Wakefield will get the ball according to Red Sox manager Terry Francona. He was on ESPN News and verified that it will be Wakefield, Schilling and Pedro. He wants to keep Schilling from having to bat with the bad wheels. So he will use him in games 2 and 6 (both at Fenway). I would imagine Lowe will get the ball in game 4.
A factor in the WS will be Red Sox 1st base position on the road. David Ortiz is an adventure in the field but will have to play 1st when the series moves to NL city. This puts spark plug Kevin Millar on the bench which also hurts.
wil.
A factor in the WS will be Red Sox 1st base position on the road. David Ortiz is an adventure in the field but will have to play 1st when the series moves to NL city. This puts spark plug Kevin Millar on the bench which also hurts.
wil.
Blue - regardless of which team wins tonight you like the NL is that correct? So you like either Houston or St. Louis to beat Boston I assume.
Personally I would rather the Red Sox draw the Cards because of pitching. Lidge looks much better than Isringhausen and the Clemens/Oswalt dou are better than anything the Cards can run out there. Offensively I don't think the Sox are to worried (after facing Yanks ) which team they have to get out - Cards or Stros.
wil.
I totally agree with Wil's reply, I was $alivating at a Houston matchup. I just don't see the same easy money with this more even matchup: Cardinal pitchers do not inspire great confidence(Maybe i'll just pound the over exclusively). However, will Schilling be able again? Will Lowe turn from Mr. Inconsistency to Mr. Dependable? Pedro's damaged goods since being ruined by Grady. What i mean is that if just one out of those pitchers doesn't come through...
houston is really not that good. if not for a late season surge they wouldnt have even made the playoffs, and it took the cards seven games to beat them.
the cardinals play great defense and are incredibly sound with fundamental play, but this almost gets completely wiped out by the fact the entire boston line up can take it yard except for cabrera (he can just not to the same extent). the cardinal fundementals on offense dont give them the same edge as against houston, because boston has some gold glovers of their own.
the pitching like harold renoylds pointed out has the powerful 2 headed monster of schill and pedro just like the zona team that won it. the cardinals really have no answer for this.
also the bench boston has a nice edge, with dave roberts, doug minkiwietz and pokey reese. IMO, francona has displayed that he does a great job using these players effectively.
jeff suppan is one of the worst starting pitchers in the history of fenway so if we see him there hes going to get destroyed.
houston was the only team to best the cards in the regular season series and nearly did it again in the playoffs. st.louis had impressive win total yes, but who was in the NL this year? atlanta, houston and the dodgers were all shoddy teams by playoff standards and all had holes in them just like the cards do with their pitching. the 04 assembly doesnt compare to the 03 one that had much stronger teams with florida, the cubs and a stronger braves team.
boston had to deal with teams like new york, baltimore, texas, anahiem, oakland and minnesota all year. I honestly doubt the cards would be where they are if they had to deal with clubs like that the whole year.
bottom line, the cards just dont stack up and boston has shown us their hunger and heart as well as a willingness to complete a mission to become world series champs.
albert pujols in a press confrence last night was quoted as saying "in spring training we didnt really expect to be here"
Boston Red Sox in 5
the cardinals play great defense and are incredibly sound with fundamental play, but this almost gets completely wiped out by the fact the entire boston line up can take it yard except for cabrera (he can just not to the same extent). the cardinal fundementals on offense dont give them the same edge as against houston, because boston has some gold glovers of their own.
the pitching like harold renoylds pointed out has the powerful 2 headed monster of schill and pedro just like the zona team that won it. the cardinals really have no answer for this.
also the bench boston has a nice edge, with dave roberts, doug minkiwietz and pokey reese. IMO, francona has displayed that he does a great job using these players effectively.
jeff suppan is one of the worst starting pitchers in the history of fenway so if we see him there hes going to get destroyed.
houston was the only team to best the cards in the regular season series and nearly did it again in the playoffs. st.louis had impressive win total yes, but who was in the NL this year? atlanta, houston and the dodgers were all shoddy teams by playoff standards and all had holes in them just like the cards do with their pitching. the 04 assembly doesnt compare to the 03 one that had much stronger teams with florida, the cubs and a stronger braves team.
boston had to deal with teams like new york, baltimore, texas, anahiem, oakland and minnesota all year. I honestly doubt the cards would be where they are if they had to deal with clubs like that the whole year.
bottom line, the cards just dont stack up and boston has shown us their hunger and heart as well as a willingness to complete a mission to become world series champs.
albert pujols in a press confrence last night was quoted as saying "in spring training we didnt really expect to be here"
Boston Red Sox in 5
Has STL faced any knuckleballers this season? Looking at their numbers vs. Wakefield, I see only Edmonds has faced him much or with much success. Wake is a real change of pace from the Clemens/Oswalt/Lidge types they've been seeing. Even NY who's seen a lot of Wake was having trouble. I think he may give STL fits, at least early in the game.
I have zero confidence in Wake game #1. I mean zero. And his price is dropping, so am not alone. D2, hard to use old data, Cards batters did not face him this season. However, he did pitch vs. San Francisco, and got crushed ERA 13.50 lasted 4 innings. And that L.A. Dodger start, lasted 4.1 but again, batting practice, 10 hits, 8 runs for a eye popping 16.62. Would say his worst outings were vs National League. Also, his first couple of appearances against Yankees he was also hit hard. Nice job in last appearance, but every single Red Sox pitcher, including gas can Lowe were effective then. I think Wakefield is going to get hit and hit hard. If light hitting Dodgers lit him up, what will Cards bats do? He is one of the worst World Series game #1 starting pitchers I have ever seen. I will be against him, in props and possibly the game, if it has any value left.
Yes, that stiff Woody, what was his last road outing, in Houston, 1 hit through 7? What a bum. Best pitching duel so far in playoffs. Funny you do not hear pitching duel and Tim Wakefield in the same sentence very often. I found a prop. :think: Total bases Edmonds vs Millar. Had to lay -1.30. Millar looks for walks, .222 vs. Woody. Edmonds swings for fences, batting outstanding .459, 17/37 against Wake. Got the visiting player, two spots up in order, plus better slugging and hr probability. Seems like a value. :heh:
Line still dropping on series, down to -1.36. Couple of places. Wild Bill gets a handheld gps unit before he walks into any more walls, actually into oncoming autobahn traffic.:neenee: .
Game one and series came out inflated. Corrections come fast in the real world. :breakit: Have scalps on everything, but might let small portion ride for entertainment. Also bought a prop that may seem strange, Boston +1.57 in game #7. If it does not reach 7, no action. That seemed like a value to me.
Is it Saturday yet?:aktion033
Line still dropping on series, down to -1.36. Couple of places. Wild Bill gets a handheld gps unit before he walks into any more walls, actually into oncoming autobahn traffic.:neenee: .
Game one and series came out inflated. Corrections come fast in the real world. :breakit: Have scalps on everything, but might let small portion ride for entertainment. Also bought a prop that may seem strange, Boston +1.57 in game #7. If it does not reach 7, no action. That seemed like a value to me.
Is it Saturday yet?:aktion033Great to see Wakefield get the start, especially how his season ended last year. Unfortunately though I have been on the Red Sox all the way I have to get off the bus now, St Louie is just too strong. They've won 112 games and counting this year plus thats calling off the dogs the last month of the season. Boston hasn't seen anything like these guys hit the ball this year.....
Cards in 6.
Cards in 6.
