ALCS: Boston Red Sox vs Cleveland Indians (Red Sox win 4-3)

[SportsWorld]

Game 1
3
10

Game 2
13
6
11 innings

Game 3
4
2

Game 4
7
3

Game 5
1
7

Game 6
2
12

Game 7
2
11

Games 1 and 2 will be played at Fenway Park in Boston.
Games 3-5 will be played at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.
Games 6 and 7 will be played at Fenway Park in Boston.

[David Robinson]

Cleveland in 6.

They play a style of baseball that is conducive for winning a world series. I love their pitching, and I like the balance of their lineup.

[Bleeding Green]

I'm curious how the teams will set up the rotations. Just as a guess:

1 Beckett/Sabathia
2 Schilling/Carmona
3 Matsuzaka/Westbrook
4 Beckett/Sabathia
5 Wakefield/Carmona
6 Schilling/Westbrook
7 Beckett/Sabathia

If the Indians get out to a 2-0 lead, I think they'd probably give Sabathia and Carmona an extra day rest. Same with Beckett if the Red Sox get out to a 2-0 lead. Should be an exciting series. If it's lined up like this, games 1, 4 and 7 should be awesome games.

I can't wait to see Ortiz in this series. He has been so **** ridiculous since mid-August. He ended the last 40 games of the season on a .389/.503/.840 (AVG/OBP/SLG) tear and just put up a .714/.846/1.571 line in the ALDS. Just when you think it's impossible for him to get better, he says, "Hey mang, watch this." He's been steroids-Bonds for the last 43 games he's played.

[The Rondo Show]

**** Wakefield. Free Clay Buchholz.

[Bleeding Green]

Yeah, that would be nice, but apparently he's shut down.

Don't know why he can't make one start. I don't see the Yankees shutting down Phil Hughes. Well, not voluntarily at least.

[The Rondo Show]

Yeah, that would be nice, but apparently he's shut down.

Don't know why he can't make one start. I don't see the Yankees shutting down Phil Hughes. Well, not voluntarily at least.

Well, Hughes is nowhere near his innings limit due to injury.

Still, I don't think another start or two and 10 innings would kill him. And I think he'd help the team out a hell of a lot more than Tim Wakefield...and maybe even Daisuke with how **** he has been lately (save the Minny start). Oh well.

You think they start JD Drew against Sabathia in game 1? I'm not so sure I wouldn't go with Ellsbury or Kielty (I like Ellsbury more). Drew looked absolutely horrible in the 1-0 Red Sox win against the Indians earlier this year. Something like 3 AB's vs. him and 3 K's and he just looked totally lost on that slider. Not to mention, his numbers against lefties this year are just pathetic.

[wigglestrue]

I don't see why the matchups wouldn't be this:

1 Beckett/Sabathia
2 Matsuzaka/Carmona
3 Schilling/Westbrook
4 Beckett/Sabathia
5 Matsuzaka/Carmona
6 Schilling/Westbrook
7 Beckett/Sabathia

Schilling would have his normal rest. Don't mess with success, having Schilling for game 3 (whether down 0-2, or split 1-1, or up 2-0) and game 6 will be huge. Wakefield is there as a super-long-reliever just in case.

[EvadedHavoc]

Sox in 4

[Markos]

I don't see why the matchups wouldn't be this:

1 Beckett/Sabathia
2 Matsuzaka/Carmona
3 Schilling/Westbrook
4 Beckett/Sabathia
5 Matsuzaka/Carmona
6 Schilling/Westbrook
7 Beckett/Sabathia

Schilling would have his normal rest. Don't mess with success, having Schilling for game 3 (whether down 0-2, or split 1-1, or up 2-0) and game 6 will be huge. Wakefield is there as a super-long-reliever just in case.

I would put Dice-K as game 3 because a) he pitches better away and b) the more rest for him the better

[mr_sunshine]

Cleveland in 6.

They play a style of baseball that is conducive for winning a world series. I love their pitching, and I like the balance of their lineup.

