Indians, Sox Playoff Tilt a Match Made in Heaven
There are still a few pieces that need to fall into place but it is a distinct possibility that Terry Francona and the Cleveland Indians could be Boston’s first playoff opponent. How absolutely delicious.
Sep 28, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona gives a TV interview in the dugout during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s be clear. I have been covering the Red Sox for a long time and am first and foremost a fan. I love the Red Sox as much as life itself. They hooked me as a kid growing up in Maine – decidedly the epicenter of Red Sox Nation – and as objective as I try to be it’s hard due to emotion, family ties and shared experience.
Nevertheless we’re talking Tito Francona here. The manager that broke the curse – TWICE! I am a big Francona fan. After an incredible run in Boston he got shafted by the Red Sox after the 2011 season collapse when Theo Epstein and Red Sox management needed a scapegoat. He took the fall for a world of player personnel issues. All that happened after that was he took a year off and essentially so did the Red Sox under Bobby Valentine and now in his first year with the Indians he’s back in the playoff. Don’t think he’s not salivating at the opportunity to come back to Boston and stick it to the Red Sox.
After going 68-94 in 2012 en route to a 4th place finish in the AL Central, Cleveland went 92-70 with Francona at the helm in 2013, finishing in second place just one game behind the Tigers.
Both cerebral managers, a Francona/Farrell match up will be a chess match for fans to sit back and enjoy, although for a Red Sox fan “enjoying” the playoffs may be impossible, especially now given the high expectations for the team in the playoffs.
Of course it’s all up the air now with Tampa Bay and Texas going head-to-head tonight at 8:07 to determine who plays the Tribe and eventually the Red Sox.
Buckle up kids. Here we go.
2013 MLB POSTSEASON SCHEDULE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tiebreaker: Rays at Rangers, Monday, 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS
Wild Card: Rays or Rangers at Indians
Division Series: Wild Card at Red Sox | Tigers at A’s
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Wild Card: Reds at Pirates
Division Series: Wild Card at Cardinals | Dodgers at Braves
NL WILD CARD GAME
Reds at Pirates, Tuesday, 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS
AL WILD CARD GAME
Rays or Rangers at Indians, Wednesday, 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS
NL DIVISION SERIES A
Game 1: Reds/Pirates at Cardinals, Thursday, TBS
Game 2: Reds/Pirates at Cardinals, Friday, TBS or MLBN***
Game 3: Cardinals at Reds/Pirates, Oct. 6, TBS
*Game 4: Cardinals at Reds/Pirates, Oct. 7, TBS or MLBN***
*Game 5: Reds/Pirates at Cardinals, Oct. 9, TBS
NL DIVISION SERIES B
Game 1: Dodgers at Braves, Thursday, TBS
Game 2: Dodgers at Braves, Friday, TBS or MLBN***
Game 3: Braves at Dodgers, Oct. 6, TBS
*Game 4: Braves at Dodgers, Oct. 7, TBS or MLBN***
*Game 5: Dodgers at Braves, Oct. 9, TBS
AL DIVISION SERIES A
Game 1: AL Wild Card at Red Sox, Friday, TBS or MLBN***
Game 2: AL Wild Card at Red Sox, Oct. 5, TBS
Game 3: Red Sox at AL Wild Card, Oct. 7, TBS or MLBN***
*Game 4: Red Sox at AL Wild Card, Oct. 8, TBS
*Game 5: AL Wild Card at Red Sox, Oct. 10, TBS
AL DIVISION SERIES B
Game 1: Tigers at Athletics, Friday, TBS or MLBN***
Game 2: Tigers at Athletics, Oct. 5, TBS
Game 3: Athletics at Tigers, Oct. 7, TBS or MLBN***
*Game 4: Athletics at Tigers, Oct. 8, TBS
*Game 5: Tigers at Athletics, Oct. 10, TBS
NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game 1: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 11, TBS
Game 2: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 12, TBS
Game 3: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 14, TBS
Game 4: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 15, TBS
*Game 5: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 16, TBS
*Game 6: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 18, TBS
*Game 7: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 19, TBS
AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game 1: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 12, FOX
Game 2: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 13, FOX
Game 3: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 15, FOX
Game 4: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 16, FOX
*Game 5: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 17, FOX
*Game 6: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 19, FOX
*Game 7: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 20, FOX
WORLD SERIES
Game 1: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 23, FOX
Game 2: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 24, FOX
Game 3: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 26, FOX
Game 4: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 27, FOX
*Game 5: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 28, FOX
*Game 6: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 30, FOX
*Game 7: TBD @ TBD, Oct. 31, FOX
* — if necessary
*** — TBS will air three of the four Division Series games on Friday, Oct. 4, and up to three games on Monday, Oct. 7. MLB Network will air one Division Series game on both of those dates. TBS will air 18 of the 20 Division Series games.