The 2008 Boston Red Sox are my Apple Dapple team. Unless you are a cereal snob like me, you probably have no clue what I’m talking about.
I love cereal. I always have at least five different boxes at my disposal at all times. Healthy cereal, candy cereal, fruity cereal…I love them. What I do not like, however, are generic store brand cereals. Cereal is one of four things that I must have the name brand. The other three are mayonnaise, toilet paper and Q-Tips. I never claimed to be normal.
Enter Apple Dapples, the knockoff brand of Apple Jacks. Sure they have a fantastic name. They even look, feel and taste just like the real deal…but I can’t do it. Something about it sets it apart from the original. I am a cereal snob.
The Red Sox are my Apple Dapple team in this postseason. They have the look and feel of a defending champion geared up to make another run at it, but I think it’s purely aesthetic. I believe that their series against the Los Angeles Angels will be the most entertaining first round match up, and I believe that the Angels will prevail.
The Red Sox swept the Angels 3-0 in both ’04 and ’07 on their way to the championship. I am by no means underestimating them. They have the heart of a champ and will come prepared to play against the team with baseball’s best record. Unfortunately for them, they have some question marks with key injuries. Ace Josh Beckett has been pushed back to Game 3 with a nagging oblique injury. Steady veteran third baseman Mike Lowell is questionable with a hip injury. Last year’s postseason hero, J.D. Drew is doubtful with a back injury. That’s a whole lot of Apple Jacks you’re trading in for the next best thing.
Boston was 1-8 against L.A. this year. They won the first meeting, and then lost the following eight games. Hoping to end that streak, they are going with lefty Jon Lester (16-6 3.21 ERA). Lester faced the Angels one time this year back in April. He gave up 4 runs in five innings, in a losing effort.
The Angels are sending righty John Lackey, aka Skinny Garren (12-5 3.75 ERA) (insert link here??) to the mound. As I’ve previously written, Skinny Garren never loses when I watch him pitch. And rest assured, I will be watching this game. But more importantly, Lackey is able to avoid Fenway Park, where he has had his troubles. He has joined in his team’s dominance over Boston this season beating them twice. He has given up just 5 earned runs in 16 innings of work, striking out 10. His most recent effort was a complete game gem. In Skinny Garren I trust.
The electric Francisco Rodriguez and his 62 saves highlight L.A.’s bullpen. As a unit, the Angels bullpen has 66 saves and a 3.67 ERA. Compared to Boston’s 47 saves and 4.00 ERA, it could spell late inning trouble for the Sox.
Vladimir Guerrero has been awesome once again, leading his team in average (.303), homers (27), RBI (91), runs (85), and OPS (.886). Most people also know about Torii Hunter’s triple threat of power, speed and controversial statements (21 HR, 19 SB, Jackie Robinson Day). Another key player for them will be third baseman Chone Figgins. He is a menace on the base paths once he gets on (34 SB, 72 R). The player that will push them to the next level however, will be one of their newest ones.
Since acquiring first baseman Mark Teixeira in a trade with Atlanta in late July, all he has done is smack 13 HR, 14 doubles, 43 RBI while batting a staggering .358. This was all accomplished in just 54 games. The trouble is, the Angels have had the AL West wrapped up for months now, for all intents and purposes. He hasn’t really had a chance to show off yet. Teixeira has always been a solid player for the Rangers. But great players seem to need to escape from Arlington for people to acknowledge them (Alex and “Pudge” Rodriguez). I’m predicting that Teixeira uses this series to make a name for himself.
I think that Boston will go down with a fight, possibly taking it to a deciding fifth game. But they will go down. It starts with a loss tonight.
