I made the executive decision to basically do the MLB Playoffs like I did with the Brewers this season. Meaning the previews will be the same, highlights and lowlights will show up plus some recaps and bigger pieces. Hope you enjoy.
Starting Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Friday October 4th - Matt Moore v. Jon Lester 2:07 pm TBS
Game 2: Saturday October 5th - David Price v. Jon Lackey 4:37 pm TBS
Game 3: Monday October 7th - Clay Buchholz v. Alex Cole 5:07 pm TBS
Game 4: Tuesday October 8th - Jake Peavy v. Jeremy Hellickson 7:37 pm TBS (If Necessary)
Game 5: Thursday October 10th - Matt Moore v. Jon Lester 4:37 pm TBS (If Necessary)
Five Things to watch
Familiar Foes - The second matchup of the four division series that feature division rivals. Boston holds a 12-7 advantage over Tampa Bay for the season. Although these teams really have not met since the All-Star Break. They had two series over that span of time with the teams playing each other pretty even. Personally, I like seeing inter-division matchups because I feel like the little things within a baseball game are going to get shown more with these two teams versus Detroit playing Oakland.
Starting pitching dominance vs. big bats, who wins out? - Tampa Bay is coming on strong with their starting pitching. It should not be a surprise to anybody as this has been their M.O. for the end of the time. Boston has the best offense in baseball. What exactly wins out here? Conventional baseball wisdom would say Tampa Bay, but the thing is there is a significant drop-off from their starting pitching to their relievers. Even if the Red Sox do not do much for the first seven innings, they could make it up in the last couple innings of the game.
Are people sleeping on Boston? - I do not know why I feel this way, but I honestly think people are not talking about Boston. I realize this is a hard concept to grasp because the national media tends to fellate the Red Sox, but there is not much hype around this team. There has not been all season really as the main team nationally has been Los Angeles truthfully. Maybe this changes once the postseason swings into full force, but this is a team to be reckon with in October. On the other hand, I will also say John Farrell in his first playoffs would make me a wee bit nervous if I were a Sox's fan.
David Price will pitch two games - This is a prediction if the series go five games. David Price is pitching Saturday afternoon and I have to think he would end up going on a three day rest, right? It goes to the question of whether the Rays want Price for Game 1 of the ALCS if they get there. That's the big part of it though because they have to get there. Moore is a good pitcher and handles being on the road well, but it sets up for Price to pitch two games this series if Tampa Bay needs him.
Memories of the 2008 ALCS - With both of their success throughout the last five years, I cannot believe we have not seen these two teams play since the classic 2008 ALCS series where the Tampa Bay prevails in seven games. I mean it was a crazy series as the Red Sox were the defending champs and Tampa Bay took a 3-1 including two wins at Fenway only to have Boston battle back to force a Game 7. Remember Matt Garza dominated the game and Price got the save. Crazy where we are in five years.
Prediction
This will go five games. It will be wild and the best series out of the four of them. I think all these games are must-watch. I feel like the Red Sox will come out on top. Expect some dramatics.
Charlie.
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