Boston/Cleveland?

Question

I think this series may go 7 games. Both teams have explosive offenses and decent pitching. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

After seeing Sabathia and Carmona take apart a great offensive team like my Yankees, I can see those two reaking havoc on the Boston lineup. Not to say that Boston's pitching isn't shabby but when Mojo's going your way watchout. I see this one going 6 and the Indians are on their way to the series.

Answer 2

I love the responses you're getting for this, Georgie...
I really enjoyed Erboes post... it's very much on-par with what I'm thinking.
The Indians are a great team and have been flying under the radar... but the talent and well-roundedness of them will win them the series in 6. Offensively, the Yankees are better than Boston. Boston's pitching is better - but really, they can't compete with Cleveland there after Beckett.

Eric B:
You're right - CC was shakey in game one vs. NY - everyone has an off day now and then. You can't ignore the fact that he's a phenominal pitcher and has been all year. And as far as the long ball - Boston has a lot more of that than Cleveland... but that's not always what wins ball games. Cleveland has guys hitting it down the line and into gaps... and using thier speed to advance runners into scoring position and then getting a clutch hit. I'd rather have guys on base moving around than a bunch of solo home runs. It's just a different kind of playing ball... and it works.
This will without a doubt be the best series of the playoffs. I'm really looking forward to watching it.

Go Tribe!

Answer 3

I also think this will be a terrific series. Cleveland's pitching proved too much for the Yankee lineup and I think it could do the same against the Red Sox. On the other hand Boston's pitching is much better than the Yankees and the Indians will definitely see the difference.

It will come down to which pitching staff cracks first. As much as I'd like to see the Indians break that 59 year drought I keep seeing the specter of Josh Beckett hanging over their heads. Cleveland won't make it easy but the Red Sox will win in 6 or 7 games. They will go on to win the world series.

If by chance the Indians win against Boston and go to the world series, they will win the series as well. Neither the Rockies nor the D-Backs have the pitching to stop either American League lineup.

Answer 4

I think this is going to be a great series that will go seven games. The first two games have top notch pitchers going for both teams. I think these two games will be won by 1 or 2 runs. The 3 and 4 games, that is one or both teams breaking out and scoring some major runs. I think both teams have "mediocre" 3 & 4 pitchers, which could have lights out or stink the joint up! The Sox have the experience, but the Indians have young kids who are oblivous to the pressure right now and having a good time playing ball! The only advantage I see is in the closing department. I definitely have more confidence in Papelbon than Borowski. This series is going to be exciting. I have never seen two teams so evenly matched from pitching to hitting to defense. It's going to be a classic street fight!

Answer 5

When you play 162 games and two teams are tied for the best record in baseball, then it is safe to assume they are the two best teams in baseball, which is why it amazed me that the Yankees were heavy favorites over the Indians and some "experts" are predicting a sweep by the Sox in this series (in case you missed it, watch the Passan piece on Yahoo! Baseball. He talks about the Sox' postseason winning streak going back to '04 and how it will be something like 19 in a row after they sweep these next two series. He doesn't mention the last two playoffs, which I am assuming the Sox lost at least three times in each. By his logic any team in sports can have a winning streak in the hundreds as long as they can skip the losses. A real piece of work this guy is.).

Each team's strengths are negated by the other's (Sox' better lineup and the Indians' better starting pitching; Sox's better closer and the Indians' better set-up men), which should make it a very good series.

It is my opinion the key matchup will be Schilling vs. Carmona. Schilling, at this stage of his career, is really only average, but his postseason success cannot be ignored. If he pitches like he did versus the Angels it will negate the one clear advantage the Indians' have. Beckett and Sabathia are even. Westbrook and Matsuzaka are even. Carmona and Schilling ARE NOT even, unless Schilling is postseason magic once again.

I also wonder if the Sox are willing to do the little things in order to win. Make no mistake about it, the Indians' were doing everything it took to win against the Yankees, while the Yankees were waiting around for the home run, which is why the Indians won the series. If the Sox fall into the same trap then that may be another advantage for the Indians.

It should be a great series. These are the two best teams in baseball.

Answer 6

I agree. I am a yankees fan and Cleveland simply had better stuff this year. They're hot. Boston just swept the angels too so I agree it'll be a VERY close series...I predict cleveland winning in game 7 though. i think CC and beckett will be very intresting...your thoughts on the pitching matchups? and who do you think will come out the winner of this series?

Answer 7

Well, the Indians have had better luck with the Red Sox than the Yankee's, but this will be the battle of the pitchers. It is hard to say, but since the Indians is a team of fine young men who has heart of the game, I think the Indians will win in 5 or 6.

Answer 8

I think that this will be a pretty good series myself. it will come down to who wants it more. I really would like to see a Cleveland/Colorado World Series as they are the two underdogs but it will most likely be Boston and Arizona in the World Series. But in my opinion which ever team makes it out of the ALCS they will be the team to win the World Series.

Answer 9

Boston - in 5 or 6 games

Answer 10

People seem to put too much emphasis on how Cleveland beat the YANKEES.
Look at the first game, Sabathia pitched poorly, he barely lasted 5 inning & if the Yankee hitters weren't so bad he would have been destroyed. If he is that shakey in Fenway he won't make it out of the 3rd. Carmona is a different story, despite the good numbers the SOX have against him I think cleveland wins that game. Then Westbrook & Byrd will both lose because if the way they pitched against the YANKEES is any indication of how they handle postseason pressure the RED SOX will run them both over. I like that the YANKEES series got Cleveland all psyched up because there about to run into a team with better pitching, millde relief, closing, defence & clutch hitting than that poor *** YANKEE team had. Those 2 out RBI will dry right up as soon as they face a good pitcher (like games 2 & 3) and the TRIBE don't have the long ball when they need it like the sox do.
RED SOX in 6