2007 ALDS: LAA vs. BOS - Who wins?

[hudsonharden]

Who's your pick to advance to the ALCS in this matchup?

[Erik Bedard]

This sucks because I was hoping that the Red Sox wouldn't hit the Angels until the ALCS, because I like the Angels to go to the WS.

[natsnsoxfan]

I'm really hoping the Red Sox do, but I'm not real confident they will.

The Red Sox are hot going in right now though....

[geezer]

Its in the history books, the Angels and Red Sox have faced in the playoffs twice before, and the Red Sox with home field advantage on both series, and the Red Sox beat them all 2 times.

[cardsfanatic]

I can only hope the Angels win this series. I loathe the Redsox.

[cardsfanatic]

Its in the history books, the Angels and Red Sox have faced in the playoffs twice before, and the Red Sox with home field advantage on both series, and the Red Sox beat them all 2 times.

You should apply to be a broadcaster. You pulled off that tidbit of worthlessness far too seamlessly to let it go to waste. :thumbsup:

[Westlake]

I can only hope the Angels win this series. I loathe the Redsox.

I sometimes wonder how fans of NL teams can hate an AL team so much, and vice versa. I couldn't possibly imagine hating a NL too much, or at all. Is it just the immense amount of media coverage? If so, shouldn't you hate the media outlets for covering 2 teams more than your own or others you would like to see more? In this case, I wonder why more people don't shoot the messanger.

If it's the payroll thing, that's understandable. They should lose a sizeable chunk (over 40 mil) of that in the off-season, which will be nice, unless they re-sign Team MVP Mike Lowell.

If its not any of the above, more power to you for knowing enough about an AL team to loathe them.

[PhilWings24]

Its in the history books, the Angels and Red Sox have faced in the playoffs twice before, and the Red Sox with home field advantage on both series, and the Red Sox beat them all 2 times.

the red sox didn't have homefield agains them in 2004 when they beat the Angels.

5 game series are always unpredictable, but i feel pretty good about boston's chances in this series. Here's my arbitrary breakdown.

(again, this is pretty arbitrary and just my personal opinion)
Beckett vs. Lackey: Beckett takes it probably about 62% of the time
Schilling vs. Escobar: Given schil's playoff resume and escobar's health issues, i'd say schil takes this about 58% of the time
Daisuke vs. Weaver: I'd say Daisuke takes this only 45% of the time
Wake vs. I don't know: since i dunnoa who their 4th starter will be, this is particularly arbitrary, but i'd expect wake to beat most playoff-quality-4th-starters 50% of the time.
And then Beckett and Lacky repeat.

So add all that jazz up, and out of 5 games i give the red sox 2.77 wins (against the angels 2.23). like i said, 5 game series are unpredictable lol, but i definitely would consider the sox favorites here

[cardsfanatic]

I sometimes wonder how fans of NL teams can hate an AL team so much, and vice versa. I couldn't possibly imagine hating a NL too much, or at all. Is it just the immense amount of media coverage? If so, shouldn't you hate the media outlets for covering 2 teams more than your own or others you would like to see more? In this case, I wonder why more people don't shoot the messanger.

If it's the payroll thing, that's understandable. They should lose a sizeable chunk (over 40 mil) of that in the off-season, which will be nice, unless they re-sign Team MVP Mike Lowell.

If its not any of the above, more power to you for knowing enough about an AL team to loathe them.

So, being a fan of an NL team excludes me from having an opinion on an AL team? News to me. I'm indeed a Cardinals fan. A rabid one at that. However, I'm a baseball fan first and foremost. I subscribe to XM radio _only_ for the MLB radio package. If it weren't for them broadcasting every single game in the MLB I'd find a better way to spend 150 bucks a year than on something I already get for free -- radio. I subscribe to the MLB TV package as well. I don't just watch Cardinal games. While they may be my main focus I keep up with pretty much every team in the entire MLB, as time permits.

My loathing of the Redsox has to do with several things. I'll just list the broad strokes and I'm sure they'll be unpopular and people will most certainly bash them. And that's aces in my book. But it's still going to be my opinion and nothing will change that.

#1) You're really exhibit A of it. You're from a state with two MLB teams and yet you're a fan of a team from 2,000 miles away? I mean, perhaps you're from the Boston area, I don't know. If so, you'd be one of the few psuedo-Boston fans that had ties to the city. Prior to 2004 I didn't meet a single Redsox fan outside of Mass. On the internet or otherwise. Now there's a Redsox jersey on every street corner in Louisville, KY for crying out loud... and they have fans from all corners on the net, too. Same with the Yankees.

