Sox vs. Rangers? What if Yu wins 2?
By Earl Nash
You can exhale now; the Red Sox have placed the capstone on their 2013 “Worst –to-First” season by earning home-field advantage throughout the ALDS, ALCS, and the World Series.
Now, take a deep breath and return to your taciturn, fatalistic New England posture and worry.
Just when Sox fans were planning for either “Tito’s Revenge” or “Dazing the Rays,” that cloud of dust in the distance has just ridden into Dodge and the Red Sox might face an ornery gang of hombres who can hit and pitch.
And, recall that “Tonto Selig” has kept the first round, the ALDS, in a 5-game format.
That means the Red Sox could face starter “you-know-who” twice.
"Who?Yu, that’s who.And for two!OOOooo!"
These desperadoes are not the Rays, who had great starters [tied for best WHIP 1.12 in MLB with Oakland] and paper mache’ bats.
These cowboys are not that Cleveland crew, which has the phenomenal Jason “Merry” Kipnis [.281, 17/83] and emerging star Mike Brantley [.288, 10/73] and Nick “Didn’t he retire?” Swisher [.246, 21/61] leading the offense and Scott “I was sure he retired” Kazmir [10-9] in the three slot and Chris Perez [BA against .263, WHIP 1.43, 25 SVs] as “Pure Rage” Pyro closer, who coughs up 1.8 HRs/9 and BB/9 3.5 and a -0.2 WAR and recently forced Francona to “Closer-by-Committee.”
Sure “Tito’s Revenge” or “Dazing the Rays” could have been fun for Sox fans and a small speed bump on the red brick road to the Fenway World Series, but “noooooooooooooooooooooo!—the Bawshton Bashers may be required to play a complete team; one that has a Major League rotation:
- 1. Y. Darvish
- 2. M. Garza
- 3. D. Holland
- 4. M. Perez
- 5. A. Ogando
…and and a complete batting order and potent 1 through 5 hitters:
Cleveland
AB
R
H
RBI
BB
SO
LOB
AVG
, LF5010111
.288
, 1B6120013.
246
, 2B5232011.
281
, DH3321201.
269
, RF5012024
.273
, RF0000000.636
, SS5231001.244
, C5011033.
294
, 3B5122002.255
, CF4322111.233Totals431217114917.255
Worried yet?
No?
Well, it’s early yet…
Try this:
Game
Matchup
Date
Time (ET)
TV
Tickets
Game 1Texas @ Red SoxFri, Oct 4TBDTBS or MLBN***Game 2Texas @ Red SoxSat, Oct 5TBDTBSGame 3Boston @ RangersMon, Oct 7TBDTBS or MLBN***Game 4*Boston @ RangersTue, Oct 8TBDTBSGame 5*Texas @ Red SoxThu, Oct 10TBDTBS
That’s right, Commish Butt Sealing allows just 5 games–-a sprint–in this round after the Sultry Summer Marathon.
GAME ONE:
Darvish vs. Buchholz
GAME TWO:
Garza vs. Lester
">>> TRAVEL DAY <<<"
GAME THREE:
Darvish vs. Lackey
POINT: With Darvish starting twice in the first three games, the Sox could be down 2-1 with the Rangers needing 1 win in the remaining 2 games.
Which team would you rather have the Sox face in Round One of the ALDS?
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