In a year in which the American League East was Boston’s to lose, the Tampa Bay Rays snuck up to win the division and left the Red Sox in the wild-card spot.
As the wild card, the Red Sox draw the AL-best Los Angeles Angels in the American League Division Series, which is set to get underway Oct. 1 in Anaheim.
Another meeting with the Angels in the LDS may forecast greatness for the 2008 Red Sox. The Red Sox eliminated Los Angeles in the 2004 and 2007 ALDS, on their way to a World Series sweep in both seasons.
This Angels team is unlike any the Red Sox have seen in the past. Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero isn’t the threat at the plate. John Lackey isn’t the only ace-worthy pitcher that will take the hill next week.
But Boston isn’t the typical Red Sox team of old. Manny Ramirez is no longer manning left field. Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis are the ones now providing protection to David Ortiz in the batting order.
Let’s take a look at how the two powerhouses stack up in their third postseason meeting since 2004.
Outfield
Los Angeles has received bunches of consistency from center fielder Torii Hunter and right fielder Vladimir Guerrero. The two have combined for 48 home runs and 169 RBI. Add Garrett Anderson’s .294 batting average, 15 homers, and 84 RBI, and you’ve got one heck of a productive outfield.
Boston took a huge blow when right fielder J.D. Drew had a back injury keep him out of the starting lineup for most of the second half of the season. The unpredictable nature of Drew’s injury may keep him off of the LDS roster.
Jason Bay has been the statistical leader in the outfield, while Jacoby Ellsbury has given the lineup a spark at the top of the order.
Advantage - With the more productive bats and slightly more reliable fielding, the Angels hold the upper hand.
Infield
The corners are the story for both teams.
The acquisition of first baseman Mark Teixeira gave Guerrero some much-needed protection in the lineup.
Teixeira’s power is complemented by third baseman Chone Figgins’ speed on the basepaths. Figgins is to the Angels what Ellsbury is to the Red Sox—a speedster with a good eye and a quick bat that gets on base.
The injury bug struck Boston’s infield as well this summer. 2007 World Series Most Valuable Player Mike Lowell had been experiencing hip problems for much of August and September before returning to the lineup in the season’s final series.
1 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Rory Davis 9 months ago
Nice prediction, and good article!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.