#2) And I see this one on baseball fever all of the time. It happened just this year when the Yankees signed Roger Clemens. Redsox fans cry, piss and moan all of the time about how the Yankees spend money. Claim it's unfair and blah, blah, blah. Yet, the Redsox own the highest payroll to ever win the WS. They spent what, 250 million this off-season on free agents? Their entire 2004 WS team was comprised of players they acquired via free agency OR fleecing small market teams for veterans in trades that the small market teams could no longer afford. Who exactly did the Redsox _develop_ on that WS team? And then they claim the Yankees "buy" this or "buy" that. The Redsox are example numero uno on "buying" teams. And that's ok, the rules allow it. So I don't hate them for that fact. I hate them because their fans are always lambasting the Yankees for signing any free agent, no matter how small... all the while their team is writing checks to fill every position on their 25. Some big stones to be tossing in that glass house.... and hypocrisy drives me batty.

#3) Prior to the Redsox winning the WS in 2004 I already disliked them. I can only tolerate so much whining from a fan base about curses and how they are treated so unfairly my destiny. The Cubs are on my most hated list too for this same reason (amongst several others). Do Boston fans think they are entitled to win the WS every time they reach the post season or something? And if they don't it's some kind of vast conspiracy and/or curse from something that happened 100 years ago? I mean, seriously, there are a lot more fan bases that have it _far_ worse than Boston _ever_ had it, in their entire rich history. Yet Boston pissed and moaned enough for all of them and then some.

#4) The fact they spanked my Cards in '04 didn't help matters, either. :)

[Westlake]

So, being a fan of an NL team excludes me from having an opinion on an AL team? News to me. I'm indeed a Cardinals fan. A rabid one at that. However, I'm a baseball fan first and foremost. I subscribe to XM radio _only_ for the MLB radio package. If it weren't for them broadcasting every single game in the MLB I'd find a better way to spend 150 bucks a year than on something I already get for free -- radio. I subscribe to the MLB TV package as well. I don't just watch Cardinal games. While they may be my main focus I keep up with pretty much every team in the entire MLB, as time permits.

You assumed wrong, I didn't say you couldn't have an opinion at all. Dont know where you got that idea. Wasn't trying to critisize you, just trying to figure it out is all.

My loathing of the Redsox has to do with several things. I'll just list the broad strokes and I'm sure they'll be unpopular and people will most certainly bash them. And that's aces in my book. But it's still going to be my opinion and nothing will change that.

#1) You're really exhibit A of it. You're from a state with two MLB teams and yet you're a fan of a team from 2,000 miles away? I mean, perhaps you're from the Boston area, I don't know. If so, you'd be one of the few psuedo-Boston fans that had ties to the city. Prior to 2004 I didn't meet a single Redsox fan outside of Mass. On the internet or otherwise. Now there's a Redsox jersey on every street corner in Louisville, KY for crying out loud... and they have fans from all corners on the net, too. Same with the Yankees.

You're going to be reaching if you're going to point at me as an example of a bandwagon post-2004 Sox fan. I've been a Sox fan since 1996, when my favorite player became Nomar, and thus the Red Sox followed. I'm from a state that has 2 MLB teams, both of which I was never taken to any games of as a kid, and both of which are over 400 miles away (about twice as far as the distance between Boston and New York). I really have no regional ties or childhood ties to any baseball team (the Twins would be the closest, as those were the only games I was taken to growing up). Sure would have been nice to grow up an Astros fan, so I could actually go watch my favorite team more often than every time the Sox play the Rangers.

There are tons more Sox fans since 2004, and that's going to happen with any great cinderella story. It gets annoying to have to hear from random people I meet at parties say "OMG my friend is like totally a huge Sox fan too!." Then I meet said "Sox fan" with a Sox cap on that cant name a single person not name Ortiz or Schilling. It's annoying, but it was nice to have all that support in '04 as well. So, although you tried to direct it at me, I agree with the premise of that.

#2) And I see this one on baseball fever all of the time. It happened just this year when the Yankees signed Roger Clemens. Redsox fans cry, piss and moan all of the time about how the Yankees spend money. Claim it's unfair and blah, blah, blah. Yet, the Redsox own the highest payroll to ever win the WS. They spent what, 250 million this off-season on free agents? Their entire 2004 WS team was comprised of players they acquired via free agency OR fleecing small market teams for veterans in trades that the small market teams could no longer afford. Who exactly did the Redsox _develop_ on that WS team? And then they claim the Yankees "buy" this or "buy" that. The Redsox are example numero uno on "buying" teams. And that's ok, the rules allow it. So I don't hate them for that fact. I hate them because their fans are always lambasting the Yankees for signing any free agent, no matter how small... all the while their team is writing checks to fill every position on their 25. Some big stones to be tossing in that glass house.... and hypocrisy drives me batty.


