Last year they took it to seven and made the world series look like an after thought. This year promises to be no different. A little role reversal this year . For once it's the Red Sox with the stronger starting rotation.
The yanks starters are questionable after Mussina. John Lieber is the only other yankee starter who hasn't been thrashed by Sox bats. Kevin Brown was lit up for 5 runs in 2/3 of an inning in his last start against the Sox. Vasquez couldnt even hold back the Twins. Hernandez has dissapeared. Joe Torre Has ignored the fact that Tanyon Sturze has a pretty impressive long relief outing against the Sox late in the season. In fact sturtze is 1-0 with a 2.61 era against the sox in 2004. The Yankees are going to have to rely on they're big bats, and a few smaller ones too if they want to play some world series ball in the bronx.
Last year the Red Sox arrived in the playoffs carrying everything but their bats and still made it to game 7 of the ALCS. with 25 runs scored in a 3 game sweep of Anehiem during the ALDS its safe to say that the Sox packed some lumber for this trip. The Sox starting pitching is miles ahead of the yankees this year. The only question mark is Pedro Martinez of all people. His "they're my daddy" comment and consecutive poor showings against the Yankees in september seem to have some people thinking that the Yanks really are his daddy. Curt Schilling is Curt Schilling.You know the 21-6 Cy Young canidate guy. Bronson Arroyo is miles better than what his numbers will tell you and Tim Wakefield has OWNED the Yankees in 2004 with a 1.66 era.
So it will come down to the Yankees trying to bat there way out of a pitching hole against the most productive offense in the American league. But these are the dreaded Yankees and anything can happen when these teams meet. Just for fun i'm gonna say the big brawl takes place during game 5 with the sox taking the series in 6.
Game 1:Mussina Vs. Shilling tonight @ 8m est
(edited by bubblesthechimp on 12.10.04 1049) “He screwed jello out her head.”
Originally posted by The GoonI am really excited about this series. I am also thinking Sox in seven.
The over/under on bench-clearing brawls is three.
Yankees. Sox. Stay Healthy, Get Ready. MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY
For all the hype that this feud has had this season, could the ALCS have been any other way? I've been sick of it all year, but that said I would have felt gypped if one of them stumbled in the last round.
I'm sticking with saying Boston wins in 7, but I wonder if they'll have anything left in the tank after that for a Cardinal team that I think cruises over Houston.
Originally posted by JakegnosisThe Sox have the offense and the pitching. The Yanks have the defense and the home turf advantage.
The Red Sox have at least as good of a defense as the Yankees. At least. It's probably better.
EDIT: I should add that I think the Yankees can hit with the Red Sox so I don't seem biased or something.
(edited by ScottChrist on 12.10.04 1401)
Perhaps. Let's run down the lineups.
1B- Millar/Olerud- Olerud obviously has the edge defensively, but Millar swings a better bat. the Sox could start Mienkewitcz (I still don't know how to spell his name), but look for him as a late defensive replacement because the Sox will need Millar's bat.
2B- Bellhorn/Cairo- Advantage Red Sox.
SS- Cabrera/Jeter- Advantage Yankees.
3B- Mueller/Rodriguez- Advantage Yankees.
C- Varitek/Posada- Varitek has the edge defensively, Posada is a better hitter. Very even matchup.
LF- Ramirez/Matsui- Advantage Red Sox.
CF- Damon/ Williams- Advantage Red Sox.
RF- Nixon/ Sheffield- Advantage Yankees.
DH- Ortiz/ Sierra- Obviously, there's no defense here. Huge advantage Red Sox.
I'm sticking with my story. Ramirez and Ortiz are the best hitters in the American League this year. Damon is the best lead-off hitter. Nixon, Varitek and Millar can hit the hell out of the ball. Bellhorn strikes out all the time, but he walks constantly and hits big home runs. Mueller has improved all year since his dismal start. Cabrera is one solid player, offensively and defensively.
New York, while packing some heavy hitters, can't compete. A-Rod and Sheffield are no Manny and Big Poppy. Damon beats Jeter in every offensive category except home runs (20 to 23).
However, A-Rod plays a good third base, Jeter is a great defensive shortstop, Olerud is a vacuum and Sheffield dazzles in the outfield, injured or not. Yanks have the defense.
