Writer's
block. Or whatever the equivalent is when you're not really a writer.
Blogger's block? Poster's
block? Anyway, I've been a little burned-out
on baseball lately, what with the NFL season cranking up, the Patriots
routinely giving me heart palpitations, and the NBA season just around
the corner. Coupled with the Sox' inability to win a game against
Toronto, and essentially backing into the Wild Card spot, I thought I'd
give myself a week or so prior to the playoffs to get my brain back
into order. It helps that the projector at the Sydney Manor went down
last Thursday, preventing me from watching any baseball at all.
Seventy-five inches of High-Definition television has spoiled me;
watching the Patriots Sunday on a meager 36-inch TV with no HD was
all but unbearable, even if the snowy picture did remind me of the days
of my youth, watching Sunday football on one of the three local
stations our rabbit ears managed to pull in.
What the time
away did provide me with was a little inspiration. I thought about the
impending Divisional series against the Angels, and how our Red Sox
would fare. I thought about our rotation, our lineup, and our chances.
And, after all the thinking was done, I've come to a conclusion: I have
no frickin clue what's going to happen. And that frightens me just a
tad. Obviously, history says they own the Halos, and that reaffirms my
suspicion that Beckett and Lester will overpower the Angels' hitters,
and the Sox will come home to lock up an ALCS berth in three games,
four tops. But another part of me, the part that witnessed the Sox'
somewhat mediocre end to the season, says that the Halos have had
enough of being the Sox' red-headed step-brother, and will come at them
full-force, possibly forcing five games. The Red Sox know a thing or
two about subverting history, about rewriting their fate.
Of
course, this is all overshadowed by the real question: do these Red Sox
have what it takes to match up against the Yankees, owners of
baseball's best record and home-field advantage throughout the
playoffs? Again, we look to history to tell the tale. It wasn't long
ago the Yankees were the dominant force in baseball. Teams withered
under their onslaught of hitting and power pitching. And it appears
they've regained that dominance, though it has yet to be
playoff-tested. And, again, the Sox have broken history, have changed
the face of fortune by executing that dramatic comeback back in 2004.
Now, five years and two championships later, do the Sox have what it
takes to keep history telling their story?
One thing I am
sure of is that these playoffs will be exciting, dramatic, and a ton of
fun. The Yanks, who play either Minnesota or Detroit, look to roll
easily into the second round. Unless Detroit, who still have one more
regular-season game against the Twins to determine the AL Central
Pennant-holder, can come rolling tough into the Bronx and take a game,
the Yankees will get their chance to face the victor of the Sox-Angels
series, most likely with an extra day or two of rest. Despite the
dominance of Justin Verlander, who could potentially take Game 1 in
Yankee Stadium, the Tigers are not much of a threat to New York. Only
if Verlander is lights-out not once, but twice, do they even have a
remote shot.
All trepidation aside, I do believe the Red Sox
and Yankees will meet in the ALCS, and I do believe it will be one hell
of a show. The Red Sox have a lineup to match the Yankees, especially
when guys like JD Drew, Jason Bay, and Kevin Youkilis are hitting the
ball. And, Papi is still Papi; even through his struggles early in the
season, he's remained a conerstone of the Sox' batting order, and I
imagine there are still few pitchers who enjoy seeing him step to the
plate. The biggest question, in my mind, is whether our rotation can
silence (or at least quiet down) the Yankees' bats. That will be the
key. The Sox need Beckett, Lester, Dice-K and Clay Buchnuts to hit
their marks and keep the offense in the game. And, you know what? I
think they will. I don't believe this will be a series of blow-outs. I
think these will be tight games, anxiety-inducing games,
liver-destroying games that make us all remember why baseball is so
much fun to watch, especially in October.
Just to disprove the notion of curses, be they video game- or magazine cover-induced, I'm calling the playoffs thus:
American League Divisional Series 'A': Yankees over Tigers/Twins in 4
American League Divisional Series 'B': Red Sox over Angels in 4
National League Divisional Series 'A': Phillies over Rockies in 4
National League Divisional Series 'B': Cardinals over Dodgers in 5
American League Championship Series 'A': Red Sox over Yankees in 7
National League Championship Series 'B': Cardinals over Phillies in 6
2009 World Series: Red Sox over Cardinals in the most amazing World Series in ages, in 7 games.
Let the comments, insults, questions and diatribes BEGIN!
GO RED SOX!
The optimism here makes me very happy Kris, and now that I'm a proud owner of a Game 5 ALCS ticket I'll be rooting extra hard in the ALDS (like I could have rooted any harder).
I wouldn't sleep on the Angels though, they have, what I feel is the most to prove in the ALDS out of any of the eight teams - which may finally make them bare their teeth and finally start punching back.
Posted by: Derek Hixon | October 06, 2009 at 02:16 PM
What a shocker Red Sox over Yankees is your bold prediction.
Personally I dont even think you will get by the Angels. But I hope you do. And in that case.. I find it doubtful that a team that only managed to win 1 out of the final 9 games against the Yankees... and NONE of the final 7 games at Yankee stadium. I'm sorry... I 'm just not seeing it this go around. I see history going back to what it has always been and that continuing for some years to come. You had your brief moment in time. It's back to being the little bro again. Then again thats just what my heart is telling me. The same way yours is telling you Sox in 7 aginst the best team in baseball hands down.
Posted by: Erik | October 06, 2009 at 10:43 PM
never said it was a bold prediction. and if you really think the yankees are going to be dominant year-in and year-out, and the sox are always going to be second-fiddle, you haven't been paying attention...
your heart says yanks, my heart says sox...
Posted by: Kris | October 07, 2009 at 09:57 AM
I definitely say Sox in 5 in ALDS. ALCS I will hold off until we see how they play this week.
Check out my ALDS preview on http://www.4SportBoston.com!
Posted by: Craigga | October 07, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Luds is an asscock... Krazy Kris and DHix know there baseball... Put you asscock aside, i'm going with the not so wild 'wild card' odds of the boston red sox. look at the numbers and stop being such a Luds....
Posted by: SBS | October 08, 2009 at 02:04 AM
I deleted his comments, I'm definitely not a proponent of censorship, however - if you're just going to come on here and swear and and not add anything creative to conversation, than peace means you're out.
Posted by: Derek Hixon | October 08, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Glad to hear that Derek it's not censorship, it's ownership. you own the right to be boss.
thank you for your perspective on the state of red sox nation. I am a super fan.
Posted by: sbs | October 14, 2009 at 01:31 PM