Sox/Tigers trade backlash

Back at the trade deadline three team deal between the Red Sox, Tigers, and White Sox had mixed reaction to it.   I was of the opinion that trading a Defensive phenom at shortstop in Jose Iglesias for an aging injury vulnerable starting pitcher in Jake Peavy.  Peavy is under the Red Sox control for another season.  When the trade happened the reasoning was to have a solid veteran starter that can perform well in the playoffs. SO they traded a 22 year old shortstop ( a position the Sox haven't had consistency at since Nomar departed)  good contract that they had control of for several years for Jake Peavy.   Fast forward to tonight and the reason I am writing this.  In his only post season start if this season thus far, Jake Peavy proceeds to allow 7 that's right 7 earned runs in only 3 innings pitched.  As if that wasn't bad enough, one of those runs was driven in by Iglesias and another was by him scoring from 1st base with two outs on a line drive that barely left the infield and took an awkward bounce off of a wall down the third base line.  The Sox rallied in the ninth but were unable to score enough runs to tie or take the lead.  I just can't stand the fact that the Tigers will have Iglesias as their shortstop for the foreseeable future when just a few months ago that was the Red Sox situation. 
The way I saw it was Bogaerts could have played third, move Middlebrooks to 1st base and utilize Iglesias' exceptional defense the most important defensive position, other than catcher.   Don't get me wrong, I still think the Red Sox will pull this out and win the World Series BUT I don't see the point of messing with the future for someone Peavy especially when Stephen Drew could have replaced Iglesias in the trade.  The Tigers were desperate for a shortstop as soon as the found out their current one was being suspended for P.E.D. use.  They found out just before the deadline and for that reason I think Drew would have worked.  It would have made more sense on a Red Sox stand point because Drew is only on a one year deal where as Iglesias was signed long term...

That's my thoughts on the matter, what does everyone else think? feel free to comment. 

Something in the Water

The magic started when the New England Patriots lead by Tom Brady executed an incredible 70 yard game winning drive with only 1:16 on the clock.  The drive was capped off by Brady throwing a touchdown in the back of the end zone to Undrafted Rookie wide receiver Kenbrell Thomkins with just 5 seconds remaining.   Then just hours later and near by in Boston the Red Sox come back from being down 5-0 to the Detroit Tigers ad break up Max Scherzer's  no no bid.   David Ortiz launched a game tying grand slam just beyond the right field wall, and Saltalamacchia walks off with an RBI single scoring Jonny Gomes to end the game and send the series to Detroit tied 1 to 1.  What an UNBELIEVABLE day in Boston!

MLB PLAYOFFS: American League

The American League Divisional Series are starting today.  The Rays travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox in the first game. The two AL East teams have formed a rivalry beginning at the start of the century and and heated up during the 2008 season when Tampa Bay became relevant. That season Tampa Bay went from being the worst team in baseball when they were the Devil Rays to winning the division after they drop the Devil and gained a new team chemistry. That season the Rays defeated the Red Sox in the ALCS and went on to come up just short of winning the World Series. Since then the Rays have been at the toward the top of the division making the playoffs in 4 of the last 6 seasons.

The Red Sox had a big bounce back season. Winning only 69 games last season (worst in the east) they found a way to have the best record in the American League therefore earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Much credit is due to the underrated free agent signings over the offseason.  Players like Johnny Gomes, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, and the most underrated, relief pitcher Koji Uehara. Midseason Koji took over the closer role when injury struck the pen. Since becoming the closer he's been as close to perfection as a human can be. He is not the prototypical power closer but his splitter is just straight up nasty. Opposing hitters can't seem to put the bat on it when it dips at the last second out of the zone.   

The Rays strength is their pitching. David Price Matt Moore and Alex Cobb are three of the top pitchers in the league and have each had outstanding seasons.  Lead by Even Longoria and rookie phenom Will Myers, the Rays bats should give the Sox a tough series. 

All season the Sox resiliency has been their best asset. No matter how much they are down, they never give up. Something last years team could have used. 

It should be a great series and it could go either way. Personally as a life long Sox fan I don't think it comes as a shock for me to predict them to win. However I will not be shocked if the Rays advance.

The other ALDS is between the the Oakland Athletics and the Detroit Tigers.  The Athletics have been a great story in baseball for the past two seasons. Winning the division two years straight, they quickly have become the power house team of the AL West. Their lineup can hit anyone but it may have trouble hitting pitchers of the likes of arguably the best pitcher in baseball in Justin Verlander, the current probable Cy Young award winner in Max Scherzer and crafty big free agent signing Anibal Sanchez.  The stacked line up lead by Last years  triple crown and AL MVP winner and this years probable AL MVP, Miguel Cabrera. However Cabrera has been plagued with a nagging hip injury that has kept him out of several games and debilitated his defensive ability. All they really need is his bat but its no guarantee that he'll have the pop he normally has.  

my picks are the Red Sox over Rays. Athletics over the Tigers. In the NL the Dodgers over the Braves and the the Pirates over the Cardinals. 

For the World Series I am licking the Red Sox over the Dodgers in a greatly ironic series considering the Sox Dodgers Blockbuster Waiver Claim Trade last season. 

That being said there's no better time than October. Everyone enjoy the show! 

MLB Playoffs: National League

                    Today marks the first day of the National League Divisional Series.   The Dodgers play the Braves which should be interesting.  The two teams both won their divisions easily in the regular season.  Although the divisions are on the weak side, both teams have legit offenses and pitching.  Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will start it off tonight.  The 25 year old former Cy Young Award winner is on the short list of the most feared pitchers to face.   The lefty has a nasty curveball that is nearly unhittable to left handed batters.  Supporting pitchers Zach Grenkie and Hyun-jin Ryu shouldn't make it any easier for the Braves.   Offensive players like Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and others should be enough to handle the Braves pitching staff.  Meanwhile the Braves will send Kris Medlen to the mound.  Medlen who shined towards the end of the season last year, struggled this season but picked up stream as the season went on.   It should be very interesting to see which pitcher gets the better of the opposing line up.  Braves line up consists of Power and speed.  Brian Mccan among others will provide the power and BJ Upton and Jason Heyward supply the speed among others.  The series should be a great matchup but time will tell.
                    
                    The other NLDS tonight is the Pittsburgh Pirates facing the St. Louis Cardinals.   Pittsburgh earned the right to play by defeating the Cincinnati Reds in a one game wild card playoff.   the Pirates ended a 21 year drought of not making the playoffs this season and aren't showing any signs of slowing down.   Lead by one of the best pitching staffs in the league the Pirates were the best in the NL for the majority of the season. Young Outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte look to get the better or Adam Wainwright and the rest of Cards pitching.  The series will be filled with rivalry between the two National League central teams and emotion especially when the Pirates are at home.  21 years of heartbreak for Pirates fans came out in the wild card game in the form of a deafening crowd.  I expect the Pittsburgh crowd to play a big roll for the Pirates.