I don't think so. Sox pen > Indians pen and the Boston's offense has been on a tear lately. I think they'll be VERY hard to beat if Manny and Ortiz keep it up, and someone besides Beckett gives them quality starts.

[David Robinson]

-= original quote snipped =-



I don't think so. Sox pen > Indians pen and the Boston's offense has been on a tear lately. I think they'll be VERY hard to beat if Manny and Ortiz keep it up, and someone besides Beckett gives them quality starts.

Of course you don't think so, you're a Boston fan. As a neutral fan, I do think so.

And imo it's only Papelbon> Borowski. Otherwise, I like Cleveland's pen better with Perez, Lewis and Betancourt.

[The Rondo Show]

-= original quote snipped =-

Of course you don't think so, you're a Boston fan. As a neutral fan, I do think so.

And imo it's only Papelbon> Borowski. Otherwise, I like Cleveland's pen better with Perez, Lewis and Betancourt.

Okajima, Delcarmen and Timlin are pretty damn good. I'd say the middle relief is pretty close as both teams are very good there with the Indians being a little better. The massive difference between Papelbon and Borowski gives Boston's pen the advantage. I'd say the Red Sox have a better lineup as well, especially with the way Ortiz and Ramirez are hitting in these playoffs (and how Ortiz is hitting about the last 50 games).

The starting pitching is close. Beckett is the pitcher I'd trust more than anyone based on stuff and his postseason track record. CC and Carmona are both definitely better than Schilling at this point, but CC looked a little shakey against the Yanks and like the playoff stage got to him while Schilling is one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all-time and has pitched great for a couple months now. With Daisuke, who knows. The guy could dominate the Tribe like he did in the regular season or he could be pulled after 4 2/3 like he was against the Angels-- still, I like him better than a Byrd or a Westbrook. I'd probably give the starting pitching advantage to the Indians, assuming Sabathia's struggles in Game 1 of the ALDS were a complete fluke and not a sign of things to come because he's in the playoffs.

Overall, these two teams are very close in talent. I think it'll come down to whichever team has more luck and hopefully, for Red Sox fans, homefield advantage. I'll take the Sox in 7, but I can definitely see why fans would pick the Indians in 6 or 7.

[cb4_89]

sox got this

[wigglestrue]

I would put Dice-K as game 3 because a) he pitches better away and b) the more rest for him the better

You've got a point.
But if it goes 6, then you have Dice K pitching it at home.
I'd rather have Dice K pitch game 2 at home.

[Markos]

I would put Dice-K as game 3 because a) he pitches better away and b) the more rest for him the better

You've got a point.
But if it goes 6, then you have Dice K pitching it at home.
I'd rather have Dice K pitch game 2 at home.

You could have Lester backing him up in game 6. Cleveland has a lot of lefties if I remember correctly.

Its a moot point Schilling will be starting game 2 per ESPN

[stro4swift]

The Sabathia/Beckett matchup will be awesome!

Cleveland in 6.

[B Mac]

If the Indians keep the same approach at the plate that they had during the Yankee series then watch out Boston pitching. If they start getting power happy like they have for stretches this season then Boston will take this one quickly.

Cant wait to watch CC and Carmona mow down the Boston batters though. That should be fun.

Cleveland in 6.

[sunshinekids99]

I think this will be a very very good series. I'll take the Sox in 7.

[Bleeding Green]

The four Red Sox relievers most likely to receive high-leverage innings and their WXRL. Nerd alert.

Papelbon: 5.143
Okajima: 4.429
Delcarmen: 1.652
Timlin: 1.572
TOTAL: 12.796

And the Indians:

Betancourt: 6.845
Perez: 3.142
Borowski: 2.776
Mastny?: .596
TOTAL: 13.359

Pretty close. The Indians have the best reliever, but they really only go three deep as far as I can tell. The Red Sox have better bullpen depth. But I don't know how important that is in a series with 15 offdays.

Where is Jensen Lewis? He pitched really well in limited action.

[cmaff051]

Hopefully the Indians bloop the Red Sox as much as they blooped the Yanks.