Red Sox and Cardinals Begin World Series Tonight

[USA4ME]

As someone who has no horse in this race, I don't think the 3rd baseman or the runner did anything intentional. It just happened.

I will say that I do believe if the runner would not have fallen over the 3rd baseman he would have beat the throw. He would have been a minimum of 15 to 20 feet closer to base than he was, and who knows how it would have altered the throw to the catcher.

I get the feeling the Cards would have preferred the game didn't end that way. It was just strange all the way around.

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[Gern]

After two games, all I know is this:  David Ortiz is a baseball God, and will likely surpass Ted Williams as the greatest and most revered Red Sox player to ever wear the uniform.

[NHSparky]

Don't kid yourself, Gern.  Papi won't hit 500 HR's, and he hasn't played more than 40 games defensively in a season since 1997.

Personally, at this point, he's good, but not Cooperstown material.  Sorry, YMMV.

[Gern]

Don't kid yourself, Gern.  Papi won't hit 500 HR's, and he hasn't played more than 40 games defensively in a season since 1997.

Personally, at this point, he's good, but not Cooperstown material.  Sorry, YMMV.

Well, I'd have to disagree with you.  Based on stats and defensive ability, you're correct.  But I said he'll be the most revered Red Sox player ever, not the best statistically.

Ted Williams never won a world series.  Neither did Carl Yastrzemski, both listed as one and two respectively in the all time greats of the Sox.

David Ortiz has been on two World Series teams, possibly on his way to a third, and though he's in his zenith his career isn't even over--he's a guy who can consistently turn games and series around with one swing of his bat at the right time.

[Gern]

Jesse Spector, SN national baseball writer

THE PICK: Cardinals in four

WHY THE CARDINALS WILL SWEEP: Yadier Molina, the last active Cardinal from the 2004 team that got swept by the Red Sox, gathers his teammates before Game 1 at Fenway Park. It's not difficult to assemble them, because the visitors' locker room is the size of a shoebox, and also because it's always easy for Molina to assemble the Cardinals — he just uses the telepathic brain implant that all Cardinals receive upon their arrival in St. Louis. "This is for the Cardinal Way," Molina explains. "You already know about Marlon Anderson and Kiko Calero, about Matt Morris and Woody Williams, about Cal Eldred. But there was another guy on that team. Mike Matheny. He's the same one who's our manager now." A hush falls over the room. "We do this for him," they say in unison. The Cardinals operate with the machine-like efficieny of the cyborgs that they have become, but each is still, at heart, a man with his own motivation. For Molina, it is revenge. For Adam Wainwright, it's a belief that beards are to be properly groomed and maintained. For Carlos Beltran, it's the last item on a lengthy career to-do list. For Joe Kelly, it's America. For Matt Adams, it's the promise of having a sandwich named after him at his neighborhood deli, a sandwich that he will get to eat free for life. For me, it's about having made a preseason pick that actually has a chance to be correct, and sticking with that. That's why it's Cardinals in four.

(COUGH)...

[obumazombie]

A 2 game sweep is still possible (and required), in Boston.

[seahorse513]

Yes keeping my fingers crossed for them

[USA4ME]

Series over. No way the Cards will take 2 in Boston.

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[Ralph Wiggum]

Well, I'd have to disagree with you.  Based on stats and defensive ability, you're correct.  But I said he'll be the most revered Red Sox player ever, not the best statistically.

Ted Williams never won a world series.  Neither did Carl Yastrzemski, both listed as one and two respectively in the all time greats of the Sox.

David Ortiz has been on two World Series teams, possibly on his way to a third, and though he's in his zenith his career isn't even over--he's a guy who can consistently turn games and series around with one swing of his bat at the right time.

Well, he is 37 years old, turning 38 in a few weeks.  Players of his size don't generally tend to age well.  He was hurt a lot early in his career, which might mean he'll still have some more gas in the tank.  Hard to tell.

His comparable players at Baseball-Reference.com are interesting, because no one compares really well with him:

Carlos Delgado (929)
Jason Giambi (903)
Paul Konerko (860)
Jeff Bagwell (854)
Jim Edmonds (853)
Andres Galarraga (848)
Juan Gonzalez (844)
Lance Berkman (842)
Jose Canseco (840)
Willie Stargell (833) * (HOF)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizda01.shtml

9 time All-Star, and should the Sox win the World Series, he'll be a 3-time winner.  Players who have been primarly DH's haven't fared extremely well in the balloting, such as Edgar Martinez.

Papi will be treated with special care by the voters because of the above extras.  If he can accumulate some more numbers in key categories the next couple years, his overall stats will look a little different but materially will still be the same.  For instance, he could cross over the 500 HR barrier, as well as coming close to 2,500 career hits.  Those are still "psychological" counting statistics that sadly some voters still consider important.

I haven't done a study, nor do I have time at the moment, but he will certainly be an interesting case when he becomes eligible in 2020 or thereabouts.

Any clue if he is planning on retiring?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Series over. No way the Cards will take 2 in Boston.

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The road team has not won Games 6 & 7 since the '79 Pirates.  Granted, the road team hasn't had a ton of chances to play both a game 6 & 7 on the road since '79 either.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Cards pull it out, but I would be pleasantly surprised.

[seahorse513]

I want the Sox to win, dang it all...

[NHSparky]

Well, I'd have to disagree with you.  Based on stats and defensive ability, you're correct.  But I said he'll be the most revered Red Sox player ever, not the best statistically.

Ted Williams never won a world series.  Neither did Carl Yastrzemski, both listed as one and two respectively in the all time greats of the Sox.

David Ortiz has been on two World Series teams, possibly on his way to a third, and though he's in his zenith his career isn't even over--he's a guy who can consistently turn games and series around with one swing of his bat at the right time.

Tony Gwynn never won a World Series.  He's in Cooperstown.  Ken Griffey Jr. will be, as will Ichiro.  Phil Neikro, Don Sutton, and Gaylord Perry.

Ernie Banks?  Nope.  Ditto Harmon Killebrew and Ty Cobb.

Want me to keep going?

Ortiz is a pretty good player, for what he does.  Unfortunately for him, it's called the Hall of FAME, not the Hall of "Pretty Good."

Mark my words, David Ortiz, for all his clutch performance, etc., simply doesn't have the numbers to get into Cooperstown.  Period.

[NHSparky]

The road team has not won Games 6 & 7 since the '79 Pirates.  Granted, the road team hasn't had a ton of chances to play both a game 6 & 7 on the road since '79 either.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Cards pull it out, but I would be pleasantly surprised.

Angels-Giants, 2002.  Angels needed them both to win the Series.  I was at Game 6.  Best. Comeback. EVER.  Watching Barroid tank that play in the 7th to give the Angels the tie was AWESOME.

And while it's not a Game 7 like it was in 2002, I think it'd be kind of cool to see Lackey take it down like he did then and seal the deal.

[seahorse513]

RED SOX WON!!!!!

[Gern]

Hmmm...I'm still remembering something about a Cardinals sweep....

^^^(enjoys beating dead horses)^^^