Glancing At The ALCS

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, October 09, 2008 12:00 PM

So, let’s say the Phillies win the NLCS. Whoever wins this series … well … will play the Phillies in the World Series.

I do like saying that last thing.

Anyway, it’s the Red Sox and the Rays in the ALCS. On one side you have the defending world champion, the best major league team of the last five seasons, the burgeoning dynasty built by 35-year-old wunderkind Theo Nathan Epstein (Can I be general manager with two world titles under my belt in 12 years?) and the team most people across the country are growing to hate. On the other side you have baseball’s doormat since its existence, a team that never quite lifted its head from the cellar despite proclaiming a great farm system, a team that finally reaped the benefits of its system — and its wildly intelligent manager — and took the American League Eastern Division crown.

Fun theater, eh?

Lest we forget these teams will practically take 20 paces, turn and draw upon first pitch. It’ll be an entertaining set of games, with crazy fans on both ends, and very solid baseball throughout.

Shame it’ll go five games.

Yup, I’m calling a 4-1 Red Sox victory. (And don’t bet against me — I correctly predicted the Sox, Rays and Phils series, even being very accurate with how the Phils would win it.) Now, the Rays are a very talented team and deserve to win this series. But there’s too much youth, too much of a shaky bullpen, and too much reliance on a brittle and green rotation. Okay, I know, they’ve gone through 166 games this way. But the league championship series is a different beast — it’s where little moments mean everything, where experience and clutch go hand in hand. Yes, young teams have triumphed in the past, but the Red Sox sport a swagger and knowledge far beyond anything the Rays will hand them in this series.

Both teams have little boys out there, but Boston’s boys have been there before. Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon and Dustin Pedroia had Josh Beckett, Manny Ramirez, Mike Timlin and David Ortiz. Who does Evan Longoria and Co. have? The experience factor will go a long way.

Boston’s pitching is on shaky ground, as well, with Beckett hampering himself through a few innings against the Angels. But Lester has proven himself as a big-game arm, and Daisuke Matsuzaka is no slouch in the No. 2 role. And don’t underestimate the wise Tim Wakefield when he starts game four in Boston. That’s the game where Boston will take a 3-1 lead, handing the ball back to bend-not-break Matsuzaka for the clincher.

I can envision it now. Daisuke goes six, giving up a run on five hits and four walks while forever frustrating Tampa’s bats, going cold in the clutch. Meanwhile, Boston breaks a 1-1 tie in the sixth with a Kevin Youkilis double. Hideki Okajima gives up a hit to start the seventh, but nails it down. The eighth goes to the young Justin Masterson, who lives up to his name in the setup role. In the bottom of the eighth, Boston puts the game away with an Ortiz homer, for old-time’s sake. Papelbon for the save? Forget it. 4-1 Sox, the score of the series.

Winner: Red Sox, 4-1

Permalink Comments (13) | Trackback (0)

13 Responses to “Glancing At The ALCS”

  1. Amanda Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    GO RAYS!

  2. Don M Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    Just for the sake of it.. I hope you’re wrong with this one Tim… I can’t stand the RedSox, and RedSox Nation and their membership cards and all

    I’d like to see a small-market team from Tampa, with guys that play for the team first, and their stats second advance to the World Series..

    AND.. I think either NL team matches up better against the Rays than the RedSox.. so i’m routing for the Rays here!

    I thought the Angels, WhiteSox, Cubs, and Phillies would be the teams to advance.. so i’m not going to make a prediction on either series

  3. Sports Handicapping Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    Well I happen to agree with you. Boston’s experience over the past 5 years or so is second to none. Tampa Bay has no post season experience as a team and very few players on their roster with experience. Let’s give Tampa Bay the credit they deserve for completing an unbelievable turn around this year but in the postseason it will be tough to beat Boston, who with the exception of this year, has owned them. A Red Sox/Phillies World Series would have some East Coast ring to it.

  4. Josh Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    Uh, they don’t have Manny anymore…

  5. NEPA Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    Josh – he’s not saying they have him now. They had him in the past and the young players on the Rays don’t have someone like him on their team to carry them.

  6. Paul Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    I really hope the series ends up Phils / Rays. That way the media will whine about not getting the LA/Boston.

  7. Dan Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    I picked rays angels dodgers and phils for the ds. This time, I’m taking rays in 6, phils in 7. Rays beat the sox in the regular season in some high-pressure games down the stretch, some of them taking place at Fenway. I love their staff and love their young hitters. I really hope they pull it off.

  8. Manny Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    Today, I don’t care about the Rays or the Red Sox.

    Today is PHILLIES-DODGERS, dammit.

    And, remember: ONE GAME AT A TIME. Let’s win our game first before wondering who (and HOW, Tim) will win the ALCS.

  9. SJ Mike Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    The Rays are a team that you just want to root for here, simply from the standpoint that seeing the Red Sox going to the World Series now is jsut as old as when everyone was sick of it being the Yankees every year.

    I just want to see something different for once.

  10. redsoxfan Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Thank god we have someone like Tim. A man who knows baseball. Keep up the good work. If I get any extra tickets to series I will let you know tim.

  11. Squonk64 Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    I actually like the Rays over the BoSox. I think its a better story. It may also be because I spent a major part of my life living in Central Florida.

    Besides, nothing would piss the TV Gods off more than Tampa getting into the World’s Series. The gereatric (sp?) crowd down there on the west coast likely won’t be able to find their remotes in time before the series is over.

  12. Quincy Kainoa Says:
    January 8th, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    I was curious if anyone knew anything about these professional sports ? I am considering signing up for this sports handicapping service. It looks pretty promising and its endorsed by a clickback guarantee which means your going to get your money back if you don’t like the system or it simply doesn’t work. Has anyone tried a service like this?

  13. Johna Mckesson Says:
    January 8th, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    I am looking for a professional sports handicapper and can’t make up my mind. There are so many services to choose from. I am kind of leaning towards this guy after checking out his video on sports picks. He claims a 97% success rate which I find hard to believe, I would be happy with a 60% success rate. Anyway, it’s supported by a clickbank guarantee. I have bought products through clickbank before and I can trust them. I was just wondering what other people thought about these kinds of products?

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