Some other quick futures picks:
Phillies (-180) over Brewers. Bonus – In 4 games (+225)
Cubs (-215) over Dodgers. Bonus – In 3 games (+365)
Rays (-160 ) over … Bonus – In 4 games (+?? )
Angels (-140) over Red Sox. In 5 games (+345)
NL Champ – Cubs (+125)
AL Champ – Rays (+265)
World Series Champ – Rays (+605)
I love cereal. I always have at least five different boxes at my disposal at all times. Healthy cereal, candy cereal, fruity cereal…I love them. What I do not like, however, are generic store brand cereals. Cereal is one of four things that I must have the name brand. The other three are mayonnaise, toilet paper and Q-Tips. I never claimed to be normal.
Enter Apple Dapples, the knockoff brand of Apple Jacks. Sure they have a fantastic name. They even look, feel and taste just like the real deal…but I can’t do it. Something about it sets it apart from the original. I am a cereal snob.
The Red Sox are my Apple Dapple team in this postseason. They have the look and feel of a defending champion geared up to make another run at it, but I think it’s purely aesthetic. I believe that their series against the Los Angeles Angels will be the most entertaining first round match up, and I believe that the Angels will prevail.
The Red Sox swept the Angels 3-0 in both ’04 and ’07 on their way to the championship. I am by no means underestimating them. They have the heart of a champ and will come prepared to play against the team with baseball’s best record. Unfortunately for them, they have some question marks with key injuries. Ace Josh Beckett has been pushed back to Game 3 with a nagging oblique injury. Steady veteran third baseman Mike Lowell is questionable with a hip injury. Last year’s postseason hero, J.D. Drew is doubtful with a back injury. That’s a whole lot of Apple Jacks you’re trading in for the next best thing.
Boston was 1-8 against L.A. this year. They won the first meeting, and then lost the following eight games. Hoping to end that streak, they are going with lefty Jon Lester (16-6 3.21 ERA). Lester faced the Angels one time this year back in April. He gave up 4 runs in five innings, in a losing effort.
The Angels are sending righty John Lackey, aka Skinny Garren (12-5 3.75 ERA) (insert link here??) to the mound. As I’ve previously written, Skinny Garren never loses when I watch him pitch. And rest assured, I will be watching this game. But more importantly, Lackey is able to avoid Fenway Park, where he has had his troubles. He has joined in his team’s dominance over Boston this season beating them twice. He has given up just 5 earned runs in 16 innings of work, striking out 10. His most recent effort was a complete game gem. In Skinny Garren I trust.
The electric Francisco Rodriguez and his 62 saves highlight L.A.’s bullpen. As a unit, the Angels bullpen has 66 saves and a 3.67 ERA. Compared to Boston’s 47 saves and 4.00 ERA, it could spell late inning trouble for the Sox.
Vladimir Guerrero has been awesome once again, leading his team in average (.303), homers (27), RBI (91), runs (85), and OPS (.886). Most people also know about Torii Hunter’s triple threat of power, speed and controversial statements (21 HR, 19 SB, Jackie Robinson Day). Another key player for them will be third baseman Chone Figgins. He is a menace on the base paths once he gets on (34 SB, 72 R). The player that will push them to the next level however, will be one of their newest ones.
The difference maker
Since acquiring first baseman Mark Teixeira in a trade with Atlanta in late July, all he has done is smack 13 HR, 14 doubles, 43 RBI while batting a staggering .358. This was all accomplished in just 54 games. The trouble is, the Angels have had the AL West wrapped up for months now, for all intents and purposes. He hasn’t really had a chance to show off yet. Teixeira has always been a solid player for the Rangers. But great players seem to need to escape from Arlington for people to acknowledge them (Alex and “Pudge” Rodriguez). I’m predicting that Teixeira uses this series to make a name for himself.
I think that Boston will go down with a fight, possibly taking it to a deciding fifth game. But they will go down. It starts with a loss tonight.
Some other quick futures picks:
Phillies (-180) over Brewers. Bonus – In 4 games (+225)
Cubs (-215) over Dodgers. Bonus – In 3 games (+365)
Rays (-160 ) over … Bonus – In 4 games (+?? )
Angels (-140) over Red Sox. In 5 games (+345)
NL Champ – Cubs (+125)
AL Champ – Rays (+265)
World Series Champ – Rays (+605)
