Postseason Playing Pepper: Boston Red Sox

The American League Wild Card has a familiar face, as the Red Sox seem to have owned that for the history of the WC.  Of course, that doesn't make them any less dangerous in the postseason, as they've shown a couple of times in the past five years.  I caught up with Christine of Boston Red Thoughts and Tim from Inside the Monster for their thoughts on the Boston club.

C70: What is the Red Sox's strength going into October?

ITM: The strength of the Red Sox heading into the playoffs is its' starting pitching. Many across baseball, in especially here in Boston, believe we have two number 1 starters in Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. There has been questions about each players' health after Beckett was scratched from his last start and Lester took a line drive off his knee/quad in NY last weekend. Lester will start tonight and Beckett on Saturday, presumably meaning Lester will start game 1 of the ALDS. Couple that with Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka pitching well down the stretch and one would assume this team goes as far as their starting pitching takes them.

I would also consider the bullpen a strength of this team with 3 power arms in Bard, Wagner and Papelbon. Lastly the veterans on this team and playoff experience can't hurt. The majority of this team went to game 7 of the ALCS last year, and another high percentage of those players won the World Series in 2007. Players like Ortiz, Becket, Pedoria and Youk have been around the block in October before. 

BRT: When they are firing on all cylinders, I like their chances against any team in a short series.  This Red Sox team is well rounded and, with the exception of a bit of a shaky bench, could win it all...

C70: What worries you about the team?

BRT: The injuries--as with every team, it's the end of the year--they are tired, and beat up.  But it's the little nagging injuries that could really hurt the Sox, Jed Lowrie's wrist, JD Drew's shoulder, Mike Lowell's hip, Josh Beckett's back, etc etc...

ITM: A few things worry me about this Sox team. First is their line up ability to hit good pitching. The addition of Victor Martinez in the middle of line up definitely makes them more formidable, however in game 7 of the ALCS in 2008 they scored 1 run and lost 3-1. Matt Garza shut them down in that game and Zack Greinke shut down the Sox last week in KC. The Angels pitching staff doesn't worry me as much, but pitchers like Sabathia and Verlander can definitely quiet the Sox bats. 

Secondly, the health of some key players worries me. Mike Lowell got a cortisone shot in his hip yesterday and Josh Beckett had a back spasm which was reported as minor but still kept me up for a few nights.

BRT: I think if Paul Byrd makes the roster, I will be very surprised, but if they need a long guy, he could be it...

ITM: I'm not sure that there will be any surprises either way if someone is added or left off the Red Sox playoff roster. The veterans on this team and the stars will all be there. The way Manny Delcarmen has pitched lately it wouldn't be shocking if he's left off the roster in favor of Paul Byrd being the emergency long man out of the pen. Delcarmen has been able to get left handed batters out, but that is about it. The last positional spot would probably go to Joey Gathright or rookie Josh Reddick. Gathright offers more speed off the bench (the Dave Roberts comparisons have been unavoidable here in Boston) but Reddick is probably better overall and gives Terry Francona an extra outfielder. Jacoby Ellsbury was instrumental in the Sox winning the 2007 World Series as a rookie.

C70: Who is the one key player for the Red Sox, the player that, if they don't go well, the Sox go home early?

ITM: If Josh Beckett isn't healthy or continues to pitch more like he did in August then he did in June and July then the Red Sox will be lucky to beat the Angels. If he pitches like he did in 2003 or the 2007 playoffs the Sox could very well be celebrating their third championship this decade.

BRT: Actually, if either Jon Lester or Josh Beckett don't go out and dominate, the Sox are in a heap of trouble...They need to win their games...

C70: What are the expectations for this team?  Is anything less than the Series a disappointment?

ITM: The expectation every year in Spring Training is for the Red Sox to compete, if not win the World Series. I believe this team has the talent to win it all this year, but I'm not sure I would call it a disappointment if they didn't win the Series. If the Angels sweep them out of the first round that would be considered disappointment in my book, but any kind of success in October is something to hang your hat on. We've become very spoiled here in the New England area this decade and have come to expect championships year in and year out; but these things are as much luck as they are talent. 

BRT: I have never really subscribed to the belief that if the Sox don't go all the way that it's a failed season.  When they lost to Tampa Bay last year, I was disappointed and a little surprised ( when you teams makes a habit of coming back from the edge--more than once--you're shocked when it doesn't happen...:-) While I would like for them to win, I think there are better teams than the Sox right now--or at least how the Sox have been playing as of late...But anything can happen in a short series, so I'll be watching and hoping...:-)

Thanks to Tim and Christine for their responses!