2008 ALCS: TB v. BOS - Who wins?

[hudsonharden]

Who's going to represent the American League in the World Series?

[Imgran]

I put too much trust in trends, but every ALCS the Red Sox have won since its inception (not many of them) has been a 6 or 7 game series. I don't see why this would be different. These are two very good teams and they played each other well in the regular season.

[Evangelion]

Red Sox in six.

[josh24]

Sox in 6. I think Dice-K can do a good job @ TB. Boston will sweep @ Fenway. BUT, Rays have shown a good game...Let's see what happen.
Who of you think this can be a "new rivalry"? I'm one of them.

[philkid3]

Very similar to the other series, but I think the teams are better. No outcome that goes at least 6 games will surprise me. I think the Red Sox are slightly better, but I'll go with the Rays' homefield as a slight edge in the series and pick them in 7.

[Avg_Hr_Rbi]

I'm going w/the Rays in 6...they're riding the mojo train right......and honestly I just want to vote against the Red Sox.....:happy:

[Zagi-CRO]

I'm going with the Red Sox in 6

[KCGHOST]

I guess I will go with the trend of underestimating the Rays and take the Sox in Six.

[Jim Vaz]

Well I will say this, I completely underestimated the Red Sox going into their series with the Angels. I went strictly off the regular season record which had the Angels dominating by winning 8 out of 9 games and completely throwing out the previous playoff record that had Boston dominating. Obviously I was wrong. Infact I had the Angels who were far and away the AL's best team going all the way and winning it all.

Tough to call but I'll give it to the Rays who all year were able to keep two steps ahead of the Sox. Will that follow through in the postseason and the ALCS, place where the Sox have been before? Stay tuned....

[MagsMigs]

Sox in 6 is the safe pick and therefore the most popular. Admittedly, I voted Sox in 6, but I see a game 7 happening. Both teams are too good, and even better at home. I can see each team stealing a road win in the first six, then Beckett outdueling Kazmir in a classic Game 7.

[DownUnderDodger]

Seems I have gone with the majority....Sox in 6. But I may have just made it easier for the Rays!! :D

[keystone]

It has to be the Rays in six. I can't stomach the thought of watching Francona chewing that wad all the way through the WS. <GAG>

OK, seriously, the Red Sox are a good team, and they have a proven track record. It would be no surprise if they won this series. However, they have some key injuries, and Pedroia isn't hitting. True, that could change, and it would make a big difference.

But, with things as they are now, I'm seeing ghosts of the 2001 Marlins. I'm with AVG_HR_RBI: They got their mojo workin'.

[keystone]

It has to be the Rays in six. I can't stomach the thought of watching Francona chewing that wad all the way through the WS. <GAG>

OK, seriously, the Red Sox are a good team, and they have a proven track record. It would be no surprise if they won this series. However, they have some key injuries, and Pedroia isn't hitting. True, that could change, and it would make a big difference.

But, with things as they are now, I'm seeing ghosts of the 2001 Marlins. I'm with AVG_HR_RBI: They got their mojo workin'.

[gman5431]

Went with Rays in 6. Hard to pick against the Red Sox, but i dont see this as too much of a stretch. I do think the Rays need to win all their home games though.

G Man

[philkid3]

ALCS a Sabermetrician's Wet Dream (http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/10/8/631117/the-alcs-is-a-sabermetrici)

This prospect has made me happy ever since PECOTA told me it was in the realm of possibility. And I've been thoroughly excited since both teams looked like the best coming out of the gate. I don't like the Red Sox, but I love their organization. I appreciate teams that do things that aren't an insult to intelligence.

This is even better than Red Sox-Indians.

[Evangelion]

ALCS a Sabermetrician's Wet Dream (http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/10/8/631117/the-alcs-is-a-sabermetrici)

This prospect has made me happy ever since PECOTA told me it was in the realm of possibility. And I've been thoroughly excited since both teams looked like the best coming out of the gate. I don't like the Red Sox, but I love their organization. I appreciate teams that do things that aren't an insult to intelligence.

