Sox or Indians?

[Granite Moose]

So, now that the Yankees have been eliminated, who looks good to you to represent the AL in the World Series?

*disclaimer*I've lived in NH since I was 4 and was raised as a Sox fan.

I think a key factor for the Sox will be if the layoff from Sunday leads to a cooling off of their bats. Starting pitching after Beckett is very dicey, Schilling last start being the exception. Their bullpen is decent, assuming Okajima's arm truly is back.
The offense is definitely solid enough and is the type that could give Sabathia and Carmona some trouble with the way they work the count and drive up pitch counts.
Cleveland has pretty darn good starting pitching, especially since you can expect Sabathia and Carmona twice in a seven-game series. Their bullpen has been lights out.
The offense has been surprisingly strong so far in the postseason, which could help them jump on Boston's starters.

I'm going with Boston in 6, but that's clearly my bias showing as Cleveland has a very good shot of advancing to the WS.

How about others who may have a less personal attachment to one of the combatants?

[mike_houghton]

CLEVELAND IN 4!!! I have no attachment to either team :P lol I love them both...

[supermangl1]

Hoping for a Rockies v. Indians World Series. Won't be big tv ratings but probably be the best game. Best pitching vs. the hottest bats.

I'm going to say Indians in 7.

[mike_houghton]

If we can get 1 at Fenway we might have a chance. I hope Pronk wakes up though and starts pounding the ball.Sometimes it looks like he trys to hard to knock the ball out.

[Granite Moose]

If we can get 1 at Fenway we might have a chance. I hope Pronk wakes up though and starts pounding the ball.Sometimes it looks like he trys to hard to knock the ball out.

That's for sure. Look what happened in game 2 when he let up a little and just made contact: game-winning single. Of course, as a Sox fan, I hope he keeps swinging from his heels and missing.

[Charaxes]

Man, if Beckett keeps pitching like he did tonight, then the Indians are going to have a real big problem moving on. I must that they're the favorite in game two. They really do need to get a win to tie up the series when they go back to Cleveland.

[Granite Moose]

Beckett is certainly looking like the pitcher the Sox wanted when they made that trade. But how about Big Papi and Manny? They didn't get out once between the two of them all game. That's amazing.
The offensive outburst makes me feel more comfortable with Schilling going out there tonight. Granted, if Carmona pitches like he did against the Yankees, it's going to be difficult for the Sox. But maybe Schill has just enough guile to take them through. And if it comes down to a battle of closers, I'll gladly take the Sox in that one.

[Charaxes]

Isn't Papi hitting over .500 this postseason so far?

I think that the Indians have the better bullpin overall, but I would definitely take Papelbon over Borowski. Although, the only question mark that the BoSox have in the bullpin would be Gagne.

[Granite Moose]

Although, the only question mark that the BoSox have in the bullpin would be Gagne.

And we have the answer to any question about game 2. Granted, Lopez stunk up the ballpark when he came in, but nice to see that Gagne continues his excellence since coming to Boston. :tired:

[mike_houghton]

I went to sleep after the ninth... knowing something was going to happen big. I knew we would win... but damn! A record setting inning? awesome

[Zatara55]

I think it's more amazing that the Tribe got through Manny and Ortiz in the 7th and 10th innings. (Had my eyes closed the whole time). But if CC and Carmona can't get their act together........how is it possible to walk so many batters with an 0-2 count?

[Granite Moose]

how is it possible to walk so many batters with an 0-2 count?

Well, that's been one of the hallmarks of the Sox team this year. They really work the count well which puts the strain on the starting pitching because their pitch counts go up quickly.
Unfortunately for the Sox, every time they got the lead, the Indians hitters would come through against Schilling.

[mike_houghton]

carmona and sabathia get there acts together? Did u see what the did against the team with best offense in 70 years? They can be perfect all the time:P

[mike_houghton]

CLEVELAND IN 4!!! I have no attachment to either team :P lol I love them both...
CLEVELAND IN 5!!!