This should be one for the ages.
EDIT: The Sox do have Mienkewitcz and Roberts, but I doubt they'll start. We'll see them in late in the game as defensive upgrades to protect a Sox lead.
(edited by Jakegnosis on 12.10.04 1356) "Are you- are you sad?"
-No.
"But your- your songs are sad."
-My songs are of time and distance. The sadness is in you. Watch my arms. There is only the dance. These things you treasure are shells.
It will go 7, but I'll take Sox in 6 anyway because it really is pissing into the wind to pick against the Yankees in a game 7 at the Stadium, especially since it would be Arroyo rather than Wakefield pitching Game 7. Boston NEEDS to be minimum 1-1 coming back from the Bronx though, as home field holding up in the first 2 games could allow this series to slip away quickly.
Originally posted by Jakegnosis1B- Millar/Olerud- Olerud obviously has the edge defensively, but Millar swings a better bat. the Sox could start Mienkewitcz (I still don't know how to spell his name), but look for him as a late defensive replacement because the Sox will need Millar's bat.
2B- Bellhorn/Cairo- Advantage Red Sox.
I'm not familiar with Miguel Cairo's defense really, because I can't force myself to pay attention to Miguel Cairo, but in both of these cases, if necessary late in a game, the Sox have Doug Mientkiewicz (as you said) and Pokey Reese.
-SS- Cabrera/Jeter- Advantage Yankees.
I can agree I guess, because Cabrera was pretty bad at short for Boston. Used to be able to pick it. Jeter had a nice year defensively and I'd like to say that so all my comments about Jeter's D in the last four years aren't that it sucks.
C- Varitek/Posada- Varitek has the edge defensively, Posada is a better hitter. Very even matchup.
Very even yes, but Posada isn't really a better hitter. OPS for Posada was .881, Varitek .872.
Ramirez and Ortiz are the best hitters in the American League this year.
Melvin Mora! I think Vlad Guerrero might argue with David Ortiz, too.
I think actually I pretty much agree with your breakdown for the most part, but I do think New York can hit with Boston. Now, if it gets late in a game and one swing is going to break it, that does favor the Sox. Boston's defense I upgrade because they have guys on the bench (Mientkiewicz, Reese, Dave Roberts) that can come in and do some thangs.
The reason I hesitate to say "well the Yankees are better in the field and the Sox are better at the plate" is because it's not like either of them is weak in either department, and I'm not sure it's going to factor in at the end really. It could, obviously, but if I had to wager a guess, I'd say this series is going to come down to pitching way more than anything else.
Schilling is the kind of pitcher who thrives on emotion and adrenaline, so he'll probably be a lot of fun to watch tonight. Boston _needs_ this game tonight, though; Pedro in Yankee Stadium is a wild card, and they brought Schilling aboard specifically for this kind of game.
“Back in 2000 a Republican friend warned me that if I voted for Al Gore and he won, the stock market would tank, we'd lose millions of jobs, and our military would be totally overstretched. You know what? I did vote for Gore, he did win, and I'll be damned if all those things didn't come true!" -- James Carville
Being one of maybe three Yanks fans here, I think it's safe to say what my pick is: Yanks in 7.
My one question to Sox fans is will Francona stick with his plan of only starting Schilling in Games 1 and 5 if by chance they are down 2-1 going into Game 4? Or will he leave it in Wakefield's hands and have Schilling available for relief duty in a Game 7?
Cabrera's defense is much better than that of Jeter's. He made a few too many errors when he first joined the team, but having seen Cabrera play everyday and Jeter at least nineteen times this season, I give it to Cabrera. Jeter's defense has improved mightily this season, yes, but how much of that is better fielding on either side of him?
Mientkiewicz, Reese, and Cabrera are all better at fielding their respective positions than their Yankee counterparts.
The Yanks have a slight fielding edge in left field, but I think Fenway will negate that; Matsui has improved, but the Monster is still a factor. Center field is all Sox, and right field might be a wash. Trot can get to more balls, but Sheff has a cannon.
The offense is close to a wash. Sox scored more runs than the Yanks did this year (949 to 897), but not by all that much. Keep in mind, however, that the Sox played most of the season without Trot and Nomar, and with an injured Mueller.
