ALCS - Indians vs Red Sox

[Scary_Tiger]

Daisuke is starting game 2 and Schilling in game 3.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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I think a lot of people are going to overestimate Boston's edge in the lineups.

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thats b/c when you look at the #'s, the Red Sox scored a lot more runs.

[ajml]

I don't understand how anyone can even try to argue Cleveland's bullpen is better than Boston's. Great there are 3 good pitchers there. Too bad the 4th or 5th best is the closer and gets high leverage innings. At least the Red Sox use Papelbon and Okajima in important spots. Not to mention that Delcarmen has been lights out (albeit in not the higher leverage spot). Anyways, if you think Cleveland has the better bullpen you are crazy.

[zer0]

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Bos lineup vs. Cle lineup - edge Boston. They have 8 good hitters and JD Drew. If JD Drew becomes the hero of the ALCS, I will [censored] puke.


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coco crisp, julio lugo, and jason varitek are not better hitters than jd drew.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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In 2008 Borowski becomes a starter and wins 23 games (see Carmona's 2006 closer numbers).

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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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Aside from Borowski, CLE has three lights out relievers.

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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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I can't quite get my mind around having four starts from Sabathia and Carmona and the Indians not winning at least three of those.

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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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however, Westbrook and Byrd are slightly better than Dice-K and Wakefield.

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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

[4 High]

Sox in 6.

[splashpot]

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Bos lineup vs. Cle lineup - edge Boston. They have 8 good hitters and JD Drew. If JD Drew becomes the hero of the ALCS, I will [censored] puke.


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coco crisp, julio lugo, and jason varitek are not better hitters than jd drew.

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Not to mention that Drew is on fire lately. He hit .342 in September.

[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.