Sox Series: Sneak Preview?
By Alex Sherman
Hope y'all are paying attention to the Sox/A's series, because this is most likely what we're going to see in October. I know, I know, Yankees suck. Dot com, in fact. But while we can root for a continued collapse, the A's/Sox is still the most likely ALDS series outcome.
The A's have lost Tejada and Zito seems to get worse every year. But this year's team ain't no pushovers. Their lineup, while filled with 'small' names, is dangerous...perhaps more so than last year.
You gotta figure Chavez won't go one-for-everything, as he did last season. His regular season numbers are the best of his career this season. Mark Kotsay is a legit threat, Jermaine Dye is injured again, but not as bad as last season (don't think we'll be seeing Adam Melheuse pinch hit for Dye this time 'round), Bobby Crosby isn't Tejada (also had a one-for last year, if you remember), but he has some pop. Eric Byrnes is much improved from last season (though Varitek's presence might intimidate him), Hatteberg loves hitting against the Sox, Durazo is an all-out hitting stud (he almost beat the Red Sox single handedly, from an offensive perspective, last year), and Damien Miller is leading the AL in batting with runners in scoring position (he was for a while, at least...gotta check if that stat is still true... regardless, bet you weren't expecting that!). Marco Scutero is a pesky ninth hitter...an improvement over Ellis and Menechino from last season.
Rhodes and Dotel can be had in the 'pen...this is where the A's will struggle. You know the games will be close, and these guys may not have the stuff to beat Manny y co. But while Sox fans are riding high and loving life, will Nomar's bat in the middle of the lineup be missed come playoff time? Such a dangerous hitter is missed in close games, especially low scoring ones.
If Pedro, Schilling and Lowe dominate the A's — which they probably will — no problem. If the Sox go into the eighth and ninth tied 2-2, they should win. Embree, Timlin and Foulke are stronger than Hammond, Rhodes and Dotel...but stranger things have happened. And this weekend may be a good indication.