Originally posted by vspBest rivalry in sports. GET YO' POPCORN READY!
Nah, not even close. Rivalry implies that both teams win the big games occasionally. Since that obviously isn't the case here, it can't be the best rivalry in sports.
Tim
People who say they don't "play politics" merely play politics badly. -- David Drake
Originally posted by vspBest rivalry in sports. GET YO' POPCORN READY!
Nah, not even close. Rivalry implies that both teams win the big games occasionally. Since that obviously isn't the case here, it can't be the best rivalry in sports.
Tim
Not necessarily... The Washington Generals never beat the Globetrotters!! ;-)
Originally posted by bash91Nah, not even close. Rivalry implies that both teams win the big games occasionally. Since that obviously isn't the case here, it can't be the best rivalry in sports.
Tim
My rational side offers the following, in response to your quip: Pick one of the four major American sports. Eliminate your hometown teams. What two remaining teams, facing each other on the field of play, bring the most hate, fear and loathing to the table?
If you can come up with two teams and fanbases that have hated each other longer and more passionately than the Yanks and the Sawks, be my guest.
My emotional side offers this in response: Blow me.
(edited by vsp on 12.10.04 1620) “Back in 2000 a Republican friend warned me that if I voted for Al Gore and he won, the stock market would tank, we'd lose millions of jobs, and our military would be totally overstretched. You know what? I did vote for Gore, he did win, and I'll be damned if all those things didn't come true!" -- James Carville
As bad as it was, it actually could have been worse. Had the Sox tied or taken the lead off of Rivera in the 8th and then blown the game back, it would have been crippling. Bad loss, and Pedro has to pitch a MUST Game 2. On the positive side, Tom Gordon continued his career post-season struggles.
Wow, Pedro is a game away from throwing a pitch and I am already sick of the fucking "who's your daddy" chants. I might have to mute the TV tomorrow. Actually, after three hours of Tim McCarver my ears are bleeding anyway...
You know, there is not a guy in that Sox lineup who doesn't worry me. Hell, even Mirrabelli would have me hiding my eyes. That said, from an offensive view, their bench eats it.
Can Posada get a key hit already? I love the guy, but holy shit, he is the LAST guy I want up in a key spot right now.
Matsui, what a year with the bat. His fielding, however, is totally and completely in the shitter. I think he should have either caught Bellhorn's double off Moose, Ortiz's triple, or...was it a double by Nixon that bounced off the top of his glove? He has been horrible this year in the field, as bad as his hitting was good.
By the way - who threw the ball in on Bernie's triple that bounced three times in a span of 20 feet? Oy...
Glad to hear even Yankee fans dislike McCarver. "He's got those calm eyes." McCarver's bedroom must be covered with Jeter pin-ups. He consistently called Bronson Arroyo "Brandon," and last week informed us that Scott Williamson was not available, because he had surgery. Of course, Williamson made an appearance in that game.
Re: Bernie, it was Manny who threw it in, but I believe it was cut off in shallow left. I don't know who cut it off.
And it was Ortiz's triple that bounced off Matsui's glove. Of course, he could make any number of those errors, and it wouldnt negate his 5 RBI.
Originally posted by PalpatineWGlad to hear even Yankee fans dislike McCarver. "He's got those calm eyes." McCarver's bedroom must be covered with Jeter pin-ups. He consistently called Bronson Arroyo "Brandon," and last week informed us that Scott Williamson was not available, because he had surgery. Of course, Williamson made an appearance in that game.
Re: Bernie, it was Manny who threw it in, but I believe it was cut off in shallow left. I don't know who cut it off.
And it was Ortiz's triple that bounced off Matsui's glove. Of course, he could make any number of those errors, and it wouldnt negate his 5 RBI.
Usually, the only two things Red Sox and Yankees fans can agree on are that the Sox/Yankees rivalry is the biggest thing in sports and that Fox's announce booth sucks the wazoo.
And if NY lost, that triple of Matsui's glove would have negated his 5 RBI. I don't blame him, it was way to high and he did his damndest to catch it, but what good are 5 runs when you needed 6 to win?
I tend to be a wee bit angry when I spot someone blatantly ripping something off. If it's something I wrote -- and that's happened -- I tend to get violent. (Or, at least as violent as one can be in an e-mail/message board post.) The lesson?