FanNation

0x NBA/NFL Champion said 07/15, 03:32 PM
First, PLEASE VOTE ON ARGUMENTS. I know how everyone loves Boston.

Second, we'll see what Havertown, PA is about, won't we?

I'll take the Angels

The Red Sox do have the 2nd best record in the AL. Guess who has the first? It's the Angels, who have gone 57-38, tied with the Cubs for the BEST IN THE MAJORS.

Boston is 21-29 on the road. To win the pennant, you have to be able to win both at home AND on on the road. So far, the Sox haven't shown that they can do that. The Angels are an incredible 31-18 on the road; the BEST IN THE MAJORS.

Yes, the Red Sox got some of their players voted in to start the All-Star game. What does that mean? It means that the Red Sox are POPULAR. A large fan base doesn't make you a better team.

The Angels have four good starters that make up their rotation:

Santana- 11-3, 3.34 ERA
Saunders- 21-5, 3.07 ERA
Weaver- 8-8, 4.03 ERA
Garland- 8-6, 4.20 ERA

None of those may jump out at you (Although some should), but they are solid all around. NONE have very high ERA's. NONE have losing records.

The bullpen is one of the best in the league and is anchored by All-Star closer Fransisco Rodriguez.

With K-Rod, Vlad and a solid rotation; I'll take the Angels

0x NBA/NFL Champion said 07/15, 04:21 PM
Alright, let's check out that lineup, shall we?

Jacoby Elsbury? Don't know who he is. Maybe you mean Jacoby Ellsbury, but he's hitting .269.

Pedroia- .317 BA
Kendrick- .321 BA

Kendrick is a very good second baseman, too.

Ortiz has been hurt. You have no idea what they will get out of him the second half. He could be good, or he could give them nothing. There are no guarantees.

Manny Rameraz? Don't know who he is.

Kevin Youkelis? Don't know who he is.

Jason Varitek? The same Varitek who is hitting .218? He is not the player he once was. Not even close.

Julio Lugo is hitting .268. He isn't a great SS defensively, and he hits ninth. Don't see what is so special about him.


Well, it doesn't seem like so great of a lineup to me.

0x NBA/NFL Champion said 07/15, 06:22 PM
That's cool. Guess how many times Beckett pitches against the Angels this year?

Three times? Nope

Four times? Nope

Five times? Nope

Six times? Nope

How many times is Josh Beckett scheduled to pitch against the Angels?

Once. So much for him single-handedly taking out the Angels in the second half of the year.

I did say the pitching staff was better. As was addressed below, those aren't even the right stats.


So in conclusion, the Red Sox don't stand as good of a chance as the Angels because:

- Ortiz's injury. He is a huge part of that team and he might not be nearly the same player that he was. Without his production, the Red Sox will suffer. They might not have so far but they will.

- They can't win on the road. As I said in my first argument, the Red Sox are below .500 on the road. To win the pennant, they need to win on the road; and they haven't shown that they can't do that. On the other hand, the Angels are the best team in the majors on the road.



After all of this, you can take the Boston Red Sox. I'll take the Angels.