It’s finally here! After three days with no baseball for the Cleveland Indians (kind of like the All Star break), the American League Championship Series starts tonight at Fenway Park in Boston. The Tribe is making their first appearance in the ALCS since 1998, when they lost to the Yankees in six games. It is the fourth time the Indians and Red Sox have met in the post season, with the Tribe winning Division Series in 1995 (3-0) and 1998 (3-1), and losing in five games in 1999. Of course, that does not include the one game playoff in 1948, which sent Cleveland to the World Series and the franchise’s last World Championship.
The Indians went 2-5 against the Carmine this season, and as was the case with the Yankees in the regular season, it was the club’s offense, which was the problem. The Tribe scored just 25 runs in the seven games, averaging less than four per contest. Part of that is the Boston pitching, which is very good, but Cleveland did not swing the bats particularly well, especially in the four game set at home which featured back to back 1-0 games, with each team winning one. The game the Indians won actually came against Josh Beckett with the only run coming on a Franklin Gutierrez home run.
Obviously, the Boston one-two punch of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez is a concern, but to me it is imperative the Indians pitchers keep the top of the Red Sox order, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youklis off base. Pedroia is the typical irritant middle infielder that hits the ball where it’s pitched and was perturbed earlier this year when he felt Fausto Carmona was throwing at him. Of course, the rookie stands right on top of the plate, so it wasn’t like the Tribe right hander was wild, he was simply a little off the inside corner. Youklis is a quality hitter who makes pitchers work. Cleveland hurlers have to keep them off base ahead of the big boppers.
The Tribe hurlers have to also not allow the bottom of the Boston batting order hurt them. Once you get past Mike Lowell, the Sox 6 through 9 is filled with guys like Julio Lugo, Coco Crisp, and a disappointing J.D. Drew. The Cleveland starters keep these guys off base. If these guys can collect a few hits, it turns over the lineup quicker and provides more opportunity for Big Papi and Manny.
Offensively, the Indians have to have the same approach they had against the Yankees. They have to continue to get contributions from Jhonny Peralta, Kenny Lofton, Casey Blake, and Gutierrez because the Red Sox pitchers will be very careful not to let Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez beat them. It would be amazing if the two out success the Tribe had against the Yankees would continue, but it is unlikely. This series, the Indians will need a few extra base hits mixed in early in innings to score some runs.
Compared to the Yankees, the Red Sox have much better pitching, but their offense isn’t as potent. Compared to the Angels, the Indians have a better lineup. On paper, it really looks like this series will go six or seven games. Of course, that said, it will probably be a sweep. No matter what happens in this series, it looks like they will all be low scoring affairs. If the Indians can score four runs per game, they will win this series and go on to the World Series. It should be a great series and great drama.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 