Plain and simple. It's down to two.
Pitching probables:
St. Louis vs. Boston
Game 1 (Fenway Park): Williams vs. Wakefield
Game 2 (Fenway Park): Marquis vs. Schilling
Game 3 (Busch Stadium): Morris vs. Martinez
Game 4 (Busch Stadium): Suppan vs. Lowe
Game 5 (Busch Stadium, if nec.): Williams vs. Wakefield
Game 6 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Marquis vs. Schilling
Game 7 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Morris vs. Martinez
The Cardinals may spot-start Carpenter or Haren, depending on their health and the usage of the Cardinals staff as the Series progresses. Meanwhile, the Red Sox will use Bronson Arroyo exclusively out of the 'pen -- and often.
Pitching probables:
St. Louis vs. Boston
Game 1 (Fenway Park): Williams vs. Wakefield
Game 2 (Fenway Park): Marquis vs. Schilling
Game 3 (Busch Stadium): Morris vs. Martinez
Game 4 (Busch Stadium): Suppan vs. Lowe
Game 5 (Busch Stadium, if nec.): Williams vs. Wakefield
Game 6 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Marquis vs. Schilling
Game 7 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Morris vs. Martinez
The Cardinals may spot-start Carpenter or Haren, depending on their health and the usage of the Cardinals staff as the Series progresses. Meanwhile, the Red Sox will use Bronson Arroyo exclusively out of the 'pen -- and often.
Game 1 (Fenway Park): Williams vs. Wakefield 7-2
Game 2 (Fenway Park): Marquis vs. Schilling 4-1
Game 3 (Busch Stadium): Morris vs. Martinez 5-4
Game 4 (Busch Stadium): Suppan vs. Lowe 3-0
Game 5 (Busch Stadium, if nec.): Williams vs. Wakefield 9-8
Game 6 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Marquis vs. Schilling 11-3
Game 7 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Morris vs. Martinez 9-3
Cards in 7.
You heard it here first
Game 2 (Fenway Park): Marquis vs. Schilling 4-1
Game 3 (Busch Stadium): Morris vs. Martinez 5-4
Game 4 (Busch Stadium): Suppan vs. Lowe 3-0
Game 5 (Busch Stadium, if nec.): Williams vs. Wakefield 9-8
Game 6 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Marquis vs. Schilling 11-3
Game 7 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Morris vs. Martinez 9-3
Cards in 7.
You heard it here first
You know, the pitching matchups favor the Red Sox in six of the seven games -- I'll take Suppan over Lowe, but even that's a tossup -- but I think the Cardinals just have a better team.
I think 1B David Ortiz is going to play a role, defensively, in at least one Cardinals victory at home.
I think 1B David Ortiz is going to play a role, defensively, in at least one Cardinals victory at home.
I'm rooting for the Cards, but I think it'll be the Bosox in 7. The home-field advantage matters. I expect the Cards' pitching staff to take a battering in Fenway; mediocre pitching and great defence is the wrong combination there, although it plays well in Busch.
I hope the NL sends the AL a thank you note. "Dear American League, Thank you for putting so much hype around a Boston-New York ALCS that they feel like they already played the World Series and come into the World Series underestimating their opponent. Love, National League."
Cards in 6.
For the Cardinals if they can steal one game in Fenway(against Wakefield possibly), then they would have the edge going for 3 straigh home games at Busch were they are nearly perfect. With Schilling's questionable ankle it's a little harder to judge, but he's better than anyone the Cards got. If Carp was healthy, this would be a lot closer, but Woody is throwing the ball like an ace now, and Soup is certainly made a statement in Game 7.
Cards in 6.
For the Cardinals if they can steal one game in Fenway(against Wakefield possibly), then they would have the edge going for 3 straigh home games at Busch were they are nearly perfect. With Schilling's questionable ankle it's a little harder to judge, but he's better than anyone the Cards got. If Carp was healthy, this would be a lot closer, but Woody is throwing the ball like an ace now, and Soup is certainly made a statement in Game 7.
The best team in baseball doesn't get homefield advantage in the World Series? Bud Selig should be ashamed.
Even with a modest amount interleague play, I don't agree with that. I still think comparing AL records to NL records poses too much of a risk of comparing apples to oranges.
The Cardinals may spot-start Carpenter or Haren
Carpenter is on the WS roster!?
Carpenter is on the WS roster!?
I'm taking the Cardinals in five games, incidentally. The Red Sox have a very strong team, and will probably win Game Three, but I don't see Schilling lasting another start and the Cardinals have the better pitcher on the mound in the other three matchups, as well as the better offense by a nose.
Remember this, the shadow "nose"
The Sox in 6 is how it goes
The Sox in 6 is how it goes
You know, the pitching matchups favor the Red Sox in six of the seven games
I dunno, Mick. After a mediocre year, Wakefield has looked awfully hittable this postseason. I'd take Woody over Timmy for Games 1 and 5.
I dunno, Mick. After a mediocre year, Wakefield has looked awfully hittable this postseason. I'd take Woody over Timmy for Games 1 and 5.
