ALDS Preview: Angels v Red Sox

We meet again. For the 3rd time this decade, the Red Sox and the Angels meet on the road to the championship. Two times this decade the Sox have met the Angels, defeated them, and gone on to win the World Series. Does that mean a 3rd meeting means a third title? Can't be sure about that yet, but we do know that LAA has revenge on their mind.

Offense:

- The Red Sox are a superior team when it comes to batting average, RBI's, and HR's on the season. The Angels are the consumate baseball team which manufactures runs the old fashioned way. They score through bunting, stealing bases, and smart hitting. The Angels bats' have disappeared throughout the playoffs since their WS title in 04, but will they finally re-appear with revenge on their mind against their most hated rival. The offensive edge goes to the > Red Sox

Pitching:

- The pitching in this series could've been even if it wasn't for Josh Beckett's mysterious oblique injury. So with that being the case, the Angels get the overall edge in this arena. They get the edge despite Santana and Lackey having ERA's over 5 in the past month. This series will have great pitching all around with Lester, Beckett, Daitzuke, Saunders, Santana, and Lackey. In the end, the bullpen edge goes to the Angels who have K-Rod who has seem unhittable in comparison to Palpebon who's had his moments this year where he's had trouble.

Prediction:

- I am so torn on who to pick for this series. It will be one of two things. Either a Red Sox win in 5 or complete dominance by the Angels for a win in 4. I'm going to go with the ladder. The Angels haven't played a meaningful game in months, but they are much deeper in all areas this season and will have a yearning not only to get revenge, but get to the place they got to in 2004 which was the World Series. Let's get to the game by game breakdown.

Game 1 features Lester v Lackey. I expect Lackey to do something against the Sox that he hasn't done in years and that's win a game. The Angels will pick apart youngster Jon Lester and cruise to a win.

Game 2 features Daitzuke v Santana. Ervin has struggled in his last few starts and I expect him to struggle against the Sox while Dice K pitches a gem to tie the series.

Game 3 features Josh Beckett v 17 game winning Joe Saunders. Beckett isn't ready for playoff baseball and it will show here as the Angels beat up on Beckett and win in impressive fashion as they did in Game 1.

Game 4 features a rematch between Lackey and Lester. Both pitchers will give up tons of runs on short rest, but the Angels timely hitting and stealth bullpen will seal the win and the series for Scioscia's club.

Angels 3-1.