I still don't share the sentiments of so many Boston media and fans who seem to feel the Sox will have such a big advantage against the Angels, who they'd likely meet in the first round of the playoffs. To me, it's ridicolous that so many people point to the Red Sox success in recent years vs. the Angels in the playoffs as the main "reason" they'd beat the 2009 Angels. Every year is different - and this year's Angel team is argubly more talented than the Red Sox. They have a better hitting lineup, for sure. Before this series, I thought the Angels would have a good-sized advantage against the Red Sox in the playoffs. Now, after seeing the two teams square off, I still give the Angels the edge, but, I have a bit more hope for the Sox.
Overall, the Sox Are Stronger
The most important thing: They got Daisuke Matsuzaka back as a starter Tuesday night. He looked great - and, could make a critical contribution down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Overall, I just feel it meant more for the Sox to win a series against one of the best teams in baseball. (I'm not counting their early 8-0 streak vs. the Yanks, who had a few players out, including A-Rod). The Sox won two out of three, defeating Angels' ace John Lackey, and, then, won a game started by another Angels stud pitcher, Joe Saunders.
There were all kinds of reasons to doubt Dice-K would make a quality start Tuesday. Dice-K has missed most of the season. He left the team due to fatigue in his shoulder, and, later the team indicated that he needed to get in shape, and, basically, have a whole new version of "spring training." Matsuzaka had pitched only a few rehab starts in the minor leagues, and he had not performed that convincingly.
Well, you could see that Matsuzaka was "different" from the outset because his fastball was moving again. In fact, I don't think I've seen his fastball have that much zip - or, late life, on it since the 2007 season. He blew the ball by a few hitters with his heater at about 92 or 93 mph - but, with the "giddy-up," it seemed like the fastball was at 95.
Dice-K's control was better than usual. He seemed determined to pound the strike zone more and he suceeded. Even in his remarks after the game, Matsuzaka gave one a sense that he's on a mission to do well for the team after he feels he missed so much time.
The Sox hitting has been terrific during this homestand at Fenway - as it usually is. David Ortiz still looks inconsistent at the plate. He's not getting around on some fastballs and is too easily fooled by breaking pitches more often than he used to be; but, of course, he had these problems early in the season. The difference is that now, he'll have a few good games before sub-par games - and hit home runs and doubles in those.
The Sox have set up their bullpen so that, often, in winning games, they have Wagner in the 7th, Bard in the 8th and Papelbon in the 9th. Bard has been more "mortal" in recent weeks, and given up some hits on occasion. Papelbon has been sharper and seemed to find some strength inexplicably in the past couple of weeks.
The one large cloud that had been hanging over the team was whether Beckett could get back to full strength. He had a few bad starts and I - like others - wondered if he needed some rest. His fastball lacked zip and he was frequently leaving it in the strike zone and his curve ball had lacked any good "bite" to it and was getting knocked around.
Michael Felger of the new "Sports Hub," radio show on 98.5 FM, has been commenting repeatedly that evidence in recent seasons demonstrates that Beckett tends to pitch a bit worse and get more vulnerable toward the end of the season -- when his season pitch count starts climbing. I totally agree with Felger. I thought it was stupid that Francona let Beckett go out to pitch the 8th inning tonight.
Felger has cited stats that show, convincingly, that when Beckett has gotten extra rest - in one of more of the past few seasons - the rest has helped him pitch better, including in the 2007 championship season.
Tonight, Beckett looked very good, but, he still was not at his very best. Angel batters hit a couple of his curves easily and his fastball, though decent all night, was a tiny bit lower in velocity -- often at about 93 mph when, in many outings this season, the speed has often been closer to 95 or 96 mph.
For the Sox to beat the Angels in the playoffs, Beckett, Ortiz and their teammates will have to play at their best in order to win. The Red Sox are the underdogs.
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