Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels-
Boston Red Sox
Strengths-Balanced team, good all around with a good mix of youth and veterans…. Best right side of the infield in the AL in 2b Dustin Pedroia and 1b Kevin Youkilis…Great manager for this club in Tito Francona… Premier top 3 of the rotation as well as excellent 8th and 9th combo in Hideki Okajima and closer Jonathan Papelbon…. very good defense.. team works counts and draws walks… underrated bench and team speed
Weaknesses- Health issues with 4 starts in sp Josh Beckett, RF JD Drew and 3b Mike Lowell as well as the season long wrist issues with DH David Ortiz…. not very strong in the 6th and 7th innings of the pen…. tough year for C and Captain Jason Varitek
Los Angeles Angels-
Strengths- Balanced team, ala the Red Sox…. 4 good SPs and an excellent pen led by single season saves leader Francisco Rodriquez.. Good lineup with a mix of power and speed… Excellent manager in Mike Scioscia… Handled the Sox this season going 8-1 and outscoring Boston 42-17 in their last 6 games.. Great defensive CF in Torii Hunter
Weaknesses- Older OF that has had health issues with Vlad Guerrero and Gary Matthews missing time… Have not had success vs the Red Sox in postseason
Store this away… Papelbon has had 11 scoreless appearances vs the Angels and their current team is 1 for 35 vs him
Pick
Los Angeles– Best team in AL all season and an injured,beaten up Boston club will lose in 5
Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays
CWS-
Strengths-Excellent team power…veteran team with a World series champion manager in Ozzie Guillen… Good SP and strong pen led by closer Bobby Jenks…. excellent catcher in A.J. Pierzynski
Weaknesses-Pitching is not set with late season run….slow, station to station slow pitch softball type team… not strong at 2b and SS
Tampa Bay Rays-
Strong-Very good starting pitching…. deep set up core in the pen… Good team speed and D… excellent corners in 1b Carlos Pena and 3b Evan Longoria… Manager of the year in Joe Maddon
Weaknesses-Closer spot in question with veteran Troy Percival breaking down.. average team power.. health of star LF Carl Crawford an issue… No success vs LH John Danks(4 runs in 19 1/3 innings over 3 starts)
Store this away-CWS hit 12 homers vs the Rays but TB pitchers also held them to 3 runs or fewer in 5 of 10 games.
Pick-TB- They are rested and set to go. Tough 5 game series win for the Rays.
