do redsox fans at least take cleveland seriously now?

Question

i dont get how they can be such an underdog when they have the exact same record

Answer 1

The Cleveland Indians come into this Game 4 matchup with a 2-1 series lead over the Boston Red Sox, thanks to Monday night’s solid effort by starting pitcher Jake Westbrook in the Indians’ 4-2 win over Boston.

Tonight’s matchup between these two almost evenly matched teams, features two aging veteran starters that still know how to get the job done in Boston’s Tim Wakefield and Cleveland’s Paul Byrd.

Key Red Sox Trends

The Red Sox are 5-0 in Wakefield's last 5 starts on grass.
- The Red Sox are 7-1 in Wakefield's last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- The Red Sox are 10-3 in Wakefield's last 13 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.

Key Indians Trends

The Indians are 5-0 in Byrd's last 5 Tuesday starts.
- The Indians are 5-1 in Byrd's last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- The Indians are 5-1 in Byrd's last 6 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.

Key Totals Trends

The Over is 4-0 in Wakefield's last 4 starts vs. American League Central.
- The Over is 10-1 in Wakefield's last 11 starts on grass.
- The Over is 4-0 in Byrd's last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- The Over is 7-1 in Byrd's last 8 home starts.

Key Head-to-Head Trends

- The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
- The Under is 4-1 in Wakefield's last 5 starts vs. Indians.
- The Red Sox are 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in Cleveland.

The Pitchers: Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield is 17-12 in 31 starts covering 189.0 innings. Wakefield has 110 strikeouts, 64 walks and an ERA of 4.76.

Indians starting pitcher Paul Byrd is 15-8 in 31 starts covering 192.1 innings. Byrd has 88 strikeouts, 28 walks and a 4.59 ERA.

Analysis: Maybe it’s me, but the Cleveland Indians all of a sudden look like the team with the more confidence – and more importantly – the stronger pitching staff.

With Wakefield and Byrd likely canceling each other out with respectable performances, this game could hinge on the performance of each team’s bullpen – and the timely hitting that has helped Cleveland to their one-game lead. While I think it is still a very real possibility that the Boston Red Sox will win this series, I have to go with the Cleveland Indians to win tonight’s contest and take a 3-1 lead back to Boston with the possibility of closing out the series in Game 5.

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Answer 2

I completely have to agree, I never understood why Red Sox fans were so sure of winning this series against Cleveland. All year Cleveland has been close to the same record as the Red Sox. They both have similiar pitching staffs. And Cleveland can score runs just like Manny and Ortiz. I feel Cleveland has been really disrespected this year, but being a fan of the AL Central (White Sox), I'm used to AL Central teams being disrespected, despite the Central being one of the toughest divisions in baseball the last few years. And I'm actually a Red Sox fan (my second favorite team), but I still think Cleveland deserves more respect and I think the Red Sox should take them seriously. I predicted back on April 1 the Indians would win the Central and go to the World Series. I still believe the Red Sox will lose to the Indians. Not necessarily because the Indians are better, but simply because the Sox overlooked them.

Answer 3

Let me get this straight - if someone was of the belief that Boston would win this series, this is a complete and total affront upon the Indians, and a blatant show of disrespect?

You can pick a team to win, and that means the opponent is an absolute joke, and simply a charity case that major league baseball is parading in the spirit of the oppressed?

Is that the system the average fan uses today?

Answer 4

I always took Cleveland seriously. I think we would have had a better chance of winning against the Yanks. I wouldn't call Cleveland an underdog at all. From a true Red Sox fan we got shut down last night by great pitching.

Answer 5

The Red Sox better take the Indians seriously or they will be at home watching the world series on television, like the rest of us.

Answer 6

I'm a Red Sox fan, and I never thought this series would go less than 6 games, no matter who won. Without a doubt, the two best teams in baseball are playing in this series, and the winner will likely win it all.

Answer 7

i think they do now...before the series started they already talkin about the world series. (fans i mean)...i know we talk smack and all. (me being a die hard tribe fan all my life).but its all in fun. i think its a good series. we both tied for best record in baseball. our bullpen is stronger, and boston's 3,4,5 hitters a re very tough..heck, im still a manny fan (oops did i say that), but not against the tribe....i like where we are at right now going into tonights game..but it may go 7. i hope not...GO TRIBE. LETS NOT GO BACK TO BOSTON..