The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With this guy.

by Allen Chace on Oct 9, 2007 2:19 AM EDT in Open Thread Comment 22 comments

Josh Beckett will be there. So you damn well better be watching.
(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Only three more days until we host C.C. Sabathia and the rest of that team from Cleveland, who were able to knock out the "revitalized" Yankees on Monday.

In the meantime...

Get acquainted with our newest bestest buddies from Cleveland. In a nutshell: This is a team that placed 6th in the AL in scoring runs at 811, and whose pitching finished 3rd in the AL at preventing runs with 704. You've seen their aces at work against the Yankees, especially the excellent performance from Fausto Carmona in Game 2. Two great setup men (Rafaels Betancourt and Perez) with a couple other good pieces in their pen, leading up to their closer (How do you spell relief? No really, I need some f'ing Rolaids): Joe Borowski.

Let's Go Tribe is the SBN blog of the Indians, run by Jay and Ryan. They do a great job over there, and it'd certainly be worth your time to check it out and see what Indians' fans feel are their strengths and weaknesses heading in. Congratulations on their reaching the ALCS is encouraged. Trolling, as always, is not.

I'll probably be putting up a position by position analysis (whether BOS starters vs. CLE starters or just educational about the CLE starters, I haven't decided) in the next coupla days.

With the great pitching on both sides, this could be an excellent series full of close games. Look forward to it. There's only ONE October. Except for the one last year. And next year. And. Jeezus.

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Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

goooodbye yankees.

Really, it may have been better for us to face the yankees(the weaker team)...but it wouldv been so annoying to see them come back from 0-2...so bring on cleveland!

by spinz on Oct 9, 2007 2:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

Who wants to beat the weaker team? Where is the joy in that?

This is the way it should be. No one can truthfully claim that "the Yankees should be there, they're the better team than the Red Sox" - especially after the Yankees hit just .185 in 4 games. They had their chance, they flubbed it. Tough noogies.

Bring on the Indians, good pitching and all! I like our team's chances in this.

BC14

by BC14 on Oct 9, 2007 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

Its far better to see King George try and gain a few seconds of spotlight from the bench with the Torre firing while the Sox v. Tribe is what everyone is baseball will be talking about.

Maybe we can expect the "Bronx is Burning 2" sometime in early 2008? This is killing King George. Cashman better find a whole and hide until February.

I'm looking forward to the Tribe coming to Fenway, they have everything to prove. Sox have experience, the 2007 Cy Young, the best 1 + 2 punch in baseball, the rookie of the year, the best bullpen in baseball, Schilling and the fountain of youth, Sox won the season series 6-4, Sox are hotter than lava, plus the Fenway fans and the media steps ups their coverage a notch.

What has the Tribe proven? They beat the Yankees in a short series with 1 1/2 pitchers and needed a swarm of locust to do that.

Nope, Tribe has all the pressure, Sox are chillin.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 9, 2007 3:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

... the best 1 + 2 punch in baseball

I hope you're talking about Papi and Manny. The Indians have the best 1-2 pitching combo in baseball: CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona.

Also, I wouldn't mention the season's series. The MFY were 6-0 against Cleveland before the playoffs started.

I'm not expecting an easy series.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2007 7:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

Yes I was talking about Manny and Papi, however, not to nitpick, I think Schilling/Beckett have better playoff numbers than Fausto/CC.

9-2, under 2.00 era and the man who has 3 shut outs in 6 appearances...Ill take them over a rookie and a guy who could barely locate his fastball at home in his first playoff appearance.

Of course the season matters thats why we have home field advantage.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 9, 2007 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my humbled opinion,

the Sox have this series in 6. Beckett & CC may take an 0-0 game into the 5th or 6th, but the Sox bats will prevail. Unlike Wang, Beckett should let a 3 run lead stand up.

Fausto/Schilling's the match-up to worry about, but Bloody Sox is stubborn. Could go either way. And you got Games 3 and 4 barring another unlikely performance from Byrd.

Just watch out for Canadian soldiers at the Jake. They descend around the 8th inning.

Yankee Ombudsman

by LateInningRelief on Oct 9, 2007 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

Cleveland is 22-10 since September 1st. Boston is 19-11. So both teams are playing well.

I think you misunderstood my meaning: The regular season's series means nothing. Just because the Sox took five of seven games, it doesn't mean they're a lock to advance. Also, home field advantage isn't that much of an advantage. In the 30 LCS since 1990, only 8 series have gone 7 games. In those 8 games, the home team has won four and lost 4. I think the success of Wild Card teams in the post-season points out how meaningless home field advantage is.

Yes, Schilling and Beckett have been great career playoff pitchers. But, Fausto Carmona (not a rookie) was lights out against the MFY. Schilling is 40, and Cleveland hitters have a .300 AVG against him. At best, this match-up is a wash. However, I'd give the Indians the slight advantage. I like the Sox' hitting better, though. This should be a good series.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2007 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The ALCS. It Starts...Friday. At Fenway. With

I hear ya, but I feel better with a guy who has pitched in every big game possible and come out 9-2 with an era under 2.00 over a failed closer who has one playoff appearance at home, with a swarm of bugs getting an assist.

Also, something tells me Dice-K is just due. Maybe we will get WBC Dice and not what we saw in the ALDS.

Im still liking the Sox in 5, call me a homer. Its ok.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 9, 2007 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh boy

This series is going be a grinder... Honestly I feel like this is what SHOULD have happened. The Yankees didnt' deserve to be here. This is RIGHT for baseball. The 2 best teams in the league... Lets get it on. I'm excited, and nervous. Friday is a dream pitching matchup.... Oh Boy, I'm nervous.

