Sox Offenders

Once again, the road the Red Sox take to the World Series must travel through the Angels. Sure, the Angels have tried the old “change-your-name” trick – California Angels in ’86, Anaheim Angels in ’04 and the pompous Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in ’07 – but we know who they are! And the results don’t vary: the Sox have beaten them each time. Sometimes in dramatic fashion, sometimes matter-of-factly, but always coming out on top. Before we preview the 2008 showdown, let’s take a look back.

In 1986, long before coming back from the dead became a regular part of the Sox' repertoire, Dave Henderson single-handedly turned the tide of the ALCS with a home run that, if the Sox had ended up winning the World Series, might have supplanted Carlton Fisk's as the most replayed dinger ever. Granted, Hendu helped a ball out of the yard earlier trying to make a leaping catch, only to have the ball bounce out of his glove and over the fence for a homerun. But in the end he more than redeemed himself, and the series returned to Boston where we simply leveled them, outscoring the Angels 18-5 in games six and seven. What happened next, well, we’re not here to talk about that today, are we?

It would be a long time before the Red Sox would make it to the World Series again.  2004 to be exact, and it all began with a wild card series against the Angels. Unlike the '86 seven-game grind, this one was quick and painless. After taking the Angles behind the woodshed in the first two games, beating them by scores of 9-3 and 8-3, game three looked like more of the same. Then Vlad tied things up in the seventh with one swing - a grand slam. But Big Papi would have the final word, ending the series and adding to his legend with a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the tenth. What happened next, as much as we love to talk about it, we must move on.

Last year, we faced the Angels again in the ALDS. And again, we swept 'em, outscoring them by a staggering 19-4 across the three game series. Josh Beckett donned the kick-ass pants in game one and shut the Angels down (and shut them out) for nine innings, giving up just four hits and two walks. Game two was a nail-biter, tied at three going into the ninth. Manny ended the game, and probably the series, with a three-run walk-off blast with two outs. Who can forget Manny throwing his hands in the air (like he just didn’t care!) as soon as the ball left the bat, before taking his homerun lap. That’s what the Angels get for walking Ortiz. The Angels seemed to throw in the towel, although they kept game three close for a while, it was a blow-out in the end, 9-1. And the road was paved for another World Series.

The latest chapter in this saga begins this week. And while most don't envision the cakewalk the Red Sox enjoyed in 2004 and 2007, there is something about October baseball that the Red Sox seem to have and the Angels don’t. The halos have certainly added some punch to their line-up with Teixeira and Hunter, but it’s been their pitching that dries up in the fall. Will this year be any different?

The biggest question for the Sox is Josh Beckett. He’s been pushed back to a game three start with an oblique injury. That means Lester and Dice-K pitch the first two games and Beckett pitches at Fenway. More time for Becks to get pissed, never a good thing for opposing batters. Lester has been a near-ace all year, and Matsuzaka has been a killer on the road (tip of hat to the Doors), going 9-0 with a 2.37 ERA. The offense is the next question, especially if Drew and Lowell aren't healthy. Can Youk and Pedroia continue the pace they’ve been on for another few weeks? After The Steal, we know that anything is possible. I just can't wait to get it started.