Even with a modest amount interleague play, I don't agree with that. I still think comparing AL records to NL records poses too much of a risk of comparing apples to oranges.
What exactly is the risk? The team with the best record should get homefield, regardless of who they played or didn't play. Eveyone playes 162 games, why does it matter that the games aren't evenly distributed. Hockey does it, why can't baseball?
This really bugs me, especially when a wild card team gets homefield advantage.
What exactly is the risk? The team with the best record should get homefield, regardless of who they played or didn't play. Eveyone playes 162 games, why does it matter that the games aren't evenly distributed. Hockey does it, why can't baseball?
This really bugs me, especially when a wild card team gets homefield advantage.
If I had to call this series on what I feel, I would say Sox in 6...
If I had to call this series on what I think, Cards in 7....
I think all seven games in this series will be a slug fest from get-go... Cards don't have a single dominant starter, now that Morris is pitching like he's suffering from mysterious upper body injury, a la Thornton, and Sox don't have a single rested starter, thanks to Francona's brainfart. Both team has scary middle of the line up that will pound and pound the starting pitching, which means it all comes down to bullpen, and Cards have better bullpen, period.
I'm expecting 7, 10-9 games, with Sox blowing 8-2 lead on 7th game, with Tito leaving Petey in the 8th to face Albert PooHoles with bases juiced with 3 run lead, on Martinez 117th pitch. Which will cause Red Sox Nation to shoot themselves in the eye with beanbag.
If I had to call this series on what I think, Cards in 7....
I think all seven games in this series will be a slug fest from get-go... Cards don't have a single dominant starter, now that Morris is pitching like he's suffering from mysterious upper body injury, a la Thornton, and Sox don't have a single rested starter, thanks to Francona's brainfart. Both team has scary middle of the line up that will pound and pound the starting pitching, which means it all comes down to bullpen, and Cards have better bullpen, period.
I'm expecting 7, 10-9 games, with Sox blowing 8-2 lead on 7th game, with Tito leaving Petey in the 8th to face Albert PooHoles with bases juiced with 3 run lead, on Martinez 117th pitch. Which will cause Red Sox Nation to shoot themselves in the eye with beanbag.
From what I've seen, everyone is predicting a long series.
So, of course, I'll say Cards in 5.
So, of course, I'll say Cards in 5.
Hockey doesn't do it. Me Grimlock seem to remember a certain Carolina Hurricanes team that had home-ice against the Leafs!
Hockey doesn't do it. Me Grimlock seem to remember a certain Carolina Hurricanes team that had home-ice against the Leafs!
That's because Carolina won their division and was guaranteed a top 3 seed(similar to division winner getting home field vs a wildcard team). That's the only time you have a lesser team having home ice in hockey. In the finals, the team with the best record gets home ice advantage.
It should go by the team with the best record. I mean what's the worst that could happen, an 'undeserving' team gets homefield?
That's because Carolina won their division and was guaranteed a top 3 seed(similar to division winner getting home field vs a wildcard team). That's the only time you have a lesser team having home ice in hockey. In the finals, the team with the best record gets home ice advantage.
It should go by the team with the best record. I mean what's the worst that could happen, an 'undeserving' team gets homefield?
The winning League in the All-Star Game got home-field advantage this year, and last year.
Predictions - Cardinals in 7. The final score in Game 7 will be 19-18 in 10 innings. So Taguchi wins it with a 2 out pinch hit grand slam on an 0-2 hanger from Tim Wakefield in relief. That will make Taguchi the best St. Louis athlete ever to wear #99 (Gretzky? Who?). :)
Seriously, I think the Cardinals will outlast the Sox. I don't think their pitching is anywhere near as beat up as Boston's. However, Boston had the extra day off which should help. The Sox need Wakefield to pitch like it's 1992 to have a chance. It reminds of 1991 in a way when the Jays started a knuckleballer in the ALCS, Tom Candiotti. We all know how well that series turned out.
Seriously, I think the Cardinals will outlast the Sox. I don't think their pitching is anywhere near as beat up as Boston's. However, Boston had the extra day off which should help. The Sox need Wakefield to pitch like it's 1992 to have a chance. It reminds of 1991 in a way when the Jays started a knuckleballer in the ALCS, Tom Candiotti. We all know how well that series turned out.
Me Grimlock know WHY it happened. It was still garbage. The Leafs had like 10 more points than them. When you lose three OT games, you gotta wonder if something like home ice would have made the difference.
Me Grimlock didn't mind the old way, where the leagues alternated. But that was back when the leagues acted more like separate entities. Since they played entirely different schedules with entirely different talent pools, it kinda made sense to me Grimlock.
Me Grimlock didn't mind the old way, where the leagues alternated. But that was back when the leagues acted more like separate entities. Since they played entirely different schedules with entirely different talent pools, it kinda made sense to me Grimlock.
Ok with regards to Ortiz (dunno if this has been brought up yet)... whats going to happen with him when they are on the road? A Night off? or is he going to be playing 1B?
I noticed he has played some 1B before and they showed a news clip of him with a glove on today practising.
I noticed he has played some 1B before and they showed a news clip of him with a glove on today practising.