How long do you really think they're going to own the highest payroll to win the WS? Are you really that surprised that it was in the last 4 years? Do you really think another team isn't going to overtake that record every 5 years or so?

Outside of that, agreed. Many Sox fan cry and moan about the Yankee spending when it's really unwarranted. However, i've learned to try and distance myself from those type of fans. Here in Texas, I haven't met many Sox fans I like because of things like this. It's absolutely hypocrisy.

#3) Prior to the Redsox winning the WS in 2004 I already disliked them. I can only tolerate so much whining from a fan base about curses and how they are treated so unfairly my destiny. The Cubs are on my most hated list too for this same reason (amongst several others). Do Boston fans think they are entitled to win the WS every time they reach the post season or something? And if they don't it's some kind of vast conspiracy and/or curse from something that happened 100 years ago? I mean, seriously, there are a lot more fan bases that have it _far_ worse than Boston _ever_ had it, in their entire rich history. Yet Boston pissed and moaned enough for all of them and then some.

#4) The fact they spanked my Cards in '04 didn't help matters, either. :)

It's not the whole fan base that is like that. And really, the media made is seem MUCH worse than it was. See: Dan Shaughnessy. I guess the mainstream ESPN lovin', bandwaggonin', hypocritical Sox fans soured the team for you, and that's understandable -- just try not to lump all of us together in there, because there are definately some Sox fans that don't fit that description... and I'd like to think i'm included in that.

As for the #4, sorry! :happy:

[hudsonharden]

The Angels are especially dangerous in a short series with Lackey and Escobar pitching the way they are, so even though 3 of the 5 games will be at Fenway, I'm going with the Angels on this one.

[Kdub Red Sox Fan 4Life]

Hmmmm... This is a toughy.:think: lol

Red Sox in 4. Here's why.

By virtue of having the best record in the AL, Boston gets to pick the scheduling format in the first round. They chose to start Wednesday with a day off Thur. and game 2 Friday.

Much like the Yankees having to face Sabathia and Carmona twice, the Angels find themselves in a similar circumstance.

Beckett will start game1 and Schilling (scratched from pitching the season finale today) will go in game 2. Both will make 2 starts in the series on regular rest, with Dice K taking the ball in game 3.

The Halos will counter with Lackey and Escobar in the first 2, but only Lackey figures to get a second start, with Weaver and possibly Colon getting the other 2 starts.

Of course nothing is for sure, but I wouldn't be looking forward to this scenario if I were the Angels.

Also, from an offensive standpoint, the Red Sox lead the Angels in runs scored, 2bs, 3bs, HRs, RBI, runs scored, total bases, and slugging. Ortiz and Lowell are smoking hot heading into the post-season, Manny is hitting well, fresh off his seemingly annual month off for physical/and or mental health issues. Even J.D . Drew is finally getting it going after a disappointing season to date. If he stays hot, he could well be the X-factor in that line-up.

Add in the fact that the Angels are hurting a little at the moment.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia sat many of his regulars for rest and to help some of his banged-up players heal Saturday against the A's. Slugger Vladimir Guerrero probably also will sit out Sunday as he nurses sore triceps muscles on both arms, the left one hurting after getting hit by a pitch Friday. SS Orlando Cabrera also rested. "He's playing a demanding position every day and hitting in an important spot in our lineup," Scioscia said. "Let him catch his breath." Garret Anderson, Maicer Izturis and Gary Matthews Jr. also were held out to rest nagging issues.
(Updated 09/29/2007).

As I said nothing is for sure, but Boston should win this series.

[Zagi-CRO]

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[Zagi-CRO]

Easy to pick the winner - The RED SOX

[KCGHOST]

If all things were equal I would pick the Angels, but the injuries to Mathews and Guerrero will weaken their team defense and possibly hamper the offense. I give the Sox a very small edge.

[sflnyc]

As with every year, I am rooting for all 41 potential post-season games to be played with every series going the limit. The more games, the better.

My choice here: Red Sox in 5 games

P.S. Not the question asked, but I would like to have Phillies and Yankees play in the World Series with the Phillies winning their 2nd Championship.

[DodgerBlue81]

Red Sox in 5

[NightHawks2007]

I love the Red Sox, I will cheer for them through and through. The Angels scare me. They won't hit you out of the ballpark but they will hit singles all day long. It will be a long series. Red Sox in 5.

[Doctor Zizmor]

I think Boston wins, but it will be short lived because the pinstriped locomotive is just going to roll over any team that stands in its way of world title number 27.