MLB playoff view from Chicago, Boston
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The Angels were the only team in the major leagues to finish the regular season with 100 wins, but they’re not getting a lot of love from the Boston media, even though the Angels beat the Red Sox eight of nine times this season.
Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that the Angels have lost nine consecutive playoff games to the Red Sox dating back to 1986.
On the Boston Globe’s Boston Sports Blog (registration required), staff writer Eric Wilbur has the Red Sox eliminating the Angels in four games. Wilbur’s a big fan of momentum, making reference to John Lackey’s performance:
Take away his last start of the season, and Lackey still had a subpar September, 1-1 with a 4.48 ERA. Game 2 starter Ervin Santana was equally as bad in his last start of the season, giving up eight runs to the Rangers over 5 2/3 innings. Game 3 starter Joe Saunders, who has a 15-inning scoreless-inning streak going, missed his second-to-last start of the season with a kidney stone.
Wilbur is higher on the other team from Southern California: He picks the Dodgers to beat the Red Sox in six games for the World Series title.
In Chicago, the Tribune’s Phil Rogers isn’t giving either the Dodgers or Angels the nod. He likes ... the Cubs, rated No. 1 in his power ratings. He says the Cubs are much better than they were when they nearly got to the World Series in 2003.
And his ratings have the Cubs beating the Red Sox for the title.
He’s got the Dodgers No. 4 and the Angels No. 7. Of the Angels, he said:
They led the majors in victories but aren’t close to being the best team.... Their lineup improved dramatically in the second half, thanks in part to Mark Teixeira, but teams with middle-infield questions usually don’t go a long way in October.
Stay tuned.
-- Mike James