Prediction Throwdown

You know what I think (Sox in six), so as we prepare for what most expect to be a knock-down, drag-out ALCS, it's time to hear from you.

Team, games and why? Go!

Comments

[310ToJoba]

Rays in 7. The Rays inexperience could come back to haunt them but I don't expect the Sox to be 100% health-wise for any of the games. Facing a depleted lineup could be a difference maker for the Rays. Still the series is going to go the whole way. Expect the Rays to get a very lucky win sometime during the series.

[dw (sf)]

well, the Rays got pretty lucky at times during the season, does it even out during the ALCS? Does Pedroia get his BABIP back to a resectable level, does Ells continue his run, and can pappi find some power. I think this will go 7 and the Sox will find a way.

[Hit Dog]

Sox in 6.

Because Beckett was rusty, not wounded.

Because the Sox have put crushings on all of their top 3 starters, especially Kazmir and Garza.

Because Sonnanstine is only pitching once. (Did I really just give this as a reason?)

Because Lester against a lineup full of lefties is a beautiful thing.

Because the Lopez/Masterson tag-team is superior to the Masterson/Masterson/Masterson inning. In 2008, anyway.

Because Papelbon already gave up his obligatory blown save to the Rays this year. (Most welcome return in the ALDS: Papelbon's splitter. Tampa hasn't seen it all year.)

Because the Rays won 7 one-run games against the Red Sox, losing none. That's good bullpenin', but that's also good luck.

Time's up.

[Atheose]

Rays in 7. Reverse-jinx.

[FenSheaParkway]

Good list, Hit Dog.

I'm wary of this series, but I can't pick the Sox to lose. I think Playoff Josh will make a big appearance, but other than that, I can't really isolate a specific reason the Sox will win, except that they'll figure something out. They did it against Cleveland last year.

[FenSheaParkway]

Forgot this: In 7, natch.

[pale blue eyes]

Sox in 7. It'll be difficult and exhausting but somehow Tito and the boys will get it done.

[Paul SF]

I'm seeing an amazing level of confidence among Sox fans -- one I admit I share. Ten years ago, you would never have heard any Sox fan say, "It'll be tough, but somehow Jimy and the Sox will find a way to win."

We do indeed live in good times.

[310ToJoba]

@ HitDog,

The Lester point is a great one and probably one of the best things going for the Sox if you guys do go 7 and Lester ends up pitching twice.

[MJL in L.A.]

Heart - Sox in 7. Head - Rays in 7.

As a Tampa native I follow the Rays closer than I do any team except the Sox. From start to finish they were without question the best team I saw all year. They're pitching is set up nicely, they're hungry, and (compared to the Sox) they are the picture of health. Oh, and they don't lose at home.

The only question was whether they would wilt under the pressure of the playoffs, and while the ChiSox are not the BoSox, and the ALDS is not the ALCS, the Rays played confidently and dominated the series.

Now please let me be wrong.....

[rootbeerfloat]

Sox in 4. So I will once again have to suffer through an eternity (8 days!) with no baseball without being able to complain since my team made the next round.

[SF]

No clue what is going to happen. So, Rays in 7. And I hope I am wrong. And I will be thrilled to be wrong.

Man, I hope I am wrong.

[FenSheaParkway]

"It'll be tough, but somehow Jimy and the Sox will find a way to win."

Everything you need to demystify our confidence is right there in that sentence, Paul.

Kidding aside, you're right though. I don't know exactly how the Sox will do it, but it helps that I've recently seen them do it. 2008 marks 10 years of Sox fandom for me, and when I think about the mood of Autumnal Boston back in 1999 when I lived there, it really just comes down to having witnessed recent success, regardless of the make-up of a specific team. The 2008 team has that, the 1999 team did not.

[Sam-YF]

Rays in 6.
They've been the best team in baseball all year from what Ive seen. They never seem to give up or roll over and have the fundamentals down pat. It should be a good series and I wouldnt be surprised if the sox end up ahead....

[LocklandSF]

One of the two teams reaches four wins before the other team.

I know, risky prediction, but I'm a risk taker.

[Micah-SF]

Sox in 7. We pull one win out of Dice-K's two starts and Wakefield's one, Beckett shows up healthy enough to win one of his two starts, and our boy Jon Lester stomps on the Rays in both of his starts, ending with a seven-inning, one-run gem in Game 7 to clinch the series.

[sf rod]

sox in 2.

of course they'll have to play out the other 2 games for the sweep, so sox in 4. 2 wins in tampa would all but crush any momentum/confidence the rays have garnered from regular season play. fenway is still a house of horrors for them rays.

[SoxFan]

Predictions:

The Sox win this series against Tampa Bay.

They go on to win their 2nd consecutive World Series, only just beginning one of the greatest dynasties in baseball history.

And the Kingdom of Heaven returns and love reigns supreme on Earth.