PLAYOFFS: Anaheim vs Boston

written by Matthew Lungariello

Out of the eight playoffs teams, there are five with legitimate shots at winning the World Series. Three of them are in the American League, and two are in this series.

The key for the Red Sox is to score early and often, because if there is any weak part of the Angels, it is their starting pitching. If the Angels hand it over to their bullpen, they have been lights out. Schilling has to be lights out. If the Angels get the best of Schilling, I don’t think this series will see 5 games.

The key for the Angels is to keep is close and try to get it into the Red Sox shaky bullpen. Keith Foulke has been less than impressive down the stretch with 7 blown saves this year. We don’t know how he will react in this big spot. Vlad has been nothing short of the leagues MVP. They need to work the count and stretch Schilling out. Prevent him from going all 9 innings.

This has the makings of the best series in Baseball. Honestly, it can go either way. I like the Angels to win, simply because I would never bet against the hottest team. If the series goes to game 5, I like Schilling to out duel Washburn in California. The will be a hostile crowd in both parks, but he has the ability to rise above it.

Angels in... I don’t know how many games. But it'll be the Angels all right.