Los Angeles Sports

American League Playoff Preview

Angels-Red Sox, Rays-White Sox Square Off In ALDS

LOS ANGELES The Rays are crashing the October party for the first time in franchise history and will face three teams that are used to playing well after the weather turns cold.  The Angels, Red Sox and White Sox have each won the World Series since 2002.  So who's gonna survive to battle it out in the Fall Classic?

American League Divisional Series - Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
The two World Series favorites square off in the opening round after Tampa Bay's surprising win the the AL East.  Last year the Red Sox swept the Angels out of the first round on their way to winning the World Series, but the Halos have a lot more offensive firepower this year and the Sox have question marks hanging over the heads of some key players.

Starting right fielder JD Drew has been suffering with lower back strain for much of the second half of the season but is expected to play.  Starting third baseman and last year's World Series MVP Mike Lowell has had two trips to the disabled list and is questionable for this week.  Ace starter Josh Beckett is suffering from a strained oblique and while manager Terry Francona, Beckett has been pushed back and will start game 3.  The Sox will rely heavily on John Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka to carry the load for the first two games in Anaheim, but even without Lowell, Drew and Manny Ramirez, the Sox can still put up a lot of runs.

The Angels were cruising along this year and looked like presumptive favorites in the west before they traded for slugger Mark Teixeira, who not only brought his own big bat but also provided some protection for Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter.  They rolled along to 100 wins behind one of the best starting pitching staffs in baseball, complimented by perhaps the best bullpen.  Even after locking up the division in April, they still kept the pedal down and are ready for the big time.  The Angels are a complete ballclub and are playing at home for the rest of the month - and they will be playing for the rest of the month.

Prediction: Angels in 4.  The Angels are too well-rounded and the Red Sox are too thin right now to compete. 

American League Divisional Series - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox
After perhaps the most improbable season in Major League Baseball history, the Rays are sitting at home as October begins once again.  Only this time it is because they are hosting a playoff series, not watching on T.V.  They face the White Sox who had to play an extra game Tuesday against the Twins to claim the AL Central's spot.  The Sox survived what looked like a colossal collapse last week to make the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005.

The Rays had one of the great single-season turn-arounds of all time and did it without any major signings or trades.  They are a home-grown, young team with talent at every position and now, with confidence as well.  They held off the Red Sox and Yankees despite missing their brightest star, Carl Crawford, for much of the season.  The Rays have had a few days to rest and set their pitching staff while waiting to find out who they would play, and while they had a great regular season are facing a team with far more postseason experience. 

The White Sox won two uplifting games with the entire baseball world watching on Monday and Tuesday and will arrive in Tampa on a wave of emotion.  Having recovered from the brink of elimination last week, they will feel like they are playing the postseason on house money.  John Danks threw an eight inning gem on Tuesday to send the Sox to October, but more importantly, he allowed the bullpen to have a day off heading into the postseason. 

Prediction: Rays in 4. The Rays are hot, while the White Sox are 2-6 in their last eight games against winning teams and 7-9 against losing teams - but they're good for a win at home in game 3. 

American League Championship Series - Los Angeles Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays
It would make for a great story if the Rays won this series and went to the World Series.  It would be fun to watch an epic seven game slugfest between these two nice-guy franchises.  Sadly, it ain't gonna happen.  The high powered Angels will be too much for the team formerly known as the Devil Rays.  The Angels have more experience, better pitching, better defense, better hitting and a better bullpen, and that pretty much says it all.  The young players from Tampa will be able to cut their teeth against the White Sox, but Angels' balance will prove too much for the new kids on the block.  Angels in 5.