[mike_houghton]

whew... 2 in a row... we got a chance

[malakim2099]

I think it comes down to the managers. Whichever one panics and starts one of their main guys on three days rest... will LOSE. Three days rest = Touch Of Death, as Joe Torre found out the hard way with Wang.

[Charaxes]

I don't know. Beckett showed in 2003 that he could come back on three days rest and be effective. With Boston's bull pin, all they are going to need from him would be five or six innings. However, I do agree that Boston should wait to use Beckett again until game five.

[mike_houghton]

wedge doesnt panic. His whole gameplan was to stick to his gameplan. He didnt bring in Sabathia for game 4 last series because of this. I just hope the Sox bring in Beckett tonight

[Granite Moose]

As much as I'd like to see Beckett pitch two more games this series, I have to say I think it's best to hold him back until game 5.
However, it's pretty much a must win for Boston tonight.

[Zatara55]

The weather here is supposed to rain pretty bad. So it's possible that with the game might be put off until tomorrow, in which case Beckettt can get his full rest.

[Granite Moose]

The weather here is supposed to rain pretty bad. So it's possible that with the game might be put off until tomorrow, in which case Beckettt can get his full rest.

Okay, now you're just teasing me here. :devious:

[mike_houghton]

and so can Sabathia in a hot home town hungering for a title

[Granite Moose]

and so can Sabathia in a hot home town hungering for a title

I think Boston would be more apt to start Beckett in that case then Cleveland would be to start Sabathia. Especially since I believe Byrd has pretty good career numbers against the Sox. But I might be remembering my stats wrong.

[mike_houghton]

lol he probably has... but I trust sabathia more... he has the fire... byrd has the heart.

[Zatara55]

Okay, now you're just teasing me here. :devious:

Starting to drizzle.......;)

There's been alot of debate about starting pitchers on three days rest and the stats have bourne out that they typically don't do well. I think that this isn't a real valid arguement. Usually when a manager brings a pitcher in from short rest it's because the team is already in trouble and the opposing team is just hitting better.

[Zatara55]

I like Manny, but does he always "pose" everytime he hits a home run? Has he ever done that and had the ball not leave the yard?

[mike_houghton]

didnt he do that in game 3?

[Granite Moose]

Starting to drizzle.......;)

There's been alot of debate about starting pitchers on three days rest and the stats have bourne out that they typically don't do well. I think that this isn't a real valid arguement. Usually when a manager brings a pitcher in from short rest it's because the team is already in trouble and the opposing team is just hitting better.

Well, the part that most reporters fail to mention is that Beckett was pulled from his Game 1 start because of his back tightening up and that he really wouldn't have been able to pitch at a high level for Game 4 anyway. He needed the extra days rest to hopefully be 100%, or close to it, for Game 5.

[Granite Moose]

I like Manny, but does he always "pose" everytime he hits a home run? Has he ever done that and had the ball not leave the yard?

Yes. Yes he has. Ended up with a single. At least the one I can think up off the top of my head. I imagine there have been others.

[Charaxes]

Well, I guess it doesn't matter to Manny if they win or not...

[mike_houghton]

lol I think they took that out of context.... I hate manny but I think he meant that they are going to treat it like any other game.

[Granite Moose]

lol I think they took that out of context.... I hate manny but I think he meant that they are going to treat it like any other game.

I agree with you here. Most people are ignoring the first part of the interview where Manny says he has complete faith in his team to fight hard and win the series.

[mike_houghton]

but man do I really hate Beckett now... freaking arrogant punk. Is there something I am missing? I know Lofton was taking a long time in the batters box a couple of games ago, and he dropped the bat at the plate, but to have Beckett sit there and yell at Lofton as he runs down the line and point to the ground is a little BS. It looked like Beckett said your out #####... I can not stand him and his smug look.

[Zatara55]

Manny had a 390 ft single! If I was his manager I would make him write "I will run when I hit the ball" 100 times.

And is Lofton dropping the bat at the plate some kind of insult? I never heard of anyone doing it before. Why did it get Beckett so upset?

