The Flagrant Fan Blogs: World Series

<div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday's pick of the Cardinals could not have been more wrong. The Cardinals played a horrible game and the one thing they did really right cost them their post season hero (at least for the rest of the game). The Cardinals could not field, they could not hit <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lestejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jon  Lester</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam  Wainwright</a></strong> was uncharacteristically high in the strike zone. Put it all together and it was a lopsided and embarrassing loss to start the World Series.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The big question is whether they can regroup against a Red Sox team that cannot seem to do anything wrong. Cardinal fans have to wonder if 2004 is going to happen again as the Cardinals have now dropped five World Series games in a row to the Red Sox.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tonight will be interesting. First, the Red Sox start <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lackejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">John  Lackey</a></strong>, who likes to pitch at home. But he is at least a right-hander so there is no excuse for the Cardinals not to hit. Against this "grizzled" veteran with the rebuilt elbow is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wachami01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Michael  Wacha</a></strong> who just two years ago was pitching college ball. Will the youngster be dominant? Will Lackey pitch one of his best games of the season? Will <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltrca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Carlos  Beltran</a></strong> play?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pick:</div><br /><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The <b>Red Sox</b> over the Cardinals</u>: I really hate to pick against Michael  Wacha and if he and the Cardinals lose this game, they are in deep doo-doo. But the Red Sox showed last night that they are ready for this and the Cardinals showed that they were not. The key, I think is John  Lackey. If he is effective from the first inning, the Red Sox score a couple and win the game. If Lackey gets toasted, then this pick is all messed up. The oddsmakers have the Red Sox by a large margin. But Wacha can and has made a difference before. Wacha needs to throw his change-up effectively and down to <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David  Ortiz</a></strong> who seems to sit fastball these days and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/napolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mike  Napoli</a></strong>. It will be interesting.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday: 0-1</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Post season: 19-15</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Season: 1393-1082 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh, and Cardinals fans: Stop making fun of Fenway Park. It is unseemly and very small of youz.</div>

MLB Game Picks - Thursday: October 24, 2013

Yesterday's pick of the Cardinals could not have been more wrong. The Cardinals played a horrible game and the one thing they did really...

+ Read more »

<div style="text-align: justify;">A lot has happened since my last pick, a correct one of the Red Sox putting away the Tigers to reach the 2013 World Series. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leylaji99.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jim  Leyland</a></strong> has stepped down as Tigers' manager. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mattido01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Don  Mattingly</a></strong>'s bench coach, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillmtr99.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Trey  Hillman</a></strong>, was fired and Mattingly himself considers his options on whether to return as manager. But none of that matters today because the World Series starts tonight at Fenway Park. And this series has it all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Both of these teams have won World Series within the last ten years. Both teams have proud traditions and incredibly strong fans. Both feature great offenses and good pitching staffs. Both play sound baseball and have low key, but seemingly effective managers. Both teams hit well in tight situations and have scrappy players and iconic post season hitters. It is going to be fun except we have to watch it on Fox with Buck and McCarver.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are several keys to the series as many have written about over the past several days. To me it is whether the strikeout prone bottom half of the Red Sox lineup can produce anything. One through four, the Red Sox are as tough as they come. With a three-outcome guy at the fifth spot in <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/napolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mike  Napoli</a></strong> and a whole lot of strikeouts the rest of the lineup, the Red Sox will need to have someone or a couple of those guys have a big series. If they don't, the Cardinals have a good chance to win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But we need to get to today's pick. So here it is:</div><br /><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Cardinals over the <b>Red Sox</b></u>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam  Wainwright</a></strong> will be the difference in this game. His big curve should be tough on the no-longer switch hitting <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/victosh01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Shane  Victorino</a></strong> and Napoli in particular. If Wainwright can keep <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ellsbja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jacoby  Ellsbury</a></strong> off the bases and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David  Ortiz</a></strong> somewhat neutralized, he will have a great game. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lestejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jon  Lester</a></strong> is a lefty and the Cardinals had a tough time off lefties during the season. But they beat <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kershcl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Clayton  Kershaw</a></strong> twice and have seemingly defeated that meme. They might get a big boost being able to use <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/craigal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Allen  Craig</a></strong> as the DH. If Craig can bring anything offensively, it is a DH weapon that no other NL team could have brought to the table. I think the Cardinals will score against Lester. I am pretty sure about that. The odds are with this pick as those sit at 51/49 in favor of the Cardinals.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Last Game Pick Post: 1-0</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Post season: 19-14</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Season: 1393-1081 </div>

MLB Game Picks - Wednesday: October 23, 2013

A lot has happened since my last pick, a correct one of the Red Sox putting away the Tigers to reach the 2013 World Series. Jim Leyland ha...

+ Read more »