ALCS - Indians vs Red Sox

[ArchAngel71857]

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if you could make an awesome starter by first having him be a terrible closer, lots more teams would do that

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I honestly think that's the best plan for him. I wasn't too happy when we signed him and Foulke. Word on the street is the Indians are getting Linebrink to be cour closer for next year. We'll see how that goes.



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but, you need to count Borowski, since he is pitching important innings. Also, the Red Sox have 3 great relievers.

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Yes, but one of your good relievers is Papelbon. Borowski is an average closer (yes, I know he sucks, but you don't save 40+games being completely terrible, thus average is as good as he will get). And I don't think Eric Wedge will let Borowski blow more than one save this series. Asid from Betancourt, Perez, and Fultz, the Indians have Lewis. So I don't think it's decisive, but I think Cleveland has a slight edge.

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they made 2 starts against the Red Sox this year. they were both excellent starts. each team won 1 game.


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Let me restate - I don't see how the Indians can start CC and Carmona twice and not win all four games. I don't see how the Red Sox can start Beckett and Schilling twice and not win all four games. Something's got to give.



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Westbrook DERA: 4.35
Byrd DERA: 4.70

Dice-K DERA: 4.23
Wakefield DERA: 4.76 (Lester is 4.26)

it's very close, if anything BOS gets the edge

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Yes, it is very close. I'm an Indians fan, so I shade any doubtful matchups towards the Tribe. Also, I was thinking more of Dice-K and Wakefield vs. the Indians and Byrd and Westbrook vs. The Red Sox. Still close, and we're probably both bias.

-AA

[Kneel B4 Zod]

re: the bullpens, here is a BP report.

the Red Sox were #1 in WXRL, Cleveland #2.

Sox allowed 50 of 219 inherited runners to score; Cleveland allowed 56 of 208.

they are both excellent bullpens.

[Pudge714]

Anyone think,
Sabbathia pitches 1,4,7
Carmona, 2,5.

[CocoaKrispies]

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Anyone think,
Sabbathia pitches 1,4,7
Carmona, 2,5.

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Given Wedge's reluctance to pitch CC on short rest in the Yankees series, I'd very much doubt this.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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Anyone think,
Sabbathia pitches 1,4,7
Carmona, 2,5.

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I don't think CC has ever pitched on 3 days rest.

that said, game 7 could potentially turn out to be an "all hands" situation for both teams, with CC and/or Beckett getting 1 or 2 innings each.

[kidcolin]

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Also, the Red Sox have 3 great relievers.

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Not to mention Mike Mother [censored] Timlin

[NT!]

btw i can see reasons for both teams to like the pitching lineup the sox have chosen here, but i think it's better overall for the sox. dice-k is the most likely of the three starters to get knocked out early so putting him between the other two makes sense. schilling is more likely to be battle-tested and ready for a road playoff game, small psychological edge there. dice-k is the highest variance matchup in my mind for cleveland, so you are basically gambling that he outpitches or matches carmona (or that the sox can get to him), instead of going with schilling who you expect to at least hang close to carmona for sure. then in game 3 you have a more steady guy who is likely to give you a significant edge over cleveland's game 3 starter, as opposed to dice who is, again, high variance and could easily be no better than westbrook.

plus if you believe 'momentum is only as good as tomorrow's starting pitcher,' the sox have more of a chance to break up any momentum cleveland has, whereas cleveland is much more likely to go without a quality start in their home park until as late as game 6. if i am tito i am very wary of letting this young cleveland team get on a roll, i think the pitching matchups he has chosen reflect that.

EDIT: nevermind, tito switched it up on me [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] guess they are really going for the jugular. i have to say i liked the other way better.

[kyleb]

Indians +157 on Pinnacle. Thoughts?

[iron81]

Pinny baseball lines are retarded. They don't take US action so there is very little sharp money there.

[34TheTruth34]

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Indians +157 on Pinnacle. Thoughts?

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great value IMO. Sox should be a small favorite.