History repeating: Halos and Sox set to meet in first round matchup

September 30, 9:59 AMMLB ExaminerAlex Brown

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the MLB Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

At least one 2009 MLB playoff matchup has been determined – and it looks like we’re in for more of the same.  With the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim clinching the National League Western division title and the Boston Red Sox capturing the American League Wild Card, the two teams are set to match up in an October first round series.  The Red Sox and Angels met in the first round in the 2008, 2007, and 2004 playoffs, with Boston compiling a 9-1 record in those matchups.  How does each team look heading into round one?

Boston Red Sox pitching
Who’s hot? Josh Beckett has rebounded from a terrible month of August to post a 2-1 record and 3.66 ERA in 5 September starts.  Jon Lester has notched 4 wins in September with a 3.07 ERA.  Rookie Clay Buchholz has been an excellent addition, winning 4 September starts with a 1.38 ERA.  Perhaps the most surprising Boston starter is Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has two wins and a 1.96 ERA since rejoining the team in September after eight awful starts to begin the season.  In the bullpen, Takashi Saito has not allowed an earned run in 6.2 September innings.

Who’s not? Tim Wakefield has had two awful September starts, losing once and posting an ERA of 6.55.  He’s not likely to start in the postseason, unless an injury occurs.  Reliever Ramon Ramirez has been on a slide since July, culminating in his worst month of pitching (4.82 ERA) in September.  Most alarming however is lefty reliever Hideki Okajima’s 7.11 ERA in 8 September appearances and righty setup man Manny Delcarmen’s 13.50 ERA in 9 games of work.

Boston Red Sox offense
Who’s hot?  Jason Bay is hitting .307 with 23 RBI in September, making this his second best month for driving in runs.  New addition Victor Martinez has been raking at a .368 clip, and perennial playoff hero David Ortiz has rebounded with a .284 batting average hitting .222 in the month of August.

Who’s not?  Third baseman Mike Lowell has cooled down after a hot August, posting a .234 batting average in 64 September at-bats.  Leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury has seen his batting average drop in every month since June, though not by any considerable amount (.313 to .284). 

Los Angeles Angels starting pitching
Who’s hot?  Newest Halo starter Scott Kazmir has a 1-2 September record, but has posted a 2.01 ERA in five starts after posting a 5.10 ERA in five August starts.  Fellow lefty Joe Saunders has four September wins and a 2.78 ERA as the playoffs approach.  Relievers Jason Bulger and Darren Oliver may be working into a late game role, as each have had success late in the season.

Who’s not?  Closer Brian Fuentes seems to alternate good and bad months, registering a 2.35 ERA in August and a 5.00 mark in September.  Kevin Jepsen had a good summer as a setup man for Anaheim, but his ERA has crept up (4.15) in September. 

Los Angeles Angels offense
Who’s hot?  Second baseman Howie Kendrick has been on a tear since July, with his best month coming in September (.404/.440/.681).  Outfielder Bobby Abreu has just been consistent all season – he’s a definite unsung hero of this Angels team. 

Who’s not?  Kendry Morales has cooled off in September (.250/.321/.406) after carrying the Angels offense with huge months in July (.326/.366/.629) and August (.385/.409/.734).  Outfielder Juan Rivera has a .193 batting average for the month and only 10 RBI.   When healthy, Vladimir Guerrero hits – the problem is, he’s not completely healthy and has posted a line of .256/.302/.367 for the month of September. 

What to make of it all?  Both teams have definite problems in the bullpen, but fortunately for both they seem to have enough depth to be able to cover for struggling pitchers.  They each have some starting pitchers who are heating up late in the season, so we should see some good matchups there.  Where I think the Red Sox pull away however, is offensively.  Some of the Angels big bats are entering slumps at exactly the wrong time of year, and I think they’ll have to make some tough decisions on Vladimir Guerrero as the series approaches.  At this point, I’m going to have to give the edge to Boston in this matchup.