Ramirez’s return to Boston better than baked beans
Rodney Leonhardt
Prior to the opening ceremonies and first pitches of the 2008 playoffs, I predicted a West Coast shootout between the two Los Angeles teams in the league – the Angels and Dodgers.
That prediction, of course, was based on the belief that the winningest team in 2008 could muster up more than one extra base hit in two games… at home.
The Angels will meet their ultimate demise in Bean Town, leaving nothing in the path of the Red Sox and a third World Series trip in four years.
However, the Dodgers are still my team from the National League. The revamped offense with "Manny Being Manny" swept the Chicago Cubs.
With manager Joe Torre at the team’s helm, the Dodgers will make their first World Series appearance in 20 years. The drama will unfold as Manny faces his old squad while the Red Sox get the opportunity to take it to Torre.
Manny gets L.A. to world series, but Sox take the cake
Keith Cordero Jr.
First, I would like to say to Rodney that the Angels, having to play the Red Sox, were never going to make it to the World Series anyway. Boston has won 11 consecutive playoff games against them going into Game 3.
The Dodgers are riding a Manny Ramirez high after sweeping the Cubs and advancing to the NLCS. My prediction in my column last week, for the record, was for the Dodgers to advance over the Cubs, so I feel pretty good about that.
My World Series prediction, despite the fact the Rays have been such a Cinderella story and the Phillies are playing much better, will be a Ramirez reunion in Boston for the Dodgers vs. Red Sox.
Boston and its experience will get by the Rays or White Sox in the NLCS, and the Dodgers and Torre will continue rolling along to beat the Phillies in slugfests.
The Red Sox will win the back-to-back title; they just find ways to win baseball games.
Phillies’ pitching enough to beat Boston
Ronnie Turner
I have to admit I picked a Cubs-Angels matchup before the playoffs began, but it looks like I’m going to have to revamp that prediction.
Instead, I’m going to pick the Phillies and Red Sox to meet in the World Series, with the Phillies winning it all. I know that Dodgers versus Red Sox makes for better storylines, but the Phillies have what it takes to put down the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are on a hot streak, but I’d take the Phillies top three starting pitchers (Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer) over the Dodgers’ top three. Plus, the Phillies’ have more power in their lineup, led by Ryan Howard (48 homers), and one of baseball’s top closers in Brad Lidge (41-of-41 in save opportunities).
The Red Sox have the bats, starting pitching, defense and relief pitching needed to get back to the World Series. But I’m picking them to lose because, at some point, these Boston professional teams will again fall off the map. Right?
Red Sox stink like dirty laundry
Judge Dredd
"Blah. Blah. Blah. Look at me. I’m a Fighting Words participant, and I’m going to pick the Red Sox to go to the World Series because I have a man-crush on Josh Beckett, I love big wooden bats, experience and ponies."
That’s pretty much what Rodney, Keith and Ronnie sound like to Judge Dredd. Intimate feelings of sissyness toward the Red Sox and have obviously clouded the judgment of these once respected competitors of Fighting Words.
When Tampa knocks off the White Sox, it will confidently hold home-field advantage over a Red Sox squad whom the Rays beat 10 times in18 games in the regular season.
Forget all of this "Red Sox have the post-season experience" foolishness. The playoffs are played and managed one game at a time, and as of now the Joe Maddon-led Rays, who hold a 2-1 lead in the ALDS over Chicago and finished the regular season with 97 wins, hold that advantage over the Sox.
The Phillies will fall to the Rays in the World Series.
Since no one proved worthy, Judge Dredd awards this week’s victory in Fighting Words to the Miami Dolphins, who will improve to 3-2 Sunday after beating the Texans.