This is even better than Red Sox-Indians.
That was a good ALCS. I can't believe people can complain about the Red Sox during ALCS. The last three times, it went 7. Twice against New York and once against Cleveland. Honestly, those were the best post-season series of each year, at least for me. I expect this one to be just as exciting.

[sflnyc]

I voted for the Red Sox in 6 (even though I want every series to always go the distance). Would love to see a BOS-LA matchup that didn't revolve around the NBA.

Not to mention that the Manny Homecoming + the Torre/Yankee connection would be juicy storylines.

[Lafferty Daniel]

Rays in 5.

[Knick9]

I'll go on a limb and say the Red Sox do it again, come back from 3-1 in the ALCS and win the WS. I'm getting an odd feeling here folks.

Oh my...

[Evangelion]

I'll go on a limb and say the Red Sox do it again, come back from 3-1 in the ALCS and win the WS. I'm getting an odd feeling here folks.

Oh my...
Sure "going on a limb" after Game 5 with that prediction. :D

7 runs behind? Largest comeback in Championship Series? Or, entire playoffs?

[josh24]

Sure "going on a limb" after Game 5 with that prediction. :D

7 runs behind? Largest comeback in Championship Series? Or, entire playoffs?

WHAT A COMEBACK!!!! AMAZING!! :gt:gt:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[keystone]

The seven-run deficit was the largest overcome in a postseason game since Game Four of the 1929 World Series, according to Elias Sports Bureau. In that one, the Philadelphia Athletics trailed by eight before a 10-run seventh inning powered them past the Chicago Cubs, 10-8. (courtesy ESPN website)

[philkid3]

While that game was certainly upsetting, the number of things that had to happen for the Sox to win it still has me thinking the Rays have the edge to win one more game.

[keystone]

Maybe so, but I am leery of any team with Dan Wheeler and Trever Miller in its bullpen. I lived through several agonizing Astros seasons with those two guys responsible for ruining many a W.

The Red Sox don't have the starting pitching that the Rays have, so if the Rays don't have to use Trever and/or Wheeler much (if at all), they could pull it out.

[philkid3]

Maybe so, but I am leery of any team with Dan Wheeler and Trever Miller in its bullpen. I lived through several agonizing Astros seasons with those two guys responsible for ruining many a W.

The Red Sox don't have the starting pitching that the Rays have, so if the Rays don't have to use Trever and/or Wheeler much (if at all), they could pull it out.

I was in the Rays blog all day. You should have seen the agony at Maddon keeping Wheeler in. Long before the total melt down.

That was unpleasent to watch. A hoard of fans of a long-suffering team watching their dreams become a little less immediate was sad.

[keystone]

Oh, yeah. I was totally bummed out about it. I knew when Maddon walked Bay to get to Drew that it was all over. Jason Bay hadn't done a thing all night! And JD had already knocked in some runs. What was he thinking???

[Westlake]

That was unpleasent to watch. A hoard of fans of a long-suffering team watching their dreams become a little less immediate was sad.

Oh please. "Long suffering?" This is what, their 9th year in existence? Maybe 10th? Boo-hoo. The Astros have never won a World Series and they've been around for 46 years. The Indians haven't won one in 60 years. The Cubs in a century.

[philkid3]

Oh please. "Long suffering?" This is what, their 9th year in existence? Maybe 10th? Boo-hoo. The Astros have never won a World Series and they've been around for 46 years. The Indians haven't won one in 60 years. The Cubs in a century.

They are also long suffering.

Did I say "longest?"


My team's suffered a pretty long time, too. I don't thumb my nose at the Rays saying "nyah, you haven't had it as bad as me!"

[Westlake]

They are also long suffering.

Did I say "longest?"

My team's suffered a pretty long time, too. I don't thumb my nose at the Rays saying "nyah, you haven't had it as bad as me!"

