BAM: Thankfully, this off season has left the New York Yankees in the position of "Biggest Loser". That being said, the preseason projection of a Phillies/Red Sox World Series match-up has me giddy to say the least. With the Sox making acquisitions that made George Steinbrenner turn in his grave, the reestablished relevance of a team fraught with injuries last season is undeniable. The Phillies, who silently managed to grab the most sought after pitcher on the market, also have improved their team immeasurably this off-season. If the consistency that both teams have shown on either side of the ball over the last few years continue, we can expect a match up for the ages.
With Cliff Lee choosing the Phillies over the wealth that New York and Texas were so willing to endow him with, he has created arguably the greatest rotation in recent history. Not that his 5 year, $120 million contract is anything to scoff at(If he pitches as many innings as last season he will make over 107k per inning). With the exception of the Braves' Smoltz, Maddox, Glavine rotation there has never been a paralleled assembly of talent in a pitching staff. With all but the 5th starter having an ERA 3.2 last season and a winning percentage over .500, there is little to debate. The idiocy of considering Cliff Lee a number 2 starter is beyond belief and in a 3 game series there is almost no way that a team will compete if the offense is there to support this pitching staff. The possibility of numerous teams facing Halladay, Lee, and either Oswalt or Hamels in a series is bad news for the National League along with anyone in their division who faces them on a frequent basis. As proven many times over you can't win a championship without pitching, the Phillies have got it.
This separation of power between the elite and the rest of the league is also apparent in the American league. The Red Sox, with potentially the best offensive line-up in baseball next season, are the clear favorites for the American League World Series bid. Any line-up that has 4 MVP candidates in it takes the pressure the Red Sox pitching staff, who can now afford to have an ERA north of 3.50 and still win the majority of games. With the combination of Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury on the base paths the Red Sox will look to steal early and often to give their big hitters opportunities to drive them in. With the line up being similar to that below, the Sox hitters will have more than their fair share of opportunities with RISP. The return of Pedroia and Youkilis, and arguabley the best 1st/3rd combo in the game of baseball on both sides of the ball, there are few holes to be exposed on the field or at the plate.
This World Series match up, being in essence inevitable, will place two teams with potency in every category at each others throats. The Sox with the advantage on offense and the Phillies in pitching will brew over the course of the season a battle that even the most casual of fans will be drooling over. Not to discount either team in these categories, with the Sox rotation still be among the strongest in baseball, and season veterans such as Howard and Utley for Phillies' offense, this is a season that will be remembered for years to come.
Potential Batting Order of Boston
1. Pedroia
2. Crawford
3. Youkilis
4. Gonzalez
5. Ortiz
6. Drew
7 Lowrie
8. Saltamachia/Varitek
9. Ellsbury
What about Scutaro and Cameron? Are you assuming they will be traded? And while I agree that hitting and scoring runs is essential to winning games history has proven that the teams with the strongest pitching AT THE END of the season will be legitimate contenders for World Series 'bling'. The Red Sox even proved that to us prior to 2004. Forget Buckner, Schiraldi & a guy from South Portland named Bob Stanley could not pitch a strike out in that now infamous game. Don't get me wrong, Ortiz and Ramirez were huge contributors but without Foulke and Schilling the Red Sox get swept in 4 versus The Evil Empire. I think it's going to be an interesting and exciting season to watch especially if Ellsbury stays healthy. But, I believe the key to going deep in the post season is going to rest on how well Lester and Bucholz pitch late in September.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the assessment that pitching has been proven superior to offense. The Red Sox pitching is still among the strongest in the league but addressing recent additions to each team, the pitching of the Phillies is stronger than their offense, and the Offense of the Red Sox is stronger than their Pitching.
ReplyDeleteTo address Scutaro and Cameron, it will be about who performs the best and I think Ellsbury will win the starting role next season or at the very least split time. As for short stop, with Iglesias on the way they will look to move Scutaro due to his $5 million dollar contract and player option in 2012. This considered if they are unable to move Scutaro he probably plays and Cameron will get starts depending on how Ellsbury returns from last year's injury.
All this considered, I believe the Short Stop and Center field are the weakest points for the Red Sox line up but with consistent pitching they will be hard to beat.