[Granite Moose]

And is Lofton dropping the bat at the plate some kind of insult? I never heard of anyone doing it before. Why did it get Beckett so upset?

There's actually history from when Beckett was with the Marlins and Lofton was with Philadelphia. Apparently, Beckett finds it to be a form of showing up the pitcher when Lofton flicks his bat after drawing a walk. Personally, I think it's a small thing to take such a personal dislike to, but if it helps him stay fired up and focused, I'll take it.
Imagine if Manny was facing Beckett and did one of his long looks at a home run. Wonder what Beckett would do with that?

And, by the way, as a Sox fan I am loving Beckett in the postseason. Anybody know any way we can get him to pitch every game?

[RCricket55]

Sox aren't done, but I think Cleveland will win in the end. Colorado looks unstoppable though.

[Zatara55]

IIRC Lofton used to flip his bat since the 90's. I don't think it was ever mentioned as showing the pitchers up.

[RCricket55]

Manny had a 390 ft single! If I was his manager I would make him write "I will run when I hit the ball" 100 times.

And is Lofton dropping the bat at the plate some kind of insult? I never heard of anyone doing it before. Why did it get Beckett so upset?

Manny will always be Manny....basically not gonna happen.

[mike_houghton]

ahh another product of the Cleveland farm system that everyone loves

[Charaxes]

but man do I really hate Beckett now... freaking arrogant punk. Is there something I am missing? I know Lofton was taking a long time in the batters box a couple of games ago, and he dropped the bat at the plate, but to have Beckett sit there and yell at Lofton as he runs down the line and point to the ground is a little BS. It looked like Beckett said your out #####... I can not stand him and his smug look.
Yeah, but you can't deny he's been the best pitcher this postseason.

[Chief Pokishi]

I'm definitely in the camp that Beckett has an temper bigger than his beaver-looking head. The guy has a history of going overboard when he reomotely thinks anyone is showing him up. Don't get me wrong, many batters do today and many deserve some sort of retaliation (Manny anyone?) but Beckett thinks he's too special for anyone to say or do anything in his presence. That being said, let's start facing facts, the guy has now established the fact he's a postseason big game pitcher. As much as I dislike him, he's the guy I want on the mound for me at a big game.

[Granite Moose]

Well, as a Sox fan, game 6 was fun to watch. I can't imagine it was so much fun as an Indians fan. Probably about as much fun as I had watching the 11th inning of game 2. :tired:

Game 7 is shaping up to be a fun ride. I'm not exactly confident with Matsuzaka on the mound, but I'm hoping that the five days rest will get him back on his game. He's bound to pitch a good game in the playoffs, right? Of course, if Boston's bats stay hot, he won't have to be perfect.

[Inbetweener]

As a Sox fan, I'm quite frightened for tonight. Will we see pre2004 Sox when they tempt us with glory and then snatch it away at the last moment or will we see the new Red Sox, those guys who bounced back from a three game hole against the Yankees? Given they were down 3-1 here I'm tempted to say they will win tonight....but just saying that might be setting me up for another Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner/Bob Stanley, or Aaron Boone letdown. Go Sox! If they can't do it, thank goodness we have the Patriots. :)

[Granite Moose]

As a Sox fan, I'm quite frightened for tonight. Will we see pre2004 Sox when they tempt us with glory and then snatch it away at the last moment or will we see the new Red Sox, those guys who bounced back from a three game hole against the Yankees? Given they were down 3-1 here I'm tempted to say they will win tonight....but just saying that might be setting me up for another Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner/Bob Stanley, or Aaron Boone letdown. Go Sox! If they can't do it, thank goodness we have the Patriots. :)

Well the Pats and Sox both won today so you're a happy man. :classic:

Despite the few Francona moments where his decisions (or lack thereof) got me riled as usual, the Sox pulled it off. Very entertaining game and the final score certainly doesn't reflect on how close this game really was.

[RCricket55]

impressive come from behind series. It should be a good world series.