Sorry, nine years isn't long suffering when there are so many other teams that haven't won a World Series in MUCH longer. Taking other teams into account, they're not "long suffering" at all. Not even close. You can feel bad for the poor wittle Rays fans that have had to endure all the hardships of being a fan of a team that hasn't won a World Series in 9 years, but I sure won't.

What about the kids born in 1996 who haven't seen the Rays win one yet? They're 12 for god's sake! WHO WILL THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!

[philkid3]

Taking other teams into account, they're not "long suffering" at all.
Hmmmmmmm. . . sounds like a subjective statement.



You can feel bad for the poor wittle Rays fans that have had to endure all the hardships of being a fan of a team that hasn't won a World Series in 9 years, but I sure won't.
Well. We're in a condescending mood tonight over a subjective and mostly meaningless term.



I'm going to feel for any respectable fan who's never gotten to experience their team do much of anything good and has seen them go through abject failure for several seasons in a row. You know why? Because I know exactly what they're going through.

I don't decide certain fans aren't allowed to feel heartbreak because some other fan has had it worse. Heartbreak is heartbreak. Dismissing it sounds like something either a spoiled fan would say or one who thinks losing is a competition to see who can be a bigger loser.

Blue Jays fans have seen their team win two titles in my life time, where as my team has never won anything in anyone's life time. That doesn't mean I don't feel for them. Empathy is a good thing, and it's not something someone should have to earn by meeting some minimum number of years.

[spark240]

For the record, this is the Rays' 11th season. They have had nine seasons of last-place finishes, one fourth-place finish, and this year.

[Evangelion]

Oh, yeah. I was totally bummed out about it. I knew when Maddon walked Bay to get to Drew that it was all over. Jason Bay hadn't done a thing all night! And JD had already knocked in some runs. What was he thinking???
He was playing the match-ups. Left hander against left hander. Maddon will be question about why he left Howell in, despite Drew's career numbers against him and leaving his relief pitchers in too long. Not difficult to do after the fact. From what I saw, Maddon did nothing wrong. Simple fact of the matter was his bullpen failed to do their job and cost them a 7-run lead and the game. Blame belongs to Balfour, Wheeler and Howell, all three being reliable relievers are season long, failing as miserable as they did. If you want to place blame.

[Imgran]

Game 5 was the classic of the postseason so far. I don't think Maddon gets much blame when his whole team was struck by lightning.

[Imgran]

For the record, this is the Rays' 11th season. They have had nine seasons of last-place finishes, one fourth-place finish, and this year.

Yeah, even if the Sox do complete yet another improbable comeback here (let's be honest: How many more are we gonna have to have before they define "improbable?") the Rays can't say they've had anything but an absolutely fantastic season.

Back in April I think if you'd told any Rays fans that they'd be locked in a 6+ game grudge match with Boston in the ALCS they'd have taken it very happily.

Rays don't need a WS win to get what they really want, because all Rays fans really want is LEGITIMACY, which they've already achieved by making it through the first round of the playoffs.

[Imgran]

Great series. Let's do it again next year.

[philkid3]

Me and three other people get to be right about at least one series.

[STLCards2]

Me and three other people get to be right about at least one series.

One was me ... more a hope than a prediction.

[brewcrew82]

With Tampa Bays win today, a team from Florida still hasn't lost a playoff series. The states teams are now 8-0. :eek:

[Honus Wagner Rules]

With Tampa Bays win today, a team from Florida still hasn't lost a playoff series. The states teams are now 8-0. :eek:

But as you probably know the Rays totally stink (at least according to willshad).

[brewcrew82]

But as you probably know the Rays totally stink (at least according to willshad).

The Marlins teams weren't very good either, I mean they didn't even make it to the playoffs the next season...Bunch of flash in the pans!!! ;)

[gman5431]

Congrats to the Rays for pulling it out. Another good performance from Garza - what a trade - and they come off the mat to win game 7. gonna be a great series.

G Man