Playoff Preview: Red Sox @ Angels
Posted by Antonio Antenucci on October 8, 2009
These two teams seem to meet every year in the ALDS. As everyone knows, the Red Sox own the Angels in the playoffs. Will this year be any different?
The Angels come into this year’s postseason with a very well balanced team that led them to having the second best record in the MLB with 97 wins. The entire rotation has been pitching great during the end of the season and look for ace John Lackey to have a big postseason. A secret weapon the Angels might have is the rejuvenated Scott Kazmir, who has looked like a completely different pitcher since coming over from Tampa Bay this summer. The Angel’s offense is what sets this Angels team away from previous year’s teams. They can play scrappy, small ball and hit homeruns and steal the base paths away, Boston’s catchers are one of the worst teams at preventing stolen bases. Brian Fuentes is nowhere near the stature of former Angel’s closer Francisco Rodriguez, that could be an issue.
The Red Sox come into this postseason with pitching as their weapon and a good offense backing them up. There is a good amount of World Series experience on this team. Though the Red Sox pitching staff isn’t as deep as everyone claimed in the beginning of the season, but the 1-2 combination of Jon Lester- Josh Beckett is one of the best and scariest in the game. It will be big for either starting catcher, Victor Martinez or Jason Varitek, to not let the Angels steal all day against them. The Boston offense isn’t as scary as previous playoff Boston teams, but it still is very dangerous with the likes of Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Dustin Pedroia, and Victor Martinez.
Angels Key To Success: Scott Kazmir- If Kazmir can be the pitcher he was during last year’s playoffs with the Rays, the Angels can have dominant pitching this postseason.
Red Sox Key To Success: David Ortiz- Ortiz did have an improved season this year after being terrible at the start, though he still wasn’t the same Ortiz as in previous years. But if he can continue his clutch magic in the playoffs as he’s done so many times, the Red Sox will be in good shape.
Prediction: BOS Over LAA In 5 Games- I think this series will be a bloodbath that will go the distance. The results won’t look any different from previous postseason meetings between these two teams.
