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ALCS
Mar 11, 2011 20:23:03 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 11, 2011 20:23:03 GMT -5
The A's came up two games short of the Red Sox while the Naps ran away with the AL West. The Red Sox ended with a worse record than the Naps, but the Red Sox have starting pitching that might be the best in the league.
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ALCS
Mar 12, 2011 14:30:25 GMT -5
Post by clevelandgm on Mar 12, 2011 14:30:25 GMT -5
Biggest issue with the Naps is going to be health especially on the pitching staff with Ernie Ross done for the season and Ray Collins dinged up for 6 more days. LF Max Carey is also day-to-day with a groin strain. Luckily, starting SS Roy Hartzell is back from the DL just in time.
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ALCS
Mar 14, 2011 19:26:15 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 14, 2011 19:26:15 GMT -5
The Red Sox are loaded in their starting pitching. With Fiser, Polchow and Joseph Myers they could easily sweep a series. The Naps do lean heavily on Ray Collins and his 27-7 2.33 season. If he can pitch 3-4 times in a series, the Naps will be tough. There is a huge drop off after Collins though. Collins could be the best draft pick of the 1908 draft and in the history of the Naps franchise. The Naps really come alive on offense. They will give the Red Sox pitchers a run for their money. They are 1st in batting average this year and most other offensive categories. The Sox are in the top tier of hitters, but subpar for a playoff team. They don't need to score many runs, but against a top flight team this might not be the case.
Prediction: Naps in 6
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ALCS
Mar 14, 2011 19:38:41 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 14, 2011 19:38:41 GMT -5
Game 1:
The Red Sox sent ace Tom Fisher to the mound to face D. Crandall. Ray Fisher was injured and unable to pitch in the opening game. Word is he may miss up to 6 games, or the entire ALCS. This could be doom and gloom for the Naps. The Naps never came alive after finding out they were without their ace giving up 5 runs in the third and looking like they were already beat long before the third. Their manager needs to get them to believe in their selves. Only 12,382 fans came out to the ball park in Cleveland to watch their team lose.
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ALCS
Mar 14, 2011 19:48:18 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 14, 2011 19:48:18 GMT -5
Game 2:
The Naps are hoping they can salvage their season with 3 Finger Brown heading to the mound against Lew Polchow. And they were able to do just that. Although Brown didn't pitch that well (9IP 6ER), the offense just really came alive. 3b Ed Lennox carried the team as he has already (.429 for series), but the Naps need more to hang in this series. It was enough for the night and they tied the series and that might be all that matters.
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ALCS
Mar 16, 2011 6:11:18 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 16, 2011 6:11:18 GMT -5
Game 3: Miracles do happen and the Naps are hoping for one today. The Naps need game 3 to keep hope a live and to show the Red Sox they can actually win this series and they can win in Boston. Doc Crandell heads to the mound against Tom Fisher it would could be a very ugly game for the Naps.
You have to give the Naps credit, they hung with the Red Sox after having a horrible first inning which had the Sox scoring 5 runs in the first inning. Fisher gave up 4 runs and pitched the entire game, and Doc was actually better today if you take out the first inning. Too bad, that is not how baseball is played and every inning counts equally. 3b Ed Lennox had a huge game going 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI. The 2 he left on base could have been the difference in the game though. The Naps offense has been alive all series, but they just have not got the pitching. This is something they have to look at during the off season.
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ALCS
Mar 17, 2011 18:06:49 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 17, 2011 18:06:49 GMT -5
Game 4:
Cleveland took the field with little fanfare and no laughing. It was evident they were here to play a game and to win. Cy Morgan showed up and led the team with nothing but guts. Polchow didn't give up any ER's, but the Naps were able to score 3 on 2 errors. Only 10,759 fans showed up to the game and each and everyone left unhappy.
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ALCS
Mar 17, 2011 18:11:44 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 17, 2011 18:11:44 GMT -5
The Naps and Red Sox were bound to have an epic pitching duel and it happened today. 10,554 fans showed up and cheered on the Red Sox as Myers and Bracken combined for a complete game shut out. Ace Ray Collins pitched exactly how he was meant to, but it just wasn't enough on this day. Collins may not get another chance to pitch in this series and it may cost the Naps the series. Neither team had a good offensive night, but the pitching was the star of the show.
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ALCS
Mar 19, 2011 21:43:11 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 19, 2011 21:43:11 GMT -5
Game 6:
This could be the game to end the series, but the Naps are hoping for a Game 7. The series shifted back to Cleveland and Ace Ray Collins took the mound for a fantastic showing. This pushes the series to a Game 7. Tom Fisher, of the Red Sox, has been unhittable all year, but he just didn't have enough tonight.
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ALCS
Mar 19, 2011 21:52:35 GMT -5
Post by Commissioner/Reds on Mar 19, 2011 21:52:35 GMT -5
Game 7:
The Red Sox did not want this to go 7 games, because it would just give the Naps hope and hope was the last thing he wanted to give the underdog team. The Naps had the Sox up against the wall, but in the end the Red Sox were just too good and the Naps need another season to put things together. In baseball and life, things could have went either way.
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ALCS
Mar 19, 2011 23:06:48 GMT -5
Post by clevelandgm on Mar 19, 2011 23:06:48 GMT -5
Congrats to the Red Sox, and good luck in the World Series.
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