Big Series Ahead

I live right at the middle point between New York City and Boston. There are Red Sox and Yankees fans to beat the band. People out here love their baseball and they are absolutely certain that their team is the greatest and that all other opinions are completely invalid. It really is miserable. I'm amazed they get any joy out of baseball at all.

Anyway, the Tigers are set to make their annual trip to Boston to take on the Red Sox.  As I write this, the Sox trail the Yankees 5-2 in the eighth inning and are on the verge of getting swept by their rivals. I'm not sure what this means for the Tigers as they head to Boston.

Are they catching the Red Sox at the right time since they appear to be struggling? Or, are the Red Sox going to be pissed and ready to take it out on the Tigers and everyone else they face?

Jon Lester started for the Red Sox on Sunday, so the Tigers will avoid him on their four-game trip.  The Tigers ran Jarrod Washburn out there today, so the Red Sox will "avoid" him.

Going for the Red Sox will be Brad Penny, Junichi Tazawa, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz. Beckett still has ace stuff, but the other three guys are beatable. The last time Beckett faced the Tigers (back in the spring) he nearly threw a no-hitter.  Hopefully the Tigers have something better in store for him this time around.

I think the Tigers need to take two of four in this series. A sweep would be a real punch in the stomach and three out four really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Sadly, the Red Sox need these wins just as badly as the Tigers do. Not only have they fallen off in the AL East, they are in a neck and neck race for the Wild Card with the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays.

I'm not going to get greedy and expect a Tigers win in this series, but I want to see a win or two and some competive games. I would really hate to see the Tigers limp out of this four game series after getting outscored by 25 runs or something sick like that. I don't need that kind of trouble.

What are you expecting this week?