To prepare for the big series, Fire Brand of the AL writer Zach Hayes and Tribe Report writer James Pete will be exchanging e-mails until the first pitch Friday and throughout the series discussing everything ALCS. Look for another update tomorrow.
Note: Most recent post at the top.
Zach: 1) Papi and Manny staying hot. Those two were ungodly in the division series. They set the tone for the entire lineup.
2) Middle relief. Lewis, Betancourt, Perez……those guys are good. In a battle of the bullpens, our middle relief- Delcarmen, Timlin, Okajima- are going to have to step up.
3) Establishing the #2 starter. You can’t get by with one reliable starter in the rotation….I know Beckett can do the job. Either Schilling (more likely) or Dice-K will have to be the guy who steps up. If you can get quality starts every time out from your top 2 guys, the offense/bullpen should be able to take care of the rest in a 7-game series.
The guy that scares me most in a big spot is Kenny Lofton. I have this odd feeling he’s going to have this back-breaking hit. Saw it too many times in the division series.
I think we split the first two games at Fenway.
James: If Pronk is hiding an injury…he’s done a good job keeping it a secret. I don’t think it was an injury…based on the fact that he re-signed with the Indians in July to a four year deal. I’m sure that a physical was mandatory…but you never know. It has been a curiousity…this slump of his. His season was so monstrous before he got hurt last year. The power was gone this year, and there never was a streak of power that made me say, “He’s back for good.” He’d go through streaks of average raises, but the power just never seemed to match it.
I do think had Pronk not gotten hurt last year…his numbers really would have put him at the top of the heap for the MVP.
I’m feeling in an interesting place right now when looking at this series. I keep looking at those first two games, and not feeling worry. No, it’s not that I think the Tribe is a sure-fire lock…it’s just a weird place that this team has put me. It’s as resilient a bunch as any I’ve seen. A lot of it stems from Sabathia, Carmona and that pen. It’s really hard to have a prolonged slump when it’s as good as it is.
I see a lot of what you see in the Sox…in what I see in the Indians. We don’t have the outward boppers that Boston has in Ortiz and Manny…who’s revitalized…but there’s such consistency up and down that order.
What do you think the top three keys for Boston winning this series are?
Zach: I wouldn’t say Borowski is being overlooked. If anything, he’s being over-examined, if that makes sense. As I said earlier, it’s not enough of a differential at the closer position to offset any starting pitching or offensive advantage the Indians may have. Borowski probably has a huge chip on his shoulder after all of the doubting and will go out looking to prove people wrong. I still say if its a 1 run lead in the 9th you gotta throw Betancourt to have the best chance at ending the game. I agree with the theory of not messing whats worked- one of the reasons behind keeping our closer, Papelbon, in the role he thrived rather than moving him to the rotation.
It’s hard for me to point out the biggest weakness on the Red Sox. One of the things Theo and the front office has preached is consistency across the board- steady bullpen, starting pitching and offense, and farm system, without ending up with one as a big strength and one as a big weakness. I think you’ve seen this in past World Champs. So it’s not that I think Boston is invincible, it’s just difficult to pluck out one glaring weakness. The starting pitching after Beckett and the bottom of the order would probably be my choices, gun to head.
Believe me, I haven’t forgotten Cleveland tied for the best record. I was in an awkward position during the Division Series in that I actually feared the Indians much more than the Yankees in a 7-game series, especially when the Texas Con Man went down. New York had a thin rotation, a 2-man bullpen and an offense that can be quited by an ace. On the other hand, the Indians presented a much steeper threat, IMO. You’re looking at 2 aces, an offense that can put up runs in bunches (Game 1 for example) and a strong bullpen. Of course, there’s no way in hell I could root for the Yankees.
I was watching Game 2 with a buddy of mine and we looked up Travis Hafner’s 2007 numbers to compare them with 2006. It really is stunning. We came to the conclusion that Pronk is hiding an injury, or at least better odds of that, than 2006 being a total fluke. He was the MVP of the American League last year (for me), now he’s slugging .451 and his OPS has taken a total nosedive? What happened?
James: You know Zach, we started off the year without a closer…so having Joe Borowski was a bonus. By the time you realize your closer has an ERA over 5, it’s nearly too late…and the bad and good thing about it is that the Indians had such a great set-up before him. Betancourt was rolling as the ninth inning guy, and Perez came up as the seventh/eighth inning guy. Then Jensen Lewis came up and gave them their 6th/7th inning guy. Now…their hole is the closer…but when you lead the league with 45…and it basically sets up the rest of pen.
Think about it…his ERA is over 5. He gives up a run every inning more than half the time. IS THIS A GUY YOU WANT AS YOUR CLOSER?
But…you can’t question not messing with what’s got you there. How will it plan out? Well, it seems like the AL’s top saves guy is getting completely overlooked. I have no problem being the underdog…nor do the Indians.
A lot of people forget that the Indians tied for the best record. Again, also fine with me.
So what do you think the Red Sox biggest weakness is? ESPN was making it sound like they didn’t have any…what are your thoughts?