Headed to fenway friday afernoon... wish me luck getting tickets!

by kevindineen on Oct 9, 2007 9:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Afternoon?

What time is the game? I have a wedding this weekend - rehearsal dinner Friday and ceremony Saturday. Thankfully, the bride and family have Sox-itis. I wouldn't be shocked if they brought a TV into the chapel...

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Oct 9, 2007 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Showers

Also, we're looking at a wet Friday/Saturday, so I wouldn't be shocked if at least game gets puhed to Sunday. Hopefully this won't screw our rotation too much...

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Oct 9, 2007 10:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the way it ought to be...

... two well-matched teams, both with some strong points, and weak points.

However, I think the Tribe has more weaknesses than the Sox, and that may prove to be the difference.

The Sox have the Big MO right now. I think the Indians were nail-biting big time, even at 6-3, when the 9th inning rolled around. When Abreu made it 6-4, they were sitting on pins and needles. I think if it had gone to 5 games, they'd have blown it. And if Posada's long ball goes fair, it's 6-5 and now they're looking to the BP for help, and sweating bullets.

Of course, none of that happened, but as I saw their dugout last night in the 9th, they look like a team that will crumble under some real pressure.

Bring 'em to the Fens! Let's see how they handle some extended pressure. If they go 0-2 at Fenway, it'll be a very short series for them.

Sox in 5 games, is my prediction.

BC14

by BC14 on Oct 9, 2007 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: This is the way it ought to be...

I completely agree with the 0-2 statement.

If the Sox win both at home, this series is done in 5 games because I don't believe Paul Byrd or Westbrook have another set of games like they just pitched, even at home with the swarms of "Canadian Soldiers' the Cleveland grounds crew set free during the 7th inning.

Plus Manny is not a fan of Cleveland letting him walk, he is on fire and he will have something to prove.

Manny = MVP of ALCS.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 9, 2007 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hello From a Tribe Fan.

From a Cleveland fan, may this series be as enjoyable as I'm guessing it will.

We have something in common: true distaste for the Yankees. We're glad to do the work of dispatching them.

Nice blog here; we happen to think our blog has a slight edge on you guys, just as we think Cleveland is 52-48 in this series.

The pitching should be outstanding, the atmosphere will be rocking at both yards, and best of all, there will be no Yankees heading to the WS regardless.

Cheers.

by tabler84 from LGT on Oct 9, 2007 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right back at ya

Cheers.

Now that you've dispatched the Yanks, any chance you guys will call off the Wrath of God? Plague and Pestilence are no way to win an ALCS.

;^)

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Oct 9, 2007 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Right back at ya

Naw - we're done with the bugs though and will be bringing in the frogs next. Watching the second-coming-HOF-to-be Joba crack under pressure was well worth the 3 goats we had to sacrifice to get the midges. Anyways, you guys have been there (once upon a time) - you win it however you can.

I'm looking forward to this series. It really should be a good one. Best two teams in the majors going head to head with stacked lineups, great starting pitching and deep bullpens. I wish you guys luck, just don't mind that I also wish you to lose.

Oh, by and by, the Cy Young will be going to a certain lefty Indian this year. Not that Beckett doesn't deserve it as well, CC was just a smidge better and most of the national media recognizes that.

It's about that time...

by mjmarble on Oct 9, 2007 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

on Sabathia winning the CY. I think the total innings sways the press corp. Though I think Beckett was/is better.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Oct 9, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Right back at ya

Sabathia absolutely deserves credit for giving the Indians more innings this season, and on the off-chance that I could ever take my "Sox Fan" hat off, I'd vote for him for the Cy.

Given that, I don't think any Indians fan (or the opposite, from Sox fans) can say that out of 100 starts, in the choice between Beckett and CC, that they'd take CC everytime. Maybe this isn't coming out right. I guess my point is that the total innings (and Beckett missing a few starts) are what really sets them apart. I don't think you can go into a single game and say, hey, HE'S the best pitcher.

Also, don't forget that many in our sports media are dumb and enjoy the number 20.

by Allen Chace on Oct 9, 2007 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Right back at ya

Allen,

Over at LGT we've debated the Cy Young Award and have come to essentially the following conclusions:

The award is virtually pointless given all the emphasis on near-irrelevant stats (as you have pointed out).
You could make compelling arguments for CC, Beckett, and Carmona. CC's workload is an edge.
No one will be upset if Beckett wins; he's just as deserving as our guys. This is not like when Colon tripped over a bunch of meaningless wins to take it (and Cliff Lee grabbed some votes, too!)

The regulars at LGT do a pretty good job at being as objective as possible. We all admire Beckett. We loved him when he finished off the Yanks. We just would like him to have an off night on Friday.

by tabler84 from LGT on Oct 9, 2007 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So long as CC is "offer..."

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Oct 9, 2007 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Right back at ya

Good points all, aside from that last sentence. :) You could make the argument that Sabathia has already had his off night, but there's no guarantee that everyone will have one, or just one.

All kudos to Carmona, who pitched a hell of a game against the Yankees and had an excellent season. That being said, I still think this season, that the meaningless pitching award competition is between Sabathia and Beckett only. A healthy Erik Bedard might've ended up trumping both. Of course, I also think Carmona is everything the Yankees think they have in Chien-Ming Wang, and he'll be the offseason favorite (with absolutely just cause) to win it in 2008. (Maybe all this is me putting too much faith in THT's FIP metric, but going by that, it's clear that Sabathia, Beckett, and Bedard were in a class of their own this season, though it's a metric that undoubtedly penalizes those who are successful despite not striking out 7/G.)

Holy crap did Cliff Lee fall off a, well, his first name. Not that you guys weren't aware of that.

by Allen Chace on Oct 9, 2007 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs