Here are some of the numbers of the Sox and Angels against each other.
Starters
Boston Red Sox
Josh Beckett- (1-0) 1.38 ERA .216BAA (2 Starts)
Career- (2-0) 2.16 ERA .202 BAA (4 Starts)
Daisuke Matsuzaka- Has not Faced Angels
Curt Schilling- (2-1) 4.05 ERA .263BAA (3 Starts)
Career (6-2) 3.67 ERA .262 BAA (12 Games, 7 Starts)
Tim Wakefield- (1-1) 5.73 ERA .267 BAA (2 Starts)
Career- (9-11) 4.79 ERA .261 BAA (27 Games, 22 Starts)
The Angels
John Lackey (0-2) 8.38 ERA .408 BAA (2 Starts)
Career (1-6) 6.27 ERA .340 BAA (11 Starts)
Kelvim Escobar- Has Not Faced Red Sox this season
Career- (6-7) 4.64 ERA .249 BAA (36 Games, 11 Starts)
Jared Weaver- (0-1) 6.97 ERA .311 BAA (2 Starts)
Career- (0-2) 4.70 ERA .275 BAA (4 Starts)
Joe Saunders- (2-0) 3.46 ERA .275 BAA (2 Starts)
Career- (2-0) 2.41 ERA .274 BAA (3 Starts)
Advantage Red Sox. Dice-K could really be a dark horse in this series. He's been really up and down this year, but not facing the Angels could benefit. Beckett has some dominate numbers against the Halos. While the only Angels starter with success this year against the Red Sox being Joe Saunders. Has to be an advantage that the Angels ace has had a rough career against the Red Sox.
The Pen
Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon- (0-0) 2 Saves 0.00 ERA 0.77 BAA (4 Games)
Career- (0-0) 4 Saves 0.00 ERA .140 BAA (9 Games, 1 Start)
Hideki Okajima- (1-0) 0.00 ERA .111 BAA (4 Games)
Mike Timlin- (0-0) 0.00 ERA .143 BAA (4 Games)
Career- (6-5) 12 Saves 3.52 ERA .275 BAA (63 Games)
Manny Delcarmen- (0-0) 9.00 ERA .400 BAA (2 Games)
Career- (0-0) 9.82 ERA .353 BAA (4 Games)
Halos
Francisco Rodriguez (1-0) 2 Saves 1.93 ERA .118 BAA (4 Games)
Career (2-0) 6 Saves 1.02 ERA .185 BAA (15 Games)
Scot Shields (0-0) 8.10 ERA 2.86 BAA (5 Games)
Career (2-4) 7.71 ERA .304 BAA (21 Games, 1 Start)
Justin Spier (1-1) 11.25 ERA .313 BAA (5 Games)
Career- (3-2) 3.95 ERA .231 BAA (29 Games)
Darren Oliver (0-0) 6.00 ERA .261 BAA (5 Games)
Career- (1-2) 5.17 ERA .314 BAA (16 Games, 6 Starts)
Advantage Red Sox. Papelbon, Oki, and Timlin all haven't given up a run to the Angels this season. Only Delcarmen has struggled. While it's obvious that K-Rod has had success against the red sox, the other three Angels relievers have not. Although I do think Shields and Spier are better than their numbers show.
To the Hitters we go.
Boston Red Sox
Jason Varitek- .103 AVG 0 HR 1 RBI .133 OBP .103 Slug (8 Games 29 AB's)
Kevin Youkilis- .313 AVG 1 HR 5 RBI .395 OBP .438 Slug (9 Games 32 AB's)
Dustin Pedroia- .355 AVG 2 HR 2 RBI .429 OBP .581 Slug (9 Games 31 AB's)
Mike Lowell- .361 AVG 0 HR 9 RBI .415 OBP .500 Slug (10 Games 36 AB's)
Julio Lugo- .361 AVG 0 HR 3 RBI .385 OBP .472 Slug (9 Games 36 AB's)
Manny Ramirez- .216 AVG 0 HR 9 RBI .326 OBP .324 Slug (10 Games 37 AB's)
Coco Crisp- .103 AVG 0 HR 0 RBI .188 OBP .172 Slug (9 Games 29 AB's)
JD Drew- .382 AVG 0 HR 4 RBI .462 OBP .500 Slug (10 Games 34 AB's)
David Ortiz- .361 AVG 4 HR 16 RBI .439 OBP .778 Slug (9 Games 36 AB's)
The Angels
Mike Napoli- .167 AVG 0 HR 0 RBI .167 OBP .333 Slug (2 Games 6 AB's)
Casey Kotchman- .342 AVG 0 HR 3 RBI .378 OBP .514 Slug (10 Games 35 AB's)
Howie Kendrick- .556 AVG 1 HR 1 RBI .600 OBP 1.000 Slug (3 Games 9 AB's)
Chone Figgins- .333 AVG 1 HR 6 RBI .375 OBP .556 Slug (7 Games 27 AB's)
Orlando Cabrera- .308 AVG 1 HR 4 RBI .386 OBP .487 Slug (10 Games 39 AB's)
Reggie Willits- .300 AVG 0 HR 1 RBI .364 OBP .300 Slug (7 Games 20 AB's)
Gary Matthews- .171 AVG 2 HR 7 RBI .171 OBP .366 Slug (10 Games 41 AB's)
Vlad Guerrero- .371 AVG 1 HR 7 RBI .463 OBP .629 Slug (10 Games 35 AB's)
Garrett Anderson- .205 AVG 0 HR 4 RBI .256 OBP .231 Slug (10 Games 39 AB's)
Both lineups have had their ups and downs against each other. Gary Matthews Jr. is banging up with a knee injury. Last I read it's more of just an issue of how much pain he can take if he can play or not. So obivously the Angels lineup could change. While I think the Red Sox have the better lineup, numbers say it's pretty close to being a push.
The X-Factor
I picked one bench player for each team that could really change the series outcome.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury- I keep expecting this guy to slow down, but everytime he's in the lineup he gets the job down. He's
played solid defense and he's a speed demon. Looking at Crisp's numbers against the Angels I would be more than happy if Ellsbury could get in there at center. Although seeing Francona day in and day out it's unlikely. You could see Ellsbury in the Dave Roberts mode for this post season.
Angels
Juan Rivera- Rivera is just coming off injury and only played in 13 games. He's starting to swing the bat pretty good tho. Rivera may even be more important with Matthews injured. If he can't go I'm assuming Willits would move to center and Rivera would be in at left or DH. The other option could be Figgins in center and Izturis at third.
Two Big Matchups- Of course those matchups involve David Ortiz and Vlad. I picked what pitcher I thought would come in to face these guys late in big spots. As we know both guys step up big in the playoffs.
First matchup David Ortiz vs Darren Oliver.
Ortiz 1 for 3 this season against Oliver with a double and two RBI's
For his career 2 for 9 against Oliver. Darren Oliver has had success against Big Papi.
Second Matchup Vlad vs Mike Timlin
This season Vlad is 0 for 1 against Timlin.
For his career Vlad is 3 for 12 with 1 Home run and five RBI.
Playoff Prediction- I just think the Red Sox are a better team and will beat the Angels. I don't trust the Angels pitching in this series. However if they can get it to K-Rod then they have a good chance to take this series. I just don't see it happening. 3-1Red Sox for this series.
