On Oct. 11, 1986, the Boston Red Sox couldn't beat the California Angels. Not even Roger Clemens, having a Cy Young and MVP season, could do it, as he and Calvin Schiraldi coughed up a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning. The game-tying run scored on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. The Angels won off Schiraldi in the 11th to take a commanding three games to one lead in the American League Championship Series.
It is now Oct. 6, 2009, and the Angels cannot beat the Red Sox. Since Bobby Grich singled home Jerry Narron in Game 4 of the '86 ALCS, the Sox are 12-1 against the Halos. More relevant for these teams, they have faced off in three postseason series since 2004, with the Sox winning all of them, sweeping two and losing just the one game.
In that same span, the Angels have played the Sox to a near-even 25-28 regular-season record, including a 19-6 record in Anaheim — but it's been 23 years since they've won a postseason home game against Boston.
This type of dominance leads to two natural conclusions: That it will continue because the Sox are that much better, even if only mentally, or that it will not, even if only because the Angels are due.
After all, none of us is too young to have forgotten the 1999 Red Sox, facing the mighty Cleveland Indians in the first round for the third consecutive time. The Indians swept out the AL East champs in 1995, bringing to 13 the Red Sox' embarrassing postseason losing streak (which also dated to 1986, coincidentally enough). They then handily defeated the Sox again in 1998, allowing Boston just one win. They then jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1999 ALDS, an 8-1 record in just three postseason series.
The Sox, capped by Pedro Martinez's six-inning no-hit relief effort in Game 5, rallied to win the series and have lost just one division series in five trips since. The Sox then repeated the effort in 2007, spotting Cleveland a 3-1 lead in the ALCS before charging back for a seven-game victory en route to the World Series.
In other words, don't get too cocky, Sox fans. The Angels are a good team, and this is a short series. Anything can happen.
So, with all that said, let's hear it, baseball fans. Who will win this series, how many games, and why? Feel free to bring as much statistical data to the discussion as you can stomach.
13 replies on “Broken Halos”
Red Sox in 5
The Angels will control the ground game, the Red Sox and the Angels with both pitch well, but that Angels bullpen will lose it for them more than twice.
I do believe that every game will be a freaking nail biter.
And I’m saying this: The two Red Sox games that are losses, one of them will be on Papelbon.
Angels in 4, because I don’t think anyone’s predicted that one yet.
Angels sweep. They’re good and they’re due.
So wait… Your point is that the Sox will win, but maybe the Angels will win? I…agree!
I think Dustin Pedroia’s MVP last year was forgettable.
More seriously, I have NO clue who will win this series. But I have to think that it all comes down to Josh Beckett, like last year. If Beckett loses his first start, the Sox lose the series. If Beckett wins his first start, the Sox win the series.
I think Sox in 4. Angels’ pitching is nowhere as it was in recent years, though its offense is good, it will have to beat good pitching. I guess in that sense, it’s what SF said about Beckett.
Sorry, threadjack a little bit, anybody has MLB.tv for postseason for 10$? I’m thinking of getting that one, but debating it.. any experiences?
Yet another threadjack, I just remembered I won the YF-SF fantasy league, yay! What do I win? =)
Speaking of threadjacks, Miguel Cabrera with a big FU to Pete Abe.
And another.
That was a big.
“…I think Dustin Pedroia’s MVP last year was forgettable….”
is that who won last year?…i had forgotten, but you guys keep bringing it up ;)
anybody remember who won in 2000?
Because it doesn’t seem right for El Duque’s thoughtful contribution to be the last comment on the thread, I’ll chime in here.
Has anyone else read this story about A-Gon’s kid being in a coma for 2 years? Wow: http://bit.ly/23F2O