A Goat’s Tale

Red Sox vs. Angels: The Red Sox are the most balanced team in the American League, though their pitching, particularly the bullpen, has shown some late-season vulnerability. The Angels have a solid top-to-bottom staff and will try to compensate for a less than frightening (and injury-hampered) lineup by running wild on the bases. It's unlikely to be enough. Red Sox in four.

MLG: Red Sox—Boston bet the bank on Japanese import Daisuke Matsuzaka and now are doubling up. Instead of playing it safe with Curt Schilling, the Sox slated Matsuzaka to start game 2 and a possible game 5. Angels—Francisco Rodriguez was already a World Series hero at age 20. At 25, the relief ace known as K-Rod has seen his walks go up and his strikeouts down.

Indians vs. Yankees: Two very similar teams, but Cleveland has one huge advantage with the hefty lefty C.C. Sabathia slated for two starts. But Sabathia and a great lineup better be enough, because the Indians' bullpen is filled with question marks. Of course, the same could be said about the Yankees bullpen, including the greatest closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera. Seems likely that Alex Rodriguez, the best player in the game coming off his best season ever, will be the decider. I thought the Indians would go all the way last year. Maybe I was just a year off. Cleveland in five.

MLG: Indians—Joe Borowski led the league in saves despite an ERA over 5.00. Indians fans have to pray the series doesn't come down to him. Yankees—A-Rod had an MVP season, but it still doesn't entirely erase the memories of his last two disastrous playoff series when, against the Angels and then Tigers, he went 3 for 29 without an RBI. If he winds up batting eighth in the Yankees lineup again this year, the Bronx Bombers are in trouble.

© 2007