DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Red Sox vs. Angels

The matchups
Differences in how the teams positioned themselves into postseason by nick cafardo
By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff | October 3, 2007


Lineups
There are noticeable differences in style, but the most pertinent difference might be health. Boston has Manny Ramírez (strained left oblique) and Kevin Youkilis (right wrist) back at full strength, while the Angels have Vladimir Guerrero (right triceps), and Chone Figgins (left wrist) banged up and Gary Matthews (left knee) too sore to keep on the active roster. Guerrero has been DHing and may not return to right field. Figgins ended the year in an 0-for-22 slump (dropping his average from .347 to .330), obviously affected by his injury. When it comes to manufacturing runs there's no better lineup than the Angels. They ranked second in stolen bases (139) after leading the league in steals the previous three seasons. A good example of their ability on the base paths is indicated by the number of times they went from first to third on a single (121). Only 192 of their 822 runs came via the home run. The Angels also led the majors in sacrifice flies (65). Conversely, the Red Sox had a higher OPS (slugging plus on-base percentage; .802-.762), led the majors in walks (689, to the Angels' 507) and doubles (352), and ranked second in the majors in on-base percentage and fourth in the majors in runs scored (867). The Angels hit a franchise-high .284, fourth best in the league and 5 points higher than Boston. Defensively, the Angels committed 101 errors, 20 more than the Red Sox. They have a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop in Orlando Cabrera, but will miss Matthews's range in center field. The Red Sox have Gold Glove types at catcher (Jason Varitek), center fielder (Coco Crisp), first base (Youkilis), and third base (Mike Lowell). Given the Angels' speed, Varitek could play a big role in containing the Los Angeles offense. He threw out only 24.1 percent of base stealers this season (20 of 83).
Edge: Boston

Starting pitching
The Angels were 45-18 in games started by John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, but Escobar's shoulder tendinitis caused him to be shut down for 12 days before making his final start over the weekend. Lackey, a 19-game winner, is 1-6 with a 6.27 ERA in 11 career starts against Boston, and 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA at Fenway. This season he was 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA, both starts at Fenway, and the Red Sox hit .408 against him. Josh Beckett was 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts vs. the Angels this season, and is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts against them in his career. Both aces have pitched a World Series clinching game - Lackey in 2002, Beckett with Florida in 2003. Both pitchers were better on the road this season: Beckett was 11-2 with a 2.18 ERA (9-5, 4.17 at Fenway), Lackey was 11-5, 2.73 (8-4, 3.31 at Angel Stadium). The Red Sox will go with Daisuke Matsuzaka against Escobar in Game 2 and Curt Schilling against Jered Weaver in Game 3. Like Matsuzaka, Weaver has never appeared in a playoff game. The Angels have never faced Matsuzaka, which could be an edge for Boston. Schilling is one of the best postseason pitchers in history with an 8-2 record and 2.06 ERA, 29 strikeouts and five walks. He's also 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA in the Division Series.
EDGE: Boston

Bullpens
Boston's bullpen ranked second in ERA at 3.10, to go with 45 saves, while the Angels ranked 20th in ERA at 4.24, with 43 saves. The Red Sox converted the highest save percentage in the league (45 out of 56), and the Angels blew 14 saves in 57 chances. But we're thinking the gap is shrinking. Both teams have lights-out closers in Jonathan Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez, but both teams also have had eighth-inning issues. The Angels' top setup man, Scot Shields, had a 7.36 ERA after the All-Star break, and Eric Gagné didn't have the success the Red Sox envisioned when he was acquired in July (6.75 ERA in 20 appearances). But Gagne has logged five straight scoreless appearances, and Hideki Okajima looks refreshed after sitting out two weeks to rest his shoulder. The Angels' Justin Speier (2.88 ERA, 47 K's in 50 innings) and the Red Sox' Manny Delcarmen (2.05 ERA, 41 K's in 44 innings) have emerged as late-inning studs. With a short starting rotation, the Angels could have Bartolo Colon, lefty Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana in the pen. The Red Sox will have lefthander Jon Lester as a long man.
EDGE: Even.

Benches
The makeup of the benches should be interesting. The Red Sox have the edge in experience with the likes of corner infielder/outfielder Eric Hinske, veteran infielder Alex Cora, and veteran outfielder Bobby Kielty. The Sox also have rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to provide defense and an energy boost. The Angels have a combination of athleticism and power off their bench. Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera can hit it far. Infielder Maicer Izturis hit .289, and was solid all around the diamond.
EDGE: Angels.

Benches
Neither Mike Scioscia nor Terry Francona is going to hoodwink each other. Both do a good job with their respective styles. Scioscia's job is going to be a bit tougher. Why? He's managing a team that's banged up, so he'll have to push the right buttons on personnel issues. He's got a younger team, one that plays very well at home but was under .500 on the road. The Angels are also 14-24 against the Red Sox since 2004. Scioscia's got to make sure the Red Sox don't beat them at their own game - running. The Red Sox had the highest stolen base percentage (80 percent) in the league, although the Angels stole 139 bases to Boston's 96.
EDGE: Even.

I just knew this thread would be popular

GO SOX!

what thread?

Poor old Tribe.

Damn Yankees fans...

Hey, I'm not allowed on the Tribe threads, I have to express myself somewhere!!

Having family from the Boston area, the Red Sox have always been my second favorite team. Next year I am going to see a game in Fenway. Can't wait. Go Red Sox!

I can suggest a few places.

Feel free to say whatever you need to...I'm used to dealing with belligerent fans.

Yea but being a Red Sox fan, aren't the belligerent ones usually rooting for the same team you are?

um....no.

Go Sox!

"....Having family from the Boston area, the Red Sox have always been my second favorite team. Next year I am going to see a game in Fenway. Can't wait. Go Red Sox! "

Well, you can't pick your family. Nor can you pick where you come from...but you certainly can pick your favorite teams. So why did you pick the damn Red Sox?

Quote:

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Well, you can't pick your family. Nor can you pick where you come from...but you certainly can pick your favorite teams. So why did you pick the damn Red Sox?

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I have been going up to the Boston area my whole life. I guess the Sox grew on me. 3-0 Red Sox!

beckett is mowing them down

Great game by Josh.

Beckett was all that and a bag of chips! Great game, Sox!

This series is over,...good night, Los Angeles of Anaheim.

Aw geez...you trying to jinx us?

jay...you can bring that topic up to me any time and it'll make me smile!

Manny with a bomb to win it! Hell of a game.

It wasn't in play so it's a souvenier. (And a fine one at that )

Manny being Manny! Sweeet....

I want nothing more than to see my Sox in Cleveland but I just don't know what I want to happen next...

I am happy they no longer have that *&^%$ Pedro Martinez.

I loved Pedro. But I would get awful angry with him when he wouldn't back up his talk with his pitching.

Back to Back jacks baby!!!

Sox up 2-0

looks like Boston is going to the ALCS again

Let's just get Cleveland there now!

ALCS will open in Boston on Friday

Here we go... and uh, Go Tribe.