.655 with 2 HR's, 7 RBI.
Drew vs. Sabathia in 3 at bats: .000/.000/.000 with 3 K's. Small sample size, but 3 K's in 3 at bats is ugly.
Game plan: The Red Sox have their work cut out. Sabathia has learned to pound the strike zone with unhittable pitches and has cut his walk rate down dramatically. Sabathia walked 95 in 180.1 IP in 2001 and just 37 in 241.1 IP this season. So Sabathia has learned to pitch. His hit rate has gone up in the same period of time it should be noted, but not as significantly.
So Boston hitters need to find their pitch and put a good swing on it. They certainly should be encouraged to work the count, but they shouldn't expect a boat load of walks (another reason JD Drew is on the bench). If Boston is fortunate enough to get Sabathia out of the game mid-way, they still have work to do against a very good bullpen. Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, Jenson Lewis and Aaron Fultz all have sub 3 ERAs (Betancourt and Perez are sub 2). These 4 are strikeout pitchers and don't give up many hits. So getting to the bullpen doesn't help that much.
Lastly you have closer Joe Borowski. He saved 45 games this year, but did it in entertaining fashion. His 5.07 ERA is enormous for a closer and it suggest that Borowski can be very good, but when he is bad...
The Indians pose a huge challenge with their pitching. Their offense is good too. The core to be most concern with is Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, but they have some other guys that can hurt you too in Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake and even Kenny Lofton. Cleveland plated 811 regular season runs (Boston 867), so they aren't the Yankees, but they aren't the Nationals either.
Enough of my attempts at game planning and analysis. Let's enjoy this thing. Let me know your thoughts on what the major story lines will be within this game.
Comments
Good pitching beats good hitting.
Series hinges on whether #'s 1&2 for both teams do better than the other team's same.
#3 and #4 I give the edge to Boston. I think Boston's hitting should be better (significantly) and pitching will be the key to neutralize that.
Posted by: blmeanie | October 12, 2007 01:12 PM |
How about a prediction?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 12, 2007 05:08 PM
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I've got a prediction for you: Yanks lose in 4...oh, sorry, that already happened, didn't it? Just kidding Peter but somebody had to kick you guys when you were down, otherwise it wouldn't be that ALCS time of year.
I think this is going to be very tough series for Boston (and Cleveland too). Their pitching is scary good and I hope we can match that pitching with Beckett, Schill, Dice-K, and Wake. I think our bats are a bit better but the Yanks bats were a lot better and look what that got them.... I am hopeful but this one may go seven and it may even go against us in the end. I will be bold and predict Sox in 6.
As for my favorite topic, A-Rod in a Sox uniform, if the Yanks can't get an extension done, I say we go after him and make the oft-heralded trade of Manny to the west coast (Angels anyone?) for pitching and then make a decision on Lowell based on where A-Rod wants to play (SS or 3B). I can almost guarantee it would be SS and Lugo would become the next Alex Cora or trade bait but A-Rod would look good at SS and at the plate behind Papi in Fenway. Sorry, too much digression on the coming off-season. Let's get down to business and win game one! Go Sox!!
Posted by: Jack | October 12, 2007 05:23 PM |
Peter, go to my site for my prediction...lol,hehe
Sox in 6
Posted by: blmeanie | October 12, 2007 08:29 PM |
Jack- I hope I can return the favor soon.
BL- What's your website url?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 13, 2007 10:59 AM
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Hey Peter,
No problem my man, your Yanks have sent us home more times than I care to remember (think 2003 and the misery that is/was Aaron F#$@ing Boone). As for URL's, I don't have a website or blog, I just got into reading your site b/c a buddy of mine knows Andy (Mark L. from State Street Bank). I really enjoy your site and the two sided commentary. Always interested in what the Yanks are doing naturally and the analysis you provide is top shelf, as is the Sox stuff by Andy. Keep up the good work men. Jack
Posted by: Jack | October 13, 2007 01:48 PM |
Peter, Blmeanie's site url is:
http://www.blmeanie.net/blmeanieblog/
Posted by: Andy | October 13, 2007